Music Biz Headlines, April 6, 2018
Born Ruffians have a big home stand, Nas discusses the state of hip-hop, and a critique of Spotify. Those also in the headlines include Live Nation, the Hammond B3, the Tragically Hip biography, Mac DeMarco, Suzie Vinnick, Spinal Tap, Darby Mills, Jully Black, Kim Wilde, and Los Lobos.
By FYI Staff
The Canada Day 150 show in Ottawa bombed with Canadians, government survey shows
Awful logistics, terrible weather and underwhelming entertainment meant the $200M Canada Day show in the nation’s capital last year received disastrous ratings from those who attended – Brian Platt, National Post
The lofty optimism of Spotify and the influence of the streaming revolution
The company’s prospectus includes lofty goals: “Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators.” Of course, Spotify did not invent creation—nor the idea of making a living as an artist (if anything, it’s merely complicated artistic existence), nor the activity of listening to music and feeling inspired—but, since its launch, in 2008, it has changed the way we think about all of those things. – Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker
Ticketfly co-founder teams up with Monero lead on blockchain-ticketing startup Big Neon
“Big Neon will be one of the very first companies in the world to leverage blockchain technology to improve the sale and resale of tickets.” – Music Ally
Nas on Netflix docuseries 'Rapture,' Killer Mike and why hip-hop's mainstream appeal won't be enough to kill the genre
Nas and his brother Jungle appear in Rapture," which shines a spotlight on some of hip-hop's top and emerging talent including Dave East, T.I., Logic, 2 Chainz and others – Saoaiya Kelley, LA Times
Why Born Ruffians are turning their album release into a five-night spectacular
Following in the footsteps of Alvvays and Daniel Caesar, the Toronto indie rockers are choosing multiple nights at Lee's Palace over one at a bigger venue – Cam Lindsay, NOW
Spotify's public listing shows its ambition – but won't help struggling musicians
As it floats on the stock market, Spotify has been talking up how empowering it is for artists – but this is a company that actually disenfranchises most of them – Eamonn Forde, The Guardian
B-3 fever: Digging the classic Hammond sound
“This is sort of like a race car. There are so many moving parts that you’ll hear something clicking and you have to figure out what it is,” Don Griffith says of the B-3 organ – Cam Fuller, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Live Nation rules live music — some say with threats
Live Nation doesn’t just promote tours, it sells tickets and manages concert venues — and some in the music business say punishment is now being dispensed to those who don’t co-operate – Ben Sisario, NY Times
Everything you need to know about the new Tragically Hip biography
The Never-Ending Present, a new biography on Downie and the Tragically Hip offers contextual documentation of the band’s oeuvre, insight into the Hip’s inner-workings and enough sprinkles of backstage stories to keep things perky – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Fans expecting new Mac DeMarco material will have to be content to chilling out with PICKLES
Of all the characters to have emerged from the Vancouver music scene over the decades, few if any have ever seemed as untroubled by life as Mac DeMarco – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
Suzie Vinnick – Shake The Love Around
Shaking up the party and sharing her uplifting spirit with a faithful fan base has been the main occupation for Saskatchewan native Suzie Vinnick over the last 25 years. On her sixth solo album, Shake The Love Around, Suzie has come up with a set of songs set to a healing tone – Paul Corby, rootscanada.com
Jon Tiven's American Beat
The monthly column from celebrated US-based “A-List” session musician, hit songwriter, producer and music journalist Tiven lifts the lid off the business of making music – musicrepublic.com
Harry Shearer: Why my 'Spinal Tap' lawsuit affects all creators
"We are motivated by a desire to highlight the longstanding and improper accounting practices in the music and film industries," the actor writes – Harry Shearer, Rolling Stone
Q&A: Darby Mills brings decades of rock experience to album, doco
After nearly four decades with the Headpins, Darby Mills is redefining herself as a solo artist with the release of a new album – Stuart Derdeyn, Vancouver Sun
Kim Wilde:" Maybe aliens are using me to put out a record with them on it"
As the Kids in America singer begins her first UK tour in 30 years, she talks parenting, plastic surgery – and her belief in extraterrestrial intervention – Decca Aitkenhead, The Guardian
Jully Black is the true winner of Canada Reads 2018
The R&B artist's exchange with Jeanne Beker on the CBC literary competition was pure drama, and perhaps the kind that can bring about a reckoning – Rachna Raj Kaur, NOW
Los Lobos is still having fun after 45 years
Los Lobos is celebrating its 45th year as a band in 2018. Most recently, they released "Gates of Gold" in 2015, their 17th studio album. The band was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 – Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune
