advertisement
FYI

Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 10, 2018

A new documentary explores the fascinating history of Berlin's Hansa Studios. Those also in the headlines include Joan Baez, Bono, Toscanini, Yoko Ono, The Killers, Jimmy Iovine, Lana Del Rey, Lenny Breau, George Michael, and Pat DiNizio.

Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 10, 2018

By Kerry Doole

Hansa Studios: By The Wall 1976-90, Sky Arts — strange nostalgia

The documentary provides a peek into the legendary music studio by the Berlin Wall. Bowie, Iggy and Nick Cave's The Birthday Party all recorded there  –  FT 


Joan Baez talks 'new way of expressing myself' on her first album in a decade

The singer also discusses retiring from the road, and the "pretty fucking gloomy" outlook that inspired her new album 'Whistle Down the Wind' –  Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone

Sure, we streamed a lot in 2017, but we didn't own our music

At the risk of getting all 'wake up sheeple!!' I wonder what this new growth for the business means for us, the music lovers –  Tshepo Mokoena, Noisey

Lithuanian company linked to Bono fined after Paradise Papers revelations

The company agrees to pay €53,000 in back taxes following investigation, as U2 frontman ends his minority investment –  Hilary Osborne, The Guardian

advertisement

New biography on Toscanini should win music book of the year

Harvey Sachs’ latest book, Toscanini Musician of Conscience, is the definitive biography of a legendary figure in the music world –  William Littler, Toronto Star

Killers concert was hot but left fans out in the cold

Montreal fans shut out in the cold before being able to enter Place Bell –  T'Cha Dunlevy, Montreal Gazette

Yoko Ono to be reinterpreted by three Toronto musicians

The Element Choir, Mamalia and Lillian Allen take the artist at her word and will push their voices to the limit at the Gardiner Museum at a Feb. 23 show –  NOW

Lana Del Rey says Radiohead suing over song's similarity to Creep

The singer-songwriter tweeted ‘it’s true about the lawsuit’, saying Radiohead are asking for 100% of the publishing royalties to her track Get Free –  Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian

Interview: Jimmy Iovine on 'The Defiant Ones,' future of streaming, and why he is never satisfied

The record industry titan discusses his acclaimed film and many other topics  –  Shawn Setaro, complex.com

The working relationship of Lenny Breau and Ron Halldorson

The Canadian guitar virtuoso and the bassist made musical magic together –   Marc Myers, JazzWax

Row over George Michael’s garden shrine puts future of site in jeopardy

Residents object to mess, but there are no settled plans for an alternative memorial to the singer –  Vanessa Thorpe, The Observer

Guest stars announced for Pat DiNizio Smithereens tribute at the Basie Theatre in New Jersey

An illustrious list includes Stevie Van Zandt, Patty Smyth, Ted Leo and Marshall Crenshaw – Chris Jordan, app.com

advertisement
Ed Sheeran performs onstage at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York, New York.
John Nacion/Billboard

Ed Sheeran performs onstage at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York, New York.

Music News

Ed Sheeran Addresses Controversy at First Show Since Openers, Backing Band Dropped Off Tour, Calls It ‘The Best Show of My Life’

Before his show in Philadelphia, Sheeran read a statement acknowledging the issue of Israel and Palestine, but still tried to keep things neutral.

Ed Sheeran needed to address the situation before he could start playing guitar. It wasn’t how he wanted to start his show, and he’s made it abundantly clear that the last thing he wants around him is controversy or, in his words, to be an “activist musician.”

But here he was, at the first show after his opener and friend Macklemore was kicked off the tour, following pressure by a group of venue owners led by Robert Kraft who took issue with Macklemore’s statement of support toward Palestine. That led to the rest of the tour’s openers and even Sheeran’s backing band for the tour dropping off the tour in solidarity with Macklemore — all of which became a huge news story and PR nightmare for the usually very un-controversial Sheeran. And though he had already made one highly scrutinized statement online while the news story was at its most potent, Sheeran felt the need to address the crowd at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night (Sept. 19) in person, before the show really started.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.

keep readingShow less
advertisement