Music Biz Headlines: Black Sabbath's Epic Farewell, Oasis's Grand Return
Also in the headlines this week: Tim Leiweke steps down from Oak View Group after criminal indictment, Drake's feat on Apple Music charts, a deep dive into FACTOR's theft case, Merck Mercuriadis makes a comeback.
Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath
A farewell show by Black Sabbath featuring other heavy metal superstars grabbed international headlines this past week, alongside stadium concerts by fellow English stars Oasis.
Canadian music publishing mogul Merck Mercuriadis makes a comeback with Hipgnosis and a $10M heist of top Canadian music funding org FACTOR is explored in depth.
Read about those stories and more in this week's roundup of music biz headlines.
Canadian Music Biz Headlines
The (Alleged) Anatomy of the $10-Million Heist that Rocked Canadian Music
In June 2024, millions of dollars disappeared from the bank account of music-funding body FACTOR. Josh O’Kane reports on how it all (maybe) went down. – The Globe & Mail
Drake Alludes to Friends Betraying Him in Kendrick Lamar Feud on ‘What Did I Miss?’
The rapper also seemingly teased a new project called 'Iceman.' – Ashley Iasimone, Billboard
Drake’s Latest Stunt has Launched This Toronto, Family-run Business into the Global Spotlight
The rap superstar spent last Friday cruising the city in an ice delivery truck provided by The Iceman Toronto, a small business that has operated in the city for decades. – Richie Assaly, Toronto Star
Drake Has the Most Songs on Apple Music's Top Streaming Songs of the Last Decade
The Toronto rapper has 27 songs on the chart and three spots in the Top 10, including "God's Plan at No. 3, just below The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" at No. 2. Canadian artists Justin Bieber and Daniel Caesar also make the list. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Montreal Rapper Rowjay Electrifies Paris with a High-Energy Outdoor Concert
The exclusive show in Paris’s 20th arrondissement on July 3 marked a key milestone in the international rise of the Quebec rapper. – Yasmine Seck, Billboard Canada
The Winnipeg Folk Festival was Supposed to be a One-time Event. This Year, it Turns 50
The first Winnipeg Folk Festival in 1974 was a free three-day event called the Winnipeg Centennial Folksong Festival, in celebration of the city’s 100th anniversary. On July 10-13, the Prairie institution celebrates its 50th edition of songs, folk music fellowship and unpredictable weather. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
As a Landmark Film About Glenn Gould Returns, It’s Time to Revisit the Iconic Musician’s Toronto
The creative team behind “Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould” look back on his genius — and the mark he made on the city. – Eric Veillette, Toronto Star
Joni Mitchell Honoured With the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s Gold Medal
The award recognizes people for "a particular achievement" in the field of geography. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
CBC’s Travis Dhanraj Says He was ‘Forced to Resign’
Travis Dhanraj, the host of Canada Tonight with Travis Dhanraj, says he was sidelined for attempts to have internal conversations about 'systemic issues' and 'editorial imbalance.' – JK Nestruck, The Globe and Mail
International Music Biz Headlines
Tim Leiweke to Step Down as OVG’s CEO After Being Criminally Indicted for Bid-Rigging
The government accuses Leiweke of orchestrating a "conspiracy to rig the bidding process" to win a contract to build and operate the Moody Center in Austin. – Dave Brooks, Billboard
9 Best Moments From Black Sabbath & Ozzy Osbourne’s Epic All-Star Farewell Show
The "Back to the Beginning" send-off in Birmingham, England, was a fitting finale for the heavy metal band that changed everything. – Tom Morgan, Billboard
Oasis Fans Go Supersonic as Long-awaited Reunion Tour Kicks Off in Wales
Oasis ended a 16-year hiatus on Friday with a punchy, powerful trip through one of Britpop’s greatest songbooks, kicking off a reunion tour in Cardiff, Wales to a crowd ecstatic for the band’s 1990s hits. And was there brotherly love between the famously feuding Gallagher siblings? Definitely maybe. – Jill Lawless, Associated Press
I Was at Oasis’ Opening Night in Cardiff — Here’s What to Expect in Your City
Oasis' reunion tour is set to hit cities worldwide on the 41-date jaunt. Opening weekend in Cardiff set the bar for fan excitement. – Thomas Smith, Billboard U.K.
Hipgnosis Founder Talks New Venture, Eyes Buying Back Catalogue From Blackstone
Merck Mercuriadis, the proponent of "music as an asset class" to Wall Street investors, says his new venture will support big artists and their managers and buy catalogues on the side. – Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, Billboard
Netflix Holds Talks with Spotify to Expand Live TV Content, Report Says
Netflix has held talks with Spotify to partner on projects such as music award shows or live concert series as part of its live TV push, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. –Reuters
Over 200 Indie Label Execs Sign Letter Objecting to UMG/Downtown Deal
The open letter, distributed by IMPALA and addressed to Europe's competition watchdog, urges the EC to conduct a "deep investigation" into Universal Music Group’s proposed acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings. Those signing include reps of
Beggars Group and Secretly Group. Murray Stassen, Music Business Worldwide
BTS Will Return in Spring 2026 With a New Album and World Tour
Their reunion? It’s smooth like butter. The K-pop septet BTS will return in spring 2026 with a new album and world tour. – Maria Sherman, Associated Press
Australia Cancels Kanye West’s Visa over ‘Heil Hitler’ Song
Ye’s wife, Bianca Censori, was born in Australia and her family lives in Melbourne. – Toronto Star
Don’t Roll With It: The Ticket Scams Targeting Oasis Fans and Other Gig-goers
Posts on platforms such as Facebook claim people have spare tickets and seek payment by bank transfer. – The Guardian
