By barnaby
Boy Golden, Bob Moses, July Talk, The Beaches, Metric, Dear Rouge, The Glorious Sons, Arkells, Billy Talent, The Darcys, Monowhales, Anyway Gang, Mother Mother, and Dear Rouge stand out in the year-end Alt category.
Diljit Dosanjh at the 2025 Met Gala.
Other stories making headlines this week: Lady Gaga's record-breaking free concert in Rio, the controversial return of Arcade Fire, Bryan Adams fights CanCon & more.
Lady Gaga recently drew more than 2 million people to a concert in Brazil, which is becoming a hotbed of the world's biggest concerts. Billboard was there to cover, which you can read in this week's roundup of the week's biggest music headlines.
In other news, award-winning hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids need a new home for their TV show after APTN and CBC withdraw from the project, Nickelback's participation in a 'MAGA-friendly' festival draws flak and global stars make a big impact on the Met Gala Blue Carpet.
Find all those stories and more in this week's roundup of the headlines of the week.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids Seeking New Home for TV Show After CBC and APTN Withdraw
The TV show inspired by the Haisla rappers' lives was set to premiere as part of CBC's 2024-2025 comedy programming. – Rosie Long Decter, Billboard Canada
Bryan Adams Calls CanCon Regulations an 'Archaic System' That's 'Really Stupid'
At Departure, the Kingston, Ont.-born rock star repeated his long-standing disdain of the so-called CanCon rules, saying they are "really stupid" and merely propping up subpar homegrown music. – David Friend, Canadian Press
The hard rock titans from Alberta are currently on an American tour described as a celebration of the country’s “God-fearing patriots.” – Richie Assaly, Toronto Star
Pink Elephant in the Room Hangs Over Arcade Fire’s Massey Hall Comeback Performance
Rock bands today don’t have hits like they used to, which means it is easier to ignore them than ever, even the best of them. Arcade Fire is absolutely one of those. – Brad Wheeler, Globe & Mail
Manitoba Punk Legends Propagandhi Cancel All U.S. Tour Dates Citing "Circumstances Beyond Our Control"
The band was slated to play in Oregon, Massachusetts, Colorado, and Florida this summer and fall, supporting their new album At Peace. – Rosie Long Decter, Billboard Canada
David’s Disco Raises More Than $500,000 for Casey House
Drag superstar Brooke Lynn Hytes entertained the crowd at the Concert Hall in Toronto. – George Pimentel, Toronto Star
Nelly, Cypress Hill, Billy Talent, The Beaches Highlight Muskoka Venue The KEE To Bala's 2025 Lineup
A musically diverse group of major international and Canadian stars will take to the historic stage in Ontario cottage country this summer, including Billy Corgan, Shaggy, The Reklaws, Down With Webster and more. – Kerry Doole, Billboard Canada
Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Celebrates the Big 6-0
HPYO held an alumni concert followed by a reunion reception open to all performers and patrons. – Leonard Turnevicius, Hamilton Spectator
The Musical 'A Strange Loop' is a Zesty, Cerebral Celebration of the Self
When A Strange Loop premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 2019, the musical, about a fat Black queer man writing a musical about a fat Black queer man writing a musical covered new ground for live theatre. It is now on at Soulpepper. – Aisling Murphy, Globe & Mail
Lady Gaga Draws 2.1 Million Fans to Record-Breaking Free Concert at Rio’s Copacabana Beach
It marked the pop star's first performance in Brazil in over a decade. – Mitchell Peters, Billboard
Met Gala 2025: Best Photos From the Red Carpet
Standout looks from the 2025 Met Gala. – Billboard
Diljit Dosanjh Brings Punjab to the Red Carpet
For the Punjabi artist’s first Met Gala appearance, he chose to honour an early Indian dandy. – New York Times
Female musicians are redefining the bargain of stardom
There was no way for a female artist to be open or even outspoken about the pressures of the industry, the absurd sexualization of stars, the abuses of power. Which is why it’s been so thrilling recently to watch a new generation of stars reject the terms of a bad old bargain. – Sophie Gilbert, Globe & Mail
Big Loud Sells Stake in Morgan Wallen Catalog To Chord Music Partners
Big Loud, the Nashville-based record label home to country superstar Morgan Wallen, has sold a minority stake in Wallen’s master recording catalog to Chord Music Partners. Sources suggest the deal is worth a touch north of USD $200 million. – Tim Ingham, Music Business Worlwide
Jury Selection Set to Begin in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s Sex Trafficking Trial
The federal sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, the hip-hop entrepreneur whose wildly successful career has been dotted by allegations of violence, began on Monday in NYC with jury selection that could last several days. Opening statements by lawyers and the start of testimony are expected next week. – Associated Press
Jonny Greenwood and Israeli Musician Dudu Tassa Condemn ‘Silencing’ After UK Concerts Pulled
After two performances were cancelled over threats linked to protests against Israel, the duo said the actions were ‘self-evidently a method of censorship.’ – Laura Snapes, The Guardian
‘I’m Burping? At Least I Didn’t Fart!’ Ten Things I’ve Learned About Ageing Rockers
From Gene Simmons discussing lowgrade meatballs to Shaun Ryder comparing himself to Uncle Fester, Kate Mossman has spent her life interviewing rock stars of a certain age. What has she learned? – The Guardian
