Music Biz Headlines, Feb. 22, 2022
Avant-garde saxophonist Colin Stetson (pictured) scores a horror film, Side Door is taking acts to SXSW, and the passing of Duane Lavold is noted. Also in the headlines are Dear Rouge, Winterfolk, Sony Music Publishing, Sara Bernstein, Will Butler, Isaac Wood, Lavender Country, Coachella, Judy Tint, David Crosby, Record Store Day, Jason Isbell, and Tears For Fears.
By Kerry Doole
Saxophonist Colin Stetson revs up Netflix’s horror sequel Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Who brings a woodwind to a chainsaw fight? Colin Stetson, the avant-garde saxophonist who strives to unsettle his listeners, even when he’s not creating scores for horror films. “Every time I make music, I try to do something that is definitively and functionally outside of everyone’s expectations,” says Stetson, who contributed the music to Texas Chainsaw Massacre. the Netflix sequel to the 1974 original that premiered Friday. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Halifax platform Side Door brings indie artists to South By South West
The Airbnb of gigs launched in Halifax's north end–now it's making Austin's biggest fest more accessible. – Morgan Mullin, The Coast
Canadian musician Duane Lavold, whose “Hey Mister” was banned on MTV, dies at 54
Alt-rock raconteur Duane Lavold rattled MTV censors who banned his salacious “Hey Mister” music video from the airwaves, but those closest to the musician say he was a gentle giant who aspired to greater heights than the controversy he drew in the post-Napster era. He died in Dec., after suffering a cardiac arrest during a trip to Greece. – David Friend, CP
Ottawa blues guitarist Sue Foley headlines online edition of Winterfolk festival
Founder/musician Brian Gladstone offered a three-day lineup on 20th anniversary of popular music festival in Toronto. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star.
On Our Radar: Dear Rouge's "Small Talk" will resonate with those who are happiest with being home alone
Time can sometimes be a funny thing, mostly for the way that it constantly changes one’s outlook on the world. Dive into Dear Rouge’s new and brilliantly mixed-tape-worthy “Small Talk” and you’ll have to think about whether you’ve enjoyed the past 24 months. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
In photos: Rhythms And Resistance celebrates Toronto’s Caribbean legacy
The Record Nook sign and artefacts from Bob Marley's time in Toronto are all on display at the Rhythms And Resistance exhibit. – Nick LaChance, NOW
International
Meet Sony Music Publishing's new Head of A&R in the US
Sony Music Publishing (SMP) has hired Walter Jones as Executive Vice President, Head of A&R. In his new role, Jones will oversee Sony Music Publishing’s US A&R efforts, and work closely with the firm’s Stateside creative team to support both emerging and established songwriters. Jones was most recently Co-Head of A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group. – MBW
Imagine’s Sara Bernstein wants to pioneer the ‘musical documentary’ – and make a lot of money doing it
“Everyone keeps implying that this doc bubble is going to burst… but I’m excited about where the documentary form is headed,” co-president of Imagine Docs says. – Brian Welk, The Wrap
The Joe Rogan controversy has a deeper cause
Recording artists are angry at Spotify because, in music streaming, there isn’t enough money to go around. – Will Butler, The Atlantic
The 10 Best Songs of Black Country, New Road's Isaac Wood era
Lead vocalist, lyricist and guitarist Wood stepped aside for mental health reasons in late January, amicably departing—and heralding a new era for—the UK buzz band.– Scott Russell, Paste
WA’s pioneering gay country band Lavender Country releases first new album in 50 years
It’s been a long time coming. Then again, nothing in Patrick Haggerty’s history-making music career has come fast or easy. As the 78-year-old artist and activist tells it, having an actual career in music seemed doomed from the second the country singer and his band Lavender Country released what’s now considered the first gay-themed country album in 1973. – Michael Rietmulder, Seattle Times
Done with Covid-19, Coachella announces you don't have to be vaxxed or wear a facemask to attend this year's fest
Coachella has posted a notice on its website that all Covid precautionary measures have been dropped for this year’s mega-festival, which takes place two consecutive weekends in April. Those attending April 15-17 or April 22-24 won’t have to be vaccinated, undergo testing, wear facemasks, or prove they had the mental bandwidth to pass kindergarten on the first try. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
David Crosby on the "scummy people" at Spotify and his lack of hope for the music industry
Following Neil Young’s departure from Spotify, which set the wave in motion, Crosby and his former bandmates in Crosby, Stills & Nash also removed their music. Crosby’s long been a vocal critic of Spotify and streaming platforms at large. Amidst this most recent episode, we called up Crosby to talk to him about removing his music and where he sees things going from here. – Stereogum
This week In the Hot Seat with Larry LeBlanc: Judy Tint, attorney, professor, & musician
In fighting for one’s legal rights in the jungle that is the music business, it takes more than a good lawyer. It takes a dedicated lawyer with a background as a lifelong music fan. Such it seems is the lesson to be learned from Judy Tint, who opened the doors of her law practice in 1984. Tint’s considerable list of clients includes emerging to heritage performers, songwriters, managers, producers, engineers, industry executives, radio talent, indie labels, and production companies. – Larry LeBlanc, Celebrity Access
Record Store Day is harming, not helping, independent music shops like mine
Supply chain chaos and a worldwide vinyl shortage means the annual event that once saved record shops from extinction has lost its way. – Rupert Morrison, The Guardian
That’s not music you hear, that's the devil
20 Mountain Goats Songs to Celebrate 20 Years of All Hail West Texas, the group's essential album. – Paste
The 10 Best New Songs
Featuring Fontaines D.C., Tomberlin, Renata Zeiguer and more. – Paste staff
Tears For Fears’ first album in 18 years, The Tipping Point, is the record their management didn’t want
After the duo’s 2004 reunion album Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, the band’s management and record label asked the two singer-songwriters to work with contemporary song doctors and cutting-edge producers. The suits wanted hit tunes, not a follow-up album. The latter would be a “waste of time,” the veteran bandmates were told. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
The classic song that John Lennon stole from Frank Zappa and never paid for
Co-writing is a bit of a dirty word these days. However, co-writing has always been around in one way or another – it’s just collaboration under a different name, after all. And for as long as it’s been around, it’s been a source of squabbles and backstabbing. Take, for example, the time John Lennon pinched a song he wrote with Frank Zappa for an album of his own. – Sam Kemp, Far Out
Country mavericks Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell earn new gold and platinum singles
Artists that sit decidedly outside of the mainstream country fold and enjoy little to no attention from commercial radio continue to rack up precious metal, speaking to the gobbling up of market share by independent artists. A feat once thought impossible without the support of radio is now becoming a more regular occurrence, and for a widening group of performers. Childers and Isbell are prime examples.– Saving Country Music
