Music Biz Headlines, April 11, 2018

By Kerry Doole

Toronto police investigating after $17K stolen from Toronto’s Gardiner Museum

The rock, part of an art exhibit featuring Yoko Ono, is inscribed with the artist’s handwriting and the words “love yourself.” Police are asking for help finding a female suspect described as 55-60 years of age – Jenna Moon, Toronto Star

Cardi B is a close friend made good on the vivid 'Invasion of Privacy'

A year ago — heck, let's say six months ago — Cardi B would have gone only one place to tell the world she was pregnant, and that's Instagram., but her new star status led her to Saturday Night Live  –  Mikael Wood, LA Times

Weekend Read: Teaching songwriting in Prison, Part 1

 The acclaimed Canadian folk artist now works extensively with inmates and at-risk youth –  Linda McRae, Roots Music Canada

Top country music producers in Canada: Meet Jeff Dalziel

 He is the man behind some of Canadian country music’s biggest hits. He’s produced songs by The Washboard Union, River Town Saints, Dan Davidson, Andrew Hyatt and more  –  topcountry.ca

How to change the world, according to Vivienne Westwood

As the designer, fierce activist and punk icon celebrates her birthday this weekend, we present the Westwood guide to curing a rotten financial system (and saving the planet in the process) –  Jack Moss, 

Is UK drill music really behind London's wave of violent crime?

It’s a menacing strain of hip-hop with a powerful presence on social media, but does drill reflect or drive crime? –  Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian

Slow: Breaking the circle since 1985

You know all these bands from the '70's and '80's getting together to play again? I eat that shit up –  Allan MacInnis, Georgia Straight

Elk Run & Riot unleash inner Animalia in third album

Elk Run & Riot have been on an endless hustle and grind that the core members feel is paying dividends on the wings of their newest album Animalia. The group is currently touring out West –  Jordan Small, Rocky Mountain Outlook

Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook breaks walls

The music Cook creates is his way of breaching and blurring lines of demarcation between the nations of today's world. It’s a mash of the influences of a childhood spent in Europe and a heart that sees unity in shared music –  Susan McDonald, Providence Journal

Rich Aucoin bike blog #1: Los Angeles to Arcosanti

The party-loving Nova Scotian is cycling again for charity—this time the Canadian Mental Health Association—and performing a collective sing-a-long dance show –  Rich Aucoin, The Coast

Covered in glory: the tribute albums that saved careers and changed lives

This week brings new all-star love-ins dedicated to Elton John and Johnny Cash – marginal releases in the context of their careers, yet tributes to lesser-known acts can prove transformative – Michael Hann, The Guardian

A city in China wants to be the next Music City. Nashville is showing them how

Chengdu, China, is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to build a music-fueled entertainment district that would mimic what Music City has organically accomplished over decades –   Nate Rau, The Tennessean

Southern music revue is a labour of love for Mitch Melnick

Melnick, sporting his Billy Bob Productions beret, has outdone himself with his latest venture, A Southern Soul and Rock ‘N Roll Revue –  Bill Brownstein, Montreal Gazette

Review: Itzhak Perlman documentary profiles a virtuoso who became a brand unto himself

In Alison Chernick’s documentary Itzhak, the artist is introduced wearing a Mets jersey, getting ready to perform the national anthem at Citi Field in Queens. He easily charms the VIPs as well as those in the cheap seats. A prodigious talent, to be sure, he’s also been blessed with the common touch  –  Gayle MacDonald, The Globe and Mail