Music Biz Headlines: Live Nation Hits Revenue Record, Melissa Auf der Maur Writes '90s Rock Memoir
Also making headlines this week: Bif Naked's hometown documentary premiere, Montreal's Stomp Records celebrates 30th anniversary shows, Tory Lanez forced to testify & more.
Two Canadian hip-hop stars return to the headlines this week, in contentious situations. A class action lawsuit against Spotify claims Drake's streaming numbers have been skewed by billions of fraudulent streams. Meanwhile, rapper Tory Lanez is ordered to be deposed in another case related to his convicted shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.
Elsewhere, Arcade Fire's head couple announces their separation years after Win Butler's sexual misconduct allegations, Diplo claims to have dated both Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau, plus Q3 reports from Spotify and Live Nation.
Read these stories and more in this week's roundup of the music biz headlines of the week from Canada and beyond.
Canadian Biz Headlines
Drake Fakes? Lawsuit Against Spotify Claims Rapper Is Boosted By Billions Of Fraudulent Streams
The case claims Spotify is hurting real artists by willfully ignoring fake streams - and that Drake got many of them. – Bill Donahue, Billboard
Tory Lanez Ordered to Testify in Megan Thee Stallion Lawsuit Again — After Two Failed Depositions
The singer claimed a deposition could hurt his ongoing criminal appeal, but a judge was not convinced. – Rachel Scharf, Billboard
Stomp Records Celebrates Turning 30 With Anniversary Shows Throughout Canada
The Montreal punk and ska-based indie label has put out nearly 300 releases over its three decades. – Kerry Doole, Billboard Canada
Bif Naked Rocks the Rio with Film Premiere and Concert in Vancouver
Bif Naked’s Tuesday night appearance at the Rio Theatre felt like an obvious and perfect marriage. On the one hand, you have the never-boring Bif Naked, who has given so much of her time, talent, and soul to her adopted city of Vancouver. On the other, you have the Rio, that bastion of fun and innovative and never compromising programming. – Nathan Caddell, Georgia Straight
Enter Stage Right: Rush's Decision to Unretire and Tour Again was Difficult
Band members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson first had to deal with health issues and find a new drummer. – Brad Wheeler, Globe & Mail
The pop star and politician are now officially an item. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard
The instrumentalist previously stood by her husband as he faced allegations of sexual misconduct in 2022. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard
Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience is just one of this month’s classical concert highlights. Others include Taiwanese-Australian violinist Ray Chen at Toronto's Koerner Hall and Soundstreams' presentation of six ecologically aware pieces. – Brad Wheeler, Globe & Mail
Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A '90s Rock Memoir follows the former Hole bassist and Smashing Pumpkins touring member’s experiences on and off stage. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Toronto Metropolitan University’s Named One of Billboard’s Top Music Business Schools
Combining music fundamentals with business and production skills and hands-on experience, the post-secondary institution's professional music program earns it the lone Canadian entry on the list. – Billboard Canada
International Music Biz Headlines
Live Nation Hits Q3 Revenue Record as Concert Demand Surges, With No Signs of Slowing Down
"Strong fan demand drove another record quarter, as we continue to attract more fans to more shows globally," said CEO Michael Rapino. – Glenn Peoples, Billboard
Inside Spotify’s Q3 Call: Free Tier Defense, Ad Sales Recovery and Big Growth Plans
Daniel Ek and his successors, Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström, discuss key company highlights on Spotify's Q3 earnings call. – Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, Billboard
‘Incredible First Step': Australian Government Approves Content Quotas for Streaming Video Platforms
Netflix, Disney, Amazon and other SVOD services will be compelled to comply by the legislation. – Lars Brandle, Billboard
The Grammys Invited all Latin Grammy Voting Members to the Recording Academy: Why it Matters
In the last few years, the Grammy Awards have made a concerted effort to diversify its electorate. This year, there’s even more movement: For the first time ever, all Latin Grammy voting members were invited to join the Recording Academy as part of its 2025 new member class. Maria Sherman,– Associated Press
UMG has Struck a New YouTube Deal That Includes 'Guardrails' Around AI.
UMG Chairman & CEO Sir Lucian Grainge outlined several strategic developments during a Q3 earnings call, including the AI partnerships that he says will create “new and significant sources of future revenue.” He also revealed that UMG has completed a comprehensive new deal with YouTube. – Music Business Worldwide
Cinq Music's Parent Company, GoDigital, Secures USD $230 Million in a New Capital Raise.
The company said on Monday (November 3) that the funding brings its total capital raised to date to over USD $1 billion. The funding news arrives alongside a revamp of the GoDigital brand. – MBW
Bruce Springsteen Performs at New York Public Library Gala
They threw a party at the New York Public Library and a concert broke out. – Hillel Italie, AP
Fashion Trailblazers A$AP Rocky and Rihanna now Have Matching CFDA Fashion Icon Awards
The fashion darlings posed on the CFDA carpet together dressed in designer looks from Chanel and Alaia at the American Museum of Natural History. – AP
‘Music is My Remedy’: How DJing is Helping Ukraine’s War Veterans with Their Recovery
At the Superhumans centre in Ukraine, the EnterDJ music therapy programme teaches war-wounded soldiers how to mix, rehabilitating them with dance music and providing purpose and opportunities to perform. – The Guardian
