Music Biz Headlines, Aug 28, 2019

By FYI Staff

B.C. troubadour Raffi honours climate hero Greta Thunberg in song with Young People Marching

One of the world's most popular children's entertainers—and an ardent environmentalist—has written a tribute to the Swedish teenager who woke up the world to the climate emergency. Raffi, a resident of British Columbia, has released a song called "Young People Marching" in honour of Greta Thunberg. –  Charlie Smith, Georgia Straight

It may have taken five years of self-examination, self-affirmation and self-care, but Leela Gilday is set to issue forth a majestic musical statement with her Sept. 6 release of North Star Calling. – Jim Barber, Music Life

Gary Cristall remembers Mitch Podolak

A fellow folk festival producer pays eloquent tribute to a departed colleague. – Roots Music Canada

Past 50/Future 50 a virtual reality look at Regina Folk Festival

The Regina Folk Festival is over, but its anniversary celebration continues with Past 50/Future 50, a virtual reality project by Ryan Hill on view through Aug. 30 at the Regina Public Library Central Branch. –  Ashley Martin, Regina Leader-Post 

Developing his debut musical, Juno-winner Ron Sexsmith holds onto dear life

When the Juno-winning singer-songwriter and his wife relocated from Toronto two years ago to Stratford, Ont., it wasn’t meant to be a career move. As it turns out, the move may well spawn a new career for the melodious one. Stratford’s a theatre town, optimal to work on his second act. –  Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail 

Up-and-coming string quartets 'take flight' at Banff International String Quartet Competition

This week the Banff Centre will host the 13th Banff International String Quartet Competition. On hand for the competition will be 10 young string quartets, hand-picked by a preliminary international jury of professional chamber musicians, performers who know from first-hand experience what it takes to succeed in the highly competitive world of string quartet performance. – Kenneth DeLong, Calgary Herald

The Trews kick off Western Fair Grandstand concert series

For me, The Trews always have maintained a swagger not unlike The Black Crowes, maybe with a dash of ‘80s Kinks and a flourish of Led Zeppelin. –  London Free Press

norc brings your lucid dreams to life 

The genre-blending Nova Scotian three-piece drops a debut  EP that's made with ginseng and honey. –  Jade Nauss, The Coast

Calgary's Selci mixes savvy production skills with soulful vocals on debut EP

It was during a long and cold isolating Winnipeg winter that Samantha Selci hunkered down to immerse herself in the rarified world of music production, audio editing, mixing, synthesis and sound design. –  Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald

International

At MTV VMAs, Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Latin pop and Missy Elliott dominate, as diversity rules

The biggest victor might have been MTV, which managed to pull off a telecast that not only offered frothy spectacle but showed the network still had something to say, by booking a show that celebrated the diverse talents currently changing the look of pop music. –  Gerrick D. Kennedy, LA Times

Rating the MTV VMAs: Event producers give 2019 show a B+

Event pros from across the US praised the ceremony’s flexible stage and use of augmented reality during memorable performances, but would have preferred a different host. –  Ian Zelaya, BizBash

David Byrne announces new online magazine Reasons to Be Cheerful

“We’re telling stories that reveal that there are, in fact, a surprising number of reasons to feel cheerful.” –  Pitchfork

‘Succession’ composer Nicholas Britell on making music for the One Percent

The Roys, the media empire family at the heart of HBO’s “Succession,” are ridiculously rich. They’re manipulative and cruel. They’re also a bit delusional and absurd.  When Nicholas Britell conceived the show’s score, he wanted to capture all of that. –  Tim Greiving, Variety

Famous Irish musicians you should have in every playlist

From global superstars U2 to Irish folk legends Christy Moore, Luke Kelly, and the Dubliners, Ireland has produced a wealth of musical talent. –  Irish Central

B-52's Cindy Wilson reflects on the 40th anniversary of the day they 'turned things upside down'

It's been 40 years since the B-52's did all they could to shape the more eccentric outer fringes of the New Wave era while inviting you to do the coo-ca-choo and 15 other dances as part of a self-titled statement of purpose that still sounds like it dropped in from another, much quirkier planet, wrapped in kitschy day-glo yellow. –  Ed Masley, Arizona Republic

Willie Nelson is ready to get back on tour

Country music legend Willie Nelson will be back on tour in September following the cancellation of several shows in August. "A lot of shows in a row and I’d been stuck on that bus,” Nelson told KSAT’s Paul Venema. "I couldn’t get off that bus so I felt like I was in jail and I wasn’t feeling good, so I said ‘I think I’ll go home.’" –  ksat.com

A Brutally Honest Evening with Mel B review – scary, spicy and surreal

The Spice Girl’s spoken-word show spans her chaotic life story and provides a compelling look at superstardom’s human cost.  –  Dave Simpson, Guardian

How is Taylor Swift's new album faring on Spotify?

Despite some turbulent history, the $26bn-valued streaming service has put its global marketing might behind Swift’s much-anticipated new album, Lover. A few days past release how is Swift’s new record performing on the world’s biggest audio streaming service? –  Tim Ingham, MBW

Taylor Swift: ‘I was literally about to break’

 Taylor Swift: ‘Oh my God, they were mad at me for smiling a lot and quote-unquote acting fake. And then they were mad at me that I was upset and bitter and kicking back.’  The singer spills on feuds, fame, failure – and why she’s taking on Trump. –  Laura Snapes, Guardian

After selling Big Machine for $300M, Scott Borchetta is snapping up Music Row properties

 Scott Borchetta’s holding company, Super 98 Holdings, LLC, has purchased nearly an acre of land from Ray Stevens. The five properties included in the deal are located on 17th Ave. S, in the heart of Music Row, a historic district in Nashville, TN, that’s home to innumerable music-related businesses. –  Marsha Silva,  Digital Music News

‘Boz Scaggs’ at 50: Inside the making of a white-soul classic

With help from Duane Allman and Rolling Stone’s Jann Wenner, Scaggs settled into Muscle Shoals and crafted the LP that properly launched his career. –  David Browne, Rolling Stone 

“It’s a f--king scam”: Beware the Hollywood con queen

More than 100 industry hopefuls have been swindled by a voice on the other end of the line—lured to Indonesia by a bizarre mix of name-dropping and phone sex. Here’s how the con works, and why the man they call the Queen is still at large. – Vanity Fair

Seth Hurwitz 'stepping aside' from running 9:30 Club and Anthem following arrest

Seth Hurwitz is stepping aside from his role as chairman of his concert promotion and venue management company I.M.P. while the police investigation and potential prosecution of his Aug. 21 solicitation of prostitution charge winds its way through the legal system.  –  Dave Brooks, Claudia Rosenbaum, Billboard