Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 19, 2023

By Kerry Doole

‘Doug and the Slugs and Me’ chronicles ‘80s Vancouver ska-infused pop band

They were perpetrators of such Canadian radio and turntable classics as “Too Bad,” “Making It Work” and “Day By Day,” but they had a complicated history. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

Doug and the Slugs and Me: New CBC doc explores the legacy of the misunderstood pop band

“Would you take another look at me if I were dangerous?” Doug Bennett asked in 1981. The late Bennett was the Doug of Doug and the Slugs, a likeable party band from Vancouver that felt anything but threatening, or even barely serious. There’s always more to the story, though, as this new doc shows. – Brad Wheeler,Globe and Mail

Best New Canadian Tracks This Week: Charmaine, Manila Grey, Savannah Ré, AR Paisley

2023  has just begun, and we’ve compiled the best new Canadian songs of the week. You can also check out new music from Joey Stylez here and new music from Partynextdoor. – Louis Pavlakos, Complex Canada 

Displaced Ukrainian pianist holding concerts in Canada to build back Kharkiv Arts University

Anna Sagalova fled Ukraine with her young son a week after the Russian invasion began in February, 2022.  Sagalova is now based in Vancouver while her husband, who is a musician and composer, remains in Ukraine. – Catherine Kustanczye, Globe and Mail

Arkells frontman’s name to be immortalized on Hamilton snow plow

The votes are in—Arkells’ frontman Max Kerman’s name will now be immortalized on a snow plow. The City of Hamilton released the top 10 winning names from its “Name the Plow Initiative” on Friday. Residents had 20 names to choose from, but “Max Kermanator” was the winner by a large margin. – Katherine DeClerq, CTV News

Why Whitehorse’s new album turns up the twang

"The pandemic was so apocalyptic ‘only country music seemed appropriate," say Luke and Melissa. – Nick Krewen, The Toronto Star

Hamilton’s Lorraine Segato named to Order of Canada

Parachute Club singer has recently moved back to her hometown. – Graham Rockingham, The Spectator

The Black Halos see better days

Hopeless’ happiness is contagious, and it starts these days with his continued collaboration with his old songwriting partner, Halos’ guitarist Rich Jones. There’s the new record with a sold-out first pressing, and an album-release show at the Rickshaw on January 13. – Allan MacInnis, Georgia Straight

John Armstrong’s Guilty of Everything reissue finds a mega-fan in the great Bob Odenkirk

Vancouver author and musician Armstrong got a shout-out in the dying days of 2022 that, in all likelihood, meant more than all the press he ever generated with the Modernettes—the band that made him infamous in the ‘80s-punk underground. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

Pat Steel rubbed shoulders with showbiz giants

The Regina-based jazz singer passed away on Jan. 1, age 86.  – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

F---ed Up, Paramore, Ice Spice: 10 new tracks to kick off your weekend

This week’s Star Tracks playlist also includes new music from Nakhane featuring Perfume Genius, Tennis, Gracie Abrams, Belle and Sebastian and more.–  Staff, Toronto Star

International

Five numbers that will come to define the music business in 2023

We know that the following five stats set the scene for some of the standout happenings, tensions, and hopes of the music biz in 2023. And we know that you’ll probably be better armed for whatever this year throws at the music rights industry if you understand why each of them is so important. – Tim Ingham, Music Business Worldwide

Did the music business just kill the vinyl revival?

New data tells an ominous story. – Ted Gioia, Substack

Dr. Dre selling music assets to Universal Music Group and Shamrock Capital: Report

Dr. Dre is selling several of his music assets and income streams in deals with both Universal Music Group (UMG) and Shamrock Capital, Billboard and Variety report. The combined sale price is said to exceed $200 million. – Pitchfork

This week In the Hot Seat with Larry LeBlanc: Wayne Johnson, president, Rockaway Records

.While vinyl recordings, once on the verge of being relegated to history’s technological junk bin, have become one of the music industry’s biggest comeback stories, it’s also evident that music memorabilia and collectibles sales are also now skyrocketing. Rockaway Records in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles offers proof. – Larry LeBlanc, Celebrity Access

.Five decades later, John Fogerty gains ownership of CCR catalog

Fogerty struck a deal with Concord to take a majority stake in CCR's publishing catalog, giving him ownership over his songs after decades of failed attempts.–  Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone

Gwen Stefani says she’s ‘Japanese’ amid Harajuku backlash

"The Voice" alum recited an oft-repeated yarn about her Italian-American father who travelled to and from Japan for 18 years when he worked for Yamaha Motorcycles. – Nardine Saad, LA Times

Nick Carter honours late brother Aaron Carter with song ‘Hurts to Love You’

The elder Carter on Wednesday released “Hurts to Love You,” which references the brothers’ strained relationship. – Eonline

Famous fans say farewell to the B-52’s: ‘They got me to question my own prejudices’

After 46 years, the Athens originals are taking off for good later this year. David Byrne, Boy George and more pay tribute to one of the most unusual pop bands ever. – The Guardian

Rihanna addresses new music hysteria in Super Bowl teaser

It’s been more than six years since Rihanna has released an album, and the roar of demand from fans for new music is deafening. Rihanna hears you, she sees you, and she’s poking a little bit of fun. The singer and fashion mogul has debuted a teaser ahead of her Super Bowl appearance.  – CNN

‘This song sucks’: Nick Cave responds to ChatGPT song written in style of Nick Cave

Singer-songwriter dissects lyrics produced by popular chatbot, saying it is ‘a grotesque mockery of what it is to be human.' - –  Sian Cain, The Guardian