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FYI

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.

Music Biz Headlines: February 19, 2018

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

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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

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Kid Cudi at the "Happy Gilmore 2" New York Premiere held at Jazz at Lincoln Center on July 21, 2025 in New York, New York.
John Nacion/Variety

Kid Cudi at the "Happy Gilmore 2" New York Premiere held at Jazz at Lincoln Center on July 21, 2025 in New York, New York.

Concerts

Kid Cudi Hits Toronto and Vancouver on 2026 Rebel Ragers North American Tour

M.I.A., Big Boi, A-Trak and more will join Cudi on the outing slated to kick off on Apr. 28 in Phoenix.

Kid Cudi is hitting the road this year. The Grammy-winning rapper announced the dates for an extensive 2026 North American outing on Monday (Jan. 26), the 33-show Rebel Ragers tour, which is slated to kick off on April 28 at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre before hitting arenas and outdoor sheds across the U.S. and Canada and wrapping up at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre on June 27.

Cudi will have plenty of company on the outing, including special guests M.I.A., Big Boi, A-Trak, me n ü, and Dot Da Genius presents GLKPRTY w/ Powers Pleasanton across select dates. Tickets for the Live Nation-produced tour will be available beginning with an artist pre-sale beginning on Tuesday (Jan. 27) at 10 a.m. local time, followed Citi and Mastercard pre-sales on Tuesday beginning at 11 a.m. local. There will be additional pre-sales throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale that kicks off on Friday (Jan. 30) at 10 a.m. local time; click here for additional ticket information.

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