Music Biz Headlines, Feb. 9, 2018
Toronto's declaration of Clash Day raises eyebrows, and a new Drake video benefits a Miami school. Also in the headlines are Katy Perry, Jessie Reyez, the Brit Awards, Anagram, James Jamerson, CSNY, Zaki Ibrahim, Ian Hunter, No Age, and Nicholas Jennings.
By Kerry Doole
Why does Toronto have an International Clash Day?
Mayor John Tory declared February 7 a day to celebrate the UK punk band, while "Music City" still faces real and present issues – Max Mertens, NOW
All You Need to Know About: Katy Perry (and her bare butt cheeks)
Forgetting about art for a minute, let's talk numbers when it comes to Katy Perry. The California-born megastar is the most popular person on Twitter, her 108 million followers eclipsing Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and Barack Obama – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
Drake makes a surprise visit to Miami school to film ‘God’s Plan’ video, donates $25,000
The Toronto rapper also gave an impromptu concert at the University of Miami, where he awarded a $50K scholarship to a lucky student – AP
Bands recall their terrible first gigs: 'Everybody laughed'
From Run DMC to Django Django, here are some horror stories – Mark Savage, BBC Music
Who is Jessie Reyez? Get to know Toronto’s top Juno nominee
Learn the story of the soulful voice of an Argonauts cheerleader turned Chance the Rapper collaborator – David Friend, CP
Brits 2018: what to expect at UK music’s biggest bash
With the annual underwhelming ceremony on its way, we predict the fake spontaneity, flappy panics and godawful collaborations that will probably – nay, definitely – happen – Sam Wolfson, The Guardian
Anagram is reuniting for one night at Owls Club
The Ontario punks called it quits in 2012, but they'll be back on May 25 for a Toronto gig – Richard Trapunski, NOW
What we’re listening to now
On the playlist: Freddie Gibbs, a blind synth pioneer, and the excavation of a jazz classic – The New Yorker
Quincy Jones on The Beatles: “They were no-playing Mother#####s”
“They were the worst musicians in the world. Paul was the worst bass player I ever heard. And Ringo? Don’t even talk about it” – Winston Cook-Wilson, Spin
Toronto musicians to watch in 2018: R&B and pop edition
These six genre-blurring artists prove the Toronto Sound is far from singular – Kevin Ritchie, NOW
A tribute to James Jamerson and his funk machine
In a foregone era when guitarists moonlit as four-stringers and walking bass lines reigned supreme, no bass player possessed the musical footprint of James Jamerson – Hilary Brown, Reverb
David Crosby: Shared dislike for Trump could reunite Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
They can’t stand each other, but a founding member of CSNY says the supergroup's intense dislike of the Prez could lead to a reunion –Judy Kurtz, The Hill
Zaki Ibrahim's close encounters
On her brand new album The Secret Life Of Planets, the sci-fi soul singer gives cosmic resonance to intensely personal music – Del F. Cowie, NOW
Ian Hunter doesn't want us to be amazed that he's still rocking at 78
He has written loads of songs about the nature of rock ‘n’ roll itself: of being in a band, of what fans mean to a band, of life on the road and the pitfalls of success – The ARTery
No Age is finally ready to be a rock band
The L.A. DIY art-punk duo of singer-drummer Dean Spunt and guitarist Randy Randall, both 36, seem bewildered by the notion that they’d disbanded, gone into hibernation, or otherwise vanished – Dan Weiss, Village Voice
Nick Jennings passionately preserves Toronto's rock music heritage
The Toronto music journalist and author is on a mission to celebrate his city's rich musical history - The Globe and Mail
