advertisement
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

advertisement

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

advertisement
mgk performs onstage at the Pre-Grammy Gala on January 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores/Billboard

mgk performs onstage at the Pre-Grammy Gala on January 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Rock

MGK Shares Cute Pics of Baby Saga Blade on Daughter’s First Birthday

The "Cliché" singer shares custody of his little one with ex Megan Fox.

MGK is sharing pics from his infant daughter Saga Blade’s first birthday celebration. The “Cliché” singer posted a series of snaps of his second-born little one on Wednesday (April 1), obscuring the face of the child he shares with ex actress Megan Fox in a photo carousel of images from the baby’s first year.

In the first snap, Saga sits on a tile floor in a cute pink onesie with smiley faces and flowers on it as she reaches out to touch her dad’s black and white patterned sneakers, which match her checkered mini Vans. In another, the rap-rocker enjoys an al fresco lunch with 16-year-old daughter Casie Baker, who leans into her dad as he balances Saga — with the baby’s face obscured by a birthday themed emoji — on his knee.

keep readingShow less
advertisement