Music Biz Headlines, Aug. 9, 2019

By FYI Staff

Joni Mitchell shows up at a Blondie concert

The Canadian legend made a rare public appearance on Wednesday night to see Blondie perform at the Santa Barbara Bowl in California. Chris Stein wrote on Facebook that “I don't have that many heroes. Joni was such a huge influence on my musical life it's hard to express.” – John Kennedy, iheartRadio

Interview: Laura Barrett confronts how she – and Toronto – have changed

On her first album in 11 years, Who Is The Baker?, the singer/songwriter subverts what piano songs are supposed to sound like. – Michael Rancic, NOW 

Woodstock, Roxodus and more – why have so many music festivals been cancelled lately?

If you build it, they will come. But what if they don’t? With the cancellation of the Roxodus Music Fest in Edenvale, Ont., last month, the extended hiatus of the WayHome Music & Arts Festival north of Toronto and the recent collapse of Michael Lang’s Woodstock 50 reboot in upstate New York, the hard realities of the modern multiday, campsite-and-concert affairs are being laid bare. –  Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Dan Mangan embraces the chaos of life on More or Less

The Vancouver indie hero’s fifth album finds him regaining his sense of self. – Mike Usinger,  Georgia Straight

Music Notes: The three C's of music — Chaisson, Chersea, and Cult

The Fringe is on right now, the Exhibition is on right now, FolkFest is right around the corner, and the music is getting turned up again. – Matt Olson, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

Songwriting developer shows Toronto can build affordable housing

Mitchell Cohen writes policy papers and show tunes about affordable housing. He wears a pork pie hat, favours fleece over pinstripes and is easy to tear up when talking about local “empowerment.” He’s also president of The Daniels Corp., one of Canada’s biggest developers. – Natalie Wong, Bloomberg News 

Banff Centre's 40th Midsummer Ball raises more than $1.2 million

The largest arts fundraiser in Western Canada is a vital source for the Banff Centre’s Artists’ Fund. It ensures emerging and established artists get the education, mentorship and inspiration needed to realize their creative potential. More than 3,000 artists annually have the opportunity to attend Banff Centre’s world-class programming.  – Bill Brooks, Calgary Herald

International

Artists can’t afford to be political now in Trump's America

More than ever, America is a country of haves and have-nots, that holding especially true when it comes to the world of pop music. Or, to put things in terms that the bluebloods of the most powerful nation on Earth will understand, there’s the one percent, and then there’s everyone else. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

Taylor Swift on sexism, scrutiny, and standing up for herself

 A Sunday afternoon in Tribeca, and I’m in Taylor Swift’s loft, inside a former printing house that she has restored and fortified into a sanctuary of brick, velvet, and mahogany. The space is warm and cozy and vaguely literary. – Abby Aguirre, Vogue

Hipgnosis Songs Fund acquires Benny Blanco catalog

Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited has acquired 100% of hit songwriter Benny Blanco’s copyright ownership in a catalog of songs comprised of 93 compositions that have been streamed over 10 billion times. Hits by Tory Lanez and Justin Bieber are included. –  Celebrity Access

Beyoncé's next appearance? The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery is acquiring yet another national treasure. A portrait of Beyoncé featured in a 2018 edition of Vogue will go on display at the museum at an undisclosed date. – Christi Carras, LA Times 

Rocker David Crosby on angry bandmates, Woodstock, Altamont and hungry tigers

David Crosby's new confess-all documentary David Crosby: Remember My Name, currently screening at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, is making him as notorious for his outspoken observations as he was famous for singing and strumming with the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (and also Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young). – Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Jack Grey? … Jack White and Jack Black collaborate on new song

The long hoped-for partnership was announced by Black at a concert with his band Tenacious D.  – Corissa Hollenbeck, Guardian

Composer for The Simpsons sues for age discrimination, wrongful termination

Alf Clausen, 78, told he was being replaced because series was 'taking the music in a different direction'.  – CBC

Americana godfather Jim Lauderdale wants you to listen more

With his eclectic new album ‘From Another World’ out now, the songwriter reflects on the lost art of listening. –  Rolling Stone

Review: Herbie Hancock and Kamasi Washington show the thrilling possibilities of jazz

At Roy Thomson Hall, both the legend and relative newcomer refused to be confined to a genre, coming together on an exhilarating final jazz-funk jam. – Max Mertens, NOW

Uncovering writer Ray Padgett, Vermont's King of covers 

Twelve years ago, Ray Padgett stumbled into a music niche that would come to define the next phase of his life and career: cover songs. He is the founder of a blog called Cover Me, through which he indulges his passion for covers both great and obscure. – Chris Fransworth, Seven Days Vermont

Bon Iver: i,i review – his first ever misfire

Justin Vernon has been building Bon Iver into an artistic commune of shared ideals – but loses his way in a fog of weak melodies and bad poetry. –  Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian

How a collaboration between Roky Erickson and Doug Sahm became part of the blueprint for punk rock

Chapter one of the Austin Punk Chronicles concludes with two local legends setting the stage for a global music revolution. – Tim Stegall, Austin Chronicle

David Berman: Hear 12 essential songs

The Silver Jews and Purple Mountains leader, who wrote beloved, endlessly quotable tracks, has died at 52. – Rob Tannenbaum, NY Times

Wacken 2020 is an instant sellout

75,000 tickets sold out in just under a day, while last week's edition was another success. –  Anna Grace, iq-mag

While She Sleeps launch t-shirt based on Spotify royalties

British rock band While She Sleeps aren’t just a dab hand at this metalcore business: they also have a new sideline as open-source merchandise activists. – MuscAlly

Loans for Songwriters: From hassles to handshakes

The bottom line is, a lot of banks don’t know what to do with you if you’re a working-class songwriter. So what can a songwriter in your position do? Based on my own experience, I’m here to help you with a few tips. – Dan Reifsnyder, Soundfly