Music Biz Headlines, Feb. 14, 2020

By FYI Staff

Gord Sinclair hopes to meet with heritage minister over country's live music biz

The Tragically Hip bassist Gord Sinclair believes Steven Guilbeault, named to the federal position last November, should hear from Canadian musicians on the importance of protecting smaller live venues, often the spots where young artists cut their teeth. – David Friend, CP

Bruce Allen’s Reality Check: Disaster for the record industry

Delays are expected to the production of vinyl and some labels' release schedules in the future as a result of a fire at the Apollo/Transco lacquer production facility in Banning, California.

The facility, which was housed in a warehouse, was badly damaged in the fire. It produced lacquer discs that are integral to the mastering process and was one of only two companies in the world supplying the global vinyl industry. The other, MDC, is based in Japan.

The things we do to make a record

Ever do something radical to fund an album? I did. And I’m sharing the story publicly for the first time. – Lisa Patterson, SOCAN Blog

One company now owns the only record store chains in Canada, the US and the UK

Canada’s Doug Putman is now the owner of 405 record shops on both sides of Atlantic. – Hypebot

Junos co-chair tees up March music awards show

With just over a month to go until the 2020 Junos are set to hit Saskatoon, a co-chair of the Canadian music awards show is giving a preview of what fans and artists can expect. Scott Ford said it’s the place to be for people looking to network. – CKOM News

10 albums that defined Toronto music in the year 2000

As Wavelength celebrates its 20th anniversary, we take our own look back at 10 key releases that made up the Y2K sound of the city in a turning point year. – Stuart Berman, NOW

LISZTS | 10 things You probably don't know about Roy Thomson Hall

Roy Thomson Hall has been a provocative subject for Toronto’s concert goers. One undeniable fact is that it has become a major part of Toronto’s musical and architectural history. Here are a few interesting facts we found that you might not have known about Toronto’s premiere concert venue. – Michael Vincent,  ludwig-van.com

Now in its fifth year, upcoming Verboden Festival gives Vancouver music fans five days to embrace the darkness

Vancouver's Actors will be among the over 50 dark-music acts playing an expanded edition of the Verboden Festival. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight 

Three new initiatives launch to improve gender representation in Canadian music

The SOCAN Foundation, Girl Connected and Keychange have all recently launched programs to create opportunities for female-identifying and gender-nonconforming musicians. – Michael Rancic, NOW

International

Forget the $3B Tencent acquisition – Universal is set to IPO in the next three years

An update from Paris-based Vivendi yesterday is very big news -  “Eight banks have been mandated by Vivendi to assist it in this matter. An initial public offering is currently planned for early 2023 at the latest.” – Tim Ingham, MBW

How to choose the best music distribution site

The music distribution company you choose should make the process as easy as possible. They should be on your side, wanting you to get your music out there. If they are at all difficult to work with, get rid of them. – Caleb J. Murphy, SonicBids

What is the best way to promote music in 2020

Are you just starting out, or are you an established artist? Are you trying to turn a profit, or just build awareness? Are you promoting a new record, planning a tour, building a social media following, or trying to blow up on Spotify? What’s your promotion budget? Do you even have a promotion budget? – Brian Hazard, HypeBot

This is how insane music copyright claims have become: Totally. F**cked

About ten days ago, the Geeks&Beats podcast I host with Michael Hainsworth received a takedown notice from Universal Music, alleging a copyright infringement (i.e. use of music without permission) in an episode. – Alan Cross, A Journal of Musical Things

What doesn’t kill Ozzy Osbourne makes him... even Ozzier

On a quiet afternoon in the home of Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness steps gently into his parlor. After spinal surgery, physical therapy helps, and Osbourne estimates he’s about 75 percent back to normal. – Steve Appleford, The LA Times

In the Hot Seat with Larry Leblanc: Cousin Brucie Morrow

For decades, Cousin Brucie Morrow has been as part of our lives, our traveling companion, helping us to pass the time by playing the songs of our times. – Celebrity Access

‘That evil kind of feeling’: The inside story of Black Sabbath’s iconic cover art

For the first time ever, designer Keith Macmillan and his collaborators, including the ‘Black Sabbath’ cover model, delve into the creation of some of rock’s most mysterious album sleeves. – Kory Grow, Rolling Stone

The 1975 commit to playing only gender-balanced music festivals

Matt Healy, frontman of Brit award-winning band the 1975, has said the group will only perform at festivals with a gender-balanced lineup. I believe this is how male artists can be true allies,” he says. – Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian

Doors’ keyboardist Ray Manzarek celebrated in new documentary-concert film hybrid

Few sounds from the 1960s are as recognizable as that of the Vox Continental organ, and few musicians played the instrument quite like Ray Manzarek of the Doors. Fans of the late keyboardist can keep his spirit alive at screenings of “The Doors: Break on Thru — a Celebration of Ray Manzarek,” which arrived in theatres Wednesday, which would have been Manzarek’s 81st birthday. – Rafer Guzmán, Newsday

A call to arms: Universal, Warner, Sony, Spotify, Apple, Amazon – dig deep and help

The following blog comes from Lohan Presencer, the Chairman of London-based nightclub and legendary dance music brand, Ministry of Sound.  – MBW

Inversia: the Arctic music festival lighting up perpetual night

In Russia’s frozen far north, Murmansk’s Inversia festival draws artists reflecting on the edges of the earth – including Brits, despite ever chillier diplomatic relations. – Andrew Dlckson, The Guardian

The new rules of music snobbery

Hulu’s High Fidelity reboot captures the end of elitist condescension and the rise of fervent eclecticism. – Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic

Musical notes: Scorsese, Madonna, and the awfulness of millennium pop

In our new monthly roundup of our music critics’ musings, we explore a forgotten corner of middle-class post-Britpop angst and a book that argues for pop’s intrinsic magic. – Staff, The Guardian