Music Biz Headlines, April 9, 2018

By Kerry Doole

In the strange new world of music streaming payments, there's an  inherent bias against soul, jazz, classical and other genres of music aimed at adult listeners –  soultracks.com

Grace Jones on a lifetime of doing whatever she pleases

On the cusp of 70, she's the subject of a new documentary, “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” – Melena Ryzik, New York Times

'Age can be a babe magnet': Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls on why old is gold

After a career with heavy metal gods Spinal Tap – and a battle with addiction to the internet – the bassist is back with a new album reflecting on the ageing process. As his cells degrade, he shares his hard-fought wisdom – The Guardian

Where's the support for Toronto's beatmakers?

Toronto is home to the some of hip-hop’s best producers, but more spaces and opportunities for people to collaborate are needed – Lidia Abraha, NOW

As Boomer musicians retire from touring, concert industry faces an uncertain future

"It's extremely worrisome," says one high-powered agent. "Once these artists really do retire, who will be the replacements?" –  Steve Knopper, Rolling Stone

Nile Rodgers' influence stretches all over Coachella, beaming the sound of a better future

In the run-up to the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which begins April 13, and where the lineup skews decidedly young and hip-hop, Rodgers' reassembled Chic (which has toured European festivals for a few years now) is the closest thing to the classic-rock reunions that defined the fest in the near past – August Brown, LA Times

Jeremy Dutcher aims to disrupt 'Anglo-Centric music narrative' with Wolastoq-Language album: Premiere

It is said that music is the universal language, but Toronto-based First Nations tenor and pianist Jeremy Dutcher has created an accessible album in his native Wolastoq, or Maliseet, a language spoken today in Canada by an estimated 600 people – Karen Bliss, Billboard

Forty years ago, ‘Rock Lobster’ launched the career of the B-52s — and revived John Lennon’s

It’s a bizarre tune containing nonsensical lyrics and circuslike surf music, but it would prove deeply important to the B-52s (it launched them into stardom) and Lennon (it inspired him to team up with Ono and record the last songs of his life)  – Travis Andrews, Washington Post

Local noise-rock foursome FRIGS delivers a nasty classic

The Toronto group's dark debut album will grow on fans of scrape and skronk. It is an early contender for album of the year  – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star

Washing Machine's clean slate 

The Halifax four-piece goes deep with ’80s-leaning tones and lots of heart –  Brennan McCracken, The Coast

Justin Bieber declares that Jesus has changed his life and freed him from bondage and shame

Canada's former bad boy of pop is quickly becoming the country's most famous Christian  – Charlie Smith, Georgia Straight

Rod Stewart hits familiar notes in crowd-pleasing Saskatoon stop

The British pop legend Rod Stewart will stop at nothing to entertain. The songs may have been predictable, with his surefire mix of original classics and covers he has made his own, but the presentation wasn’t – Phil Tank, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

A son of country music is exposing its hidden history one amazing story at a time

The son of outlaw singer David Allan Coe is the creator of the wildly entertaining "Cocaine & Rhinestones" podcast – Eric Danton, Paste

As Time Goes By by Derek Taylor review – life in the Beatles’ magic circle

A new edition of the memoir is written by the band’s amiable press officer who witnessed Beatlemania and took notes as the breakup happened – John Harris, The Guardian

 Viva Los Angeles! How a Vegas festival revived retro & rockabilly culture in L.A.

Viva Las Vegas, named after the Elvis Presley film, was created by U.K.-born, Los Alamitos–based rockabilly enthusiast Tom Ingram and co-produced by Burbank burlesque queen Audrey Deluxe. It has been the premier rockabilly event in the country for more than two decades – Blood Soldiers, LA Weekly