Music Biz Headlines, Feb. 25, 2019

By Kerry Doole

Terence Corcoran: With Sting’s help, Unifor’s fight against GM looks even more deluded

A Marxist fantasy only a millionaire music-industry capitalist could deliver. – Terence Corcoran, Financial Post

Teen Toronto folk duo Moscow Apartment wins fans, industry attention and $100,000 cash

In the two years since the formation of Toronto-based musical duo Moscow Apartment, singers-and-songwriters Brighid Fry and Pascale Padilla have achieved milestones that would make other acts green with envy. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

Do you like Foreigner? You’re better off listening to the original songs than attending Jukebox Hero: The Musical

It's better to remember them as they were than having those memories forever tarnished by this muddled and unnecessary monument. – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star

Foreigner-inspired musical Jukebox Hero is lacking in fun and charisma

Notably missing were a compelling narrative, pure fun, charismatic performances and characters worthy of our sympathy, rooting or even mild concern. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Ace of Wands mix music and mental health activism

With their new album Lioness, the Toronto band has outlined a specific mental health mission, building healing through community. – Luke Ottenhof, NOW

Access to tools-The democratization of the recording process

 "More and more artists have responded to the democratization of the recording process and, in turn, technology provided more affordable gear for home recording. In 2019, of one hundred CDs on my shelf, 80 are essentially independent or woodshed hybrid albums. – Ian Tamblyn Roots Music Canada

Accordionist Ray Walsh helped keep Newfoundland music alive

The accordion is a beloved component of much traditional Newfoundland music, and accordionist Ray Walsh was a master of the genre. He performed for more than 55 years. – Joan Sullivan, Globe and Mail

Podcast: Foreigner’s Mick Jones rocks on with the new musical, Jukebox Hero

As more and more of his rock and roll contemporaries embark on retirement tours before winding down their careers, legendary Foreigner founding member, guitarist and songwriter Mick Jones continues to ramp up the music. – Mike Crisolago and Gina Bucci,Zoomer

International

Billie Holiday documentary in the works featuring new interviews with contemporaries

James Erskine will direct and Concord, representing the legendary jazz singer's estate, will executive produce. – Etan Vlessing, Hollywood Reporter

Michael Chugg sounds off on festivals licensing mess: ‘It’s a fucking nightmare’

Michael Chugg is a guy you want on your side. The legendary Australian concert promoter is never shy to roll up his sleeves and, right now, Chugg and many others have a fight on their hands. –  Lars Brandle, Industry Observer

Newstalgia: How Vegas went from pop retirement village to the home of rap royalty

A-listers such as Drake and Cardi B are playing the once-tacky town, a sign of its shifting currency. – Michael Cragg, The Guardian

Slipknot singer says Imagine Dragons have replaced Nickelback as the worst band

Corey Taylor said. “people are slowly coming back to appreciate Nickelback and then just turning their irksome ire towards Imagine Dragons." – Julia Gray, Stereogum

Watch Kirk Hammett, Black Keys talk ‘Creem’ magazine legacy in new doc teaser

Metallica’s Hammett, the Black Keys’ Patrick Carney, actor Jeff Daniels and more discuss the revolutionary work of Creem magazine in the teaser for the upcoming documentary, Boy Howdy! The film premieres March 10th at SXSW in Austin, Texas with additional screenings to follow. – Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone

The 30 best British blues-rock albums ever

Direct from the Delta to Dartford and beyond, the Blues turned British rock on its head. – Classic Rock

Peter Frampton announces farewell tour

The ‘Finale Tour’ kicks off on June 18th and features Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin evening as the support act most nights. – Andy Greene,  Rolling Stone

Peter Frampton reveals rare muscular disease is why his next tour will be his last

Frampton said he has been furiously recording music since he was diagnosed with inclusion body myositis, a rare and incurable inflammatory condition which causes muscles to weaken slowly. – CBS News

There are now dueling Celine Dion biopics in the works

It’s a relief that — because the verve of Celine Dion could not possibly be captured by one single biopic — there is another Dion-based film in development. Céline Before Celine and The Power of Love will cover different facets of her life. – Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture

After 11 years pushing ‘A Star Is Born,’ producer Bill Gerber is restoring Neil Young in new Woodstock documentary

Young will be seen in a new docu that Gerber is producing as a companion piece to the original, and the singer is reunited onscreen for the first time with ex-bandmates David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash. – Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline

National Museum of African American Music is getting closer to opening in Nashville: Details

A museum, two decades in the making, centering on African-American musicians is finally getting close to opening its doors in downtown Nashville in the coming months. It is inching closer to its $50 million funding goal. – Jewel Wicker, Billboard

Kelly Clarkson’s gearing up for her own talk show

Her last album’s success, in conjunction with her growing visibility as a coach on “The Voice,” led to “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” a vaguely “Ellen”-like, variety-style daytime talk show that will launch in September. – Allison Stewart, Chicago Tribune

Ariana Grande is first artist to reach musical milestone set by The Beatles in 1964

Her songs are grande hits. Singer Ariana Grande is the first artist since The Beatles to hold the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart at the same time. – Gina Salamone. NY Daily News