Music Biz Headlines: February 19, 2018
A Canadian hip-hop anthem turns 20 this year, and Drake's penchant for charity is praised. Also in the headlines are music broadcasts, Joni Mitchell, audio streaming and ticket scalping.
By Kerry Doole
'Northern Touch' at 20: An oral history of the most important rap collaboration in Canadian history
For the 20-year anniversary of its release, the artists and key contributors to the song reflect on its impact, "from the past to the present and the future," for an oral history of "Northern Touch." – q, Tom Powers
Broadcasting live gigs – platforms for music broadcasts reviewed
The platforms include Facebook Live, Periscope, YouTube, YouNow, ConcertWindow, StageIt, and Gigee. They are not all created equal – Chris Huff, Disc Maker Blog
How to be a responsible fan in the age of streaming
According to the data trackers at BuzzAngle Music, more than 99 percent of audio streaming is of the top 10 percent most-streamed tracks. Which means less than 1 percent of streams account for all other music – Damon Krukowski, Pitchfork
Drake’s giveaways in ‘God’s Plan’ remind us there’s more than beats in his heart
The local rap titan’s new video makes something of a spectacle of charity, but it’s clearly a sincere part of who the superstar is – Vinay Menon, Toronto Star
David Crosby on Joni Mitchell: “She was stunningly good, right off the bat”
The story of Mitchell's rise to fame, as told by her biggest champions – Sam Richards, Uncut
Cracking down on scalpers: Google changes rules to curb deception in ticket sales
Resale sites must show more transparency according to new AdWords guidelines – Dave Brooks, Billboard
Kendrick Lamar's gripping 'Black Panther' soundtrack joins a tradition of black movie music
The new blockbuster proudly adheres to an established tradition of black movie music that stretches back decades — through "Boyz n the Hood" and "Waiting to Exhale" in the 1990s to "Purple Rain" and "Do the Right Thing" in the 1980s to "Super Fly" and "Shaft" in the 1970s – Mikael Wood, LA Times