Music Biz Headlines, Aug. 27, 2018

By Kerry Doole

Q&A: Boy George comes full circle

As Culture Club reconvenes for their first new album in almost two decades, we caught up with the new wave icon to revisit his past and talk about his future. – Kevin Hegge, NOW

Michael Jackson ‘Michael’ album vocals authenticity remains unconfirmed

Sony Music and the Estate of Michael Jackson have neither confirmed or denied that three songs on the 2010 posthumous album ‘Michael’ used a Jackson impersonator instead of the King of Pop. – musicnews.com

Temptations musical ‘Ain’t Too Proud’ headed for Broadway

“Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations” will open on Broadway next spring, the latest in a series of shows using familiar pop songs to tell stories and lure audiences.  –Michael Paulson, NY Times

Hailey Baldwin shows off Justin Bieber’s massive engagement ring

The model’s engagement ring from her Canadian pop-superstar fiancé Justin Bieber is front and centre on the cover of Vogue Mexico. –  Cydney Henderson, USA Today

Toronto’s Silver Dollar Room has been demolished — but it’ll be back

Toronto music fans were alarmed recently to discover a gaping hole at 484 Spadina Ave. where the Silver Dollar Room used to be, but fret not: it will be back, in recognizable form and as a live-music venue. – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star

Preparations underway as Hamilton gets set to host the CCMA awards

A 10-foot tall guitar has been installed in the city hall forecourt, next to the Hamilton sign. It’s one of the first visual reminders that Hamilton will soon host the big event.  – Ken Mann, Global News

A new cycle: Indigenous hip-hop artist Dakota Bear works to reclaim his heritage

"It's up to me to decide — am I going to carry these traditions? Am I going to keep them alive? Or am I going to let them die?"  – Matt Olson, Star-Phoenix

Prince’s family sues doctor who prescribed him pain pills

The family of the late rock star is suing a doctor who prescribed pain pills for him, saying the doctor failed to treat him for opiate addiction and therefore bears responsibility for his death two years ago, their attorney announced Friday. – Steve Karnowski, AP

These overpaid law professors hate seeing musicians paid, but love billionaires

David Lowery delves into what possible reason forty-two IP law professors could have for wanting to prevent the closure of the pre-1972 copyright loophole which has allowed a select few to profit while artists suffer. – hypebot.com

Placido Domingo reaches 150 roles, double most of opera’s greats

On Thursday, taking the stage for a concert performance of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers at the Salzburg Festival in Austria, Domingo reached a virtually unheard-of milestone in opera history: He sang his 150th role.  – Joshua Barone, NYT

How a Latin music startup landed Janet Jackson, as other distributors broaden their horizons

“We have a new business model that’s very flexible and takes into account the globalization of income and the new digital marketing paradigm on social media,” says cofounder Inma Grass. –  Leila Cobo, Billboard

Album review: The Band’s ‘Music From Big Pink: 50th Anniversary Edition’

The new remix of this vastly influential album is so brilliant it makes your teeth hurt.  – Chris Morris, Variety

Vancouver punk pioneer Randy Rampage of D.O.A. remembered as hard rocker with ‘heart of gold’

Randy Rampage rocked so hard, members of the city’s music scene say he helped define the hardcore genre. As the original bassist of D.O.A., the peroxide-blond headbanger lived up to his musical moniker on stage, thrumming his instrument as if the high-octane songs were coursing through his veins.  – CP

Black Sabbath gets a whopping 129,000 words on its '70s albums from metal scholar Martin Popoff

When Martin Popoff writes a book, he doesn't mess around. The B.C.-raised, Toronto-based author writes a book he doesn't mess around. He has just released a tome called Sabotage! Black Sabbath in the Seventies that clocks in at a gargantuan 129K words. – Steve Newton, Georgia Straight

Come out and play at innovative daycamp

It’s a Wednesday morning in mid-August, and the halls of the West End Cultural Centre are alive with the sound of music. – Jen Zoratti, Winnipeg Free Press

Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Holliday, Faith Hill and more on star-studded lineup at Aretha Franklin funeral

Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill and gospel stars Shirley Caesar, and Yolanda Adams will be among the performers at Aretha Franklin’s funeral in Detroit next Friday. – Ben Sisario, NY Times

Dog Day’s not over yet 

Local Halifax faves return with surprise shows and new music in progress. – Brennan McCracken, The Coast