Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 17, 2018
Bruce Allen offers sage advice, and Johnny Cash's famed Folsom Prison concert is being chronicled. Also making headlines are Stephan Moccio in The Launch, Facebook changes, Janis Joplin, Burdock Piano Fest, Bono, Gotye, Lana Del Rey, and Tune-Yards.
By Kerry Doole
"Artists today have more power than they realize": Bruce Allen
The veteran Canadian artist managerhas done far more than survive. He has, in fact, been something of a pioneer – MBW
Johnny Cash documentary film to chronicle Folsom Prison concert
January 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the famed show recorded at the infamous California prison – Stephen L. Betts, Rolling Stone
Niagara composer Stephan Moccio part of new series The Launch
The hit songwriter will be a mentor and producer in two episodes, joining Fergie and Boy George to select one of five hopeful singers for a life-changing push in the music biz – John Law, Niagara Falls Review
How musicians can make the most out of Facebook's upcoming changes
As an independent recording artist, I want to help calm the storm, demystify what this means, and share exactly what I’ll be doing to make this work for my music brand – Leah McHenry, Digital Music News
Janis Joplin: the singer who screamed a very American pain
With her raw, anguished voice, Joplin – who would have been 75 this month – was a hippy icon. But on Piece of My Heart she became something darker still – Nick Coleman, The Guardian
How a 70-year-old subway singer landed a record deal
A year ago, Bill Hudson was singing doo-wop with a group of seniors at the 34th Street Herald Square station. Now, the 70-year-old Bronx resident is fronting a 12-piece rock band, John the Martyr, performing in hip clubs – Raquel Laneri, New York Post
The Burdock Piano Fest casts the net wide
“Why don’t we bring in a really nice piano for a week, and just program a week of piano shows, and get people excited about that?” – Burdock booker Charlotte Cornfield on the festival's origins – Sara Constant, The Whole Note
Bono’s fund makes its first Fintech investment, backing Acorns
Financial technology startups are grabbing a greater share of capital from investors. Now Bono is getting in on the action with The Rise Fund that he co-founded – Julie Verhage, Bloomberg
'A relic of long-gone possibility': how Gotye fell in love with a rare, forgotten synth
When Wally de Backer first heard the ondioline, an obsession began that took over years of his life – Brigid Delaney, The Guardian
Lana Del Rey was understated yet confident at the Air Canada Centre
Wiser and more focused on the search for personal strength, the singer has become the patron saint of low-energy wallflowers with rich interior lives – Kristel Jax, NOW
Music Reviews: Cadence Weapon, Xylouris White, Scott Hamilton Trio, Corrosion of Conformity
An eclectic list ranges from Canadian hip-hop to mellow jazz to hardcore – Stuart Derdeyn, Vancouver Sun
Tune-Yards: ‘The shared experience of music is sacred’
Merrill Garbus, frontwoman of the art-pop act, talks about white privilege, female producers and dance music – Holly Williams, The Observer