Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 28, 2019

By Kerry Doole

Local spotlight: Duff Roman

Duff Roman is a music industry pioneer. For the past 60 years, he has led, pushed and prodded the blossoming Canadian music scene into the vibrant industry it is today. In mid-March that industry will say a heartfelt thank you, by presenting the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award to the 80-year-old former broadcaster and entertainment entrepreneur. – Tim Taylor, Niagara Now

David Bowie app provides three-dimensional rock ’n’ roll fun

The app features 25 audio-visual spaces dedicated to songwriting, cultural influences, videos, personas, tours, recordings and noted fashion designers. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Moscow Apartment a breath of fresh air In the Dead of Winter

The annual In the Dead of Winter music festival is perfectly timed to catch attendees at that time of the year when they could sorely use some spiritual uplift. This year sees a strong slate of local, Canadian and international performers especially chosen to be the melodic equivalent of a favourite heavy sweater and a cup of hot cocoa. – Stephen Cooke, Chronicle Herald 

Jazz, roots artists conjure up images of home in new discs

“Canola blooms are a very vivid memory of growing up around my grandparent's farm and traveling down country highways. It's where I come from and a picture of summertime in my mind.” - Remi Noel. – Roger Levesque,  Edmonton Journal

Backstreet's back! '90s group has new album, Grammy-nominated hit and tour

Backstreet Boys member Howie Dorough calls it “the second coming” of the biggest selling boy band in the world who already boast 130 million album sales worldwide. The ‘90s vocal group have a new disc, DNA, out now. –Jane Stevenson, NOW

Review: Pedro The Lion's Phoenix has everything that makes them a cult classic

David Bazan has revived the band for their first album in 15 years, and it's full of affecting personal-yet-relatable narrative songs. – Luke Ottenhof, NOW 

Eugene Ripper album release show and book launch 

The self-described "Canadian punk rock survivor and fast folk pioneer" Eugene Ripper returns to town with a double dose of Beat-feeling original poetry—both in song and book form—to make you feel all the glorious feels. – The Coast

How Nikki Yanofsky mixes throwback sounds with modern sensibilities in her latest single Big Mouth

We interviewed the singer about her influences, her collaborators and her latest single, Big Mouth, a song written somewhere between rinse and repeat in the shower. –  Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

All you need to know about: Travis Scott in Vancouver

From the name alone, you would expect Jacques Berman Webster II to be the type of retrograde tycoon who sits around the Newport Country Club smoking Cohibas and quaffing Old Fashioneds with Thurston Howell III and Francisco d'Anconia. Hip-hop heads, however, know Webster better by the rather more mundane moniker Travis Scott. – Georgia Straight

Titan of Canadian publishing Jack Stoddart fought for his industry

The late publishing executive started out as a musician, playing with Robbie Lane. – Judy Stoffman, Globe and Mail

Review: Dierks Bentley balances party and polish at Rogers Place

The country superstar walked a fine line throughout the evening, shifting back and forth between raucous and reverent during a fun night of familiar hits. – Ryan Garner, Edmonton Journal

The last days of Jean Machine — the outrageous store that was an influencer decades before Instagram

The Toronto store attracted many rock celebrities. –  Katie Daubs, Toronto Star

The Beatles' "Hey Jude" single was nearly scrapped over its "pornographic" Apple label

Capitol Records raised concerns that it "actually depicted a vagina." – Calum Slingerland, Exclaim!

CineCycle rallies support after accusations of racism

The underground cinema and arts hub's owner Martin Heath says he lost $10,000 in bookings after a Facebook post went viral last August. – Michelle Da Silva, NOW

New music, art programs in Calgary set out to share Indigenous culture

The Indigenous Resilience in Music group launched the Isitsiipotaako music and art program this week at the Calgary Public Library. – Livia Manywounds, CBC News

Jazz pianist David Braid in Saskatoon for a movie screening, live performance

Braid is in town for a screening of Born to Be Blue, a movie he wrote the score for, followed by a Q and A and jazz concert. – Matt Olson Star-Phoenix

A Queen for every generation

Forty-three years later, I still remember the captain of our high school football team belting out Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody in the locker room after gym class. “I SEE A LITTLE SILHOUETTO OF A MAN!” he shrieked at the top of his lungs." – Joel Rubinoff, Torstar News Service

Brittney Rand exorcises heartache and frustration with Cherrie Laurel

Rand wrote, performed, and produced all of Cherrie Laurel's six-song debut, A Furnace, A Fire, herself. – John Lucas, Georgia Straight

International

Canadian driver blames Mötley Crüe song for his speeding ticket

Ask anyone who has been pulled over by the long arm of the law, and they’ll tell you that all forms of excuses came to their mind as the officer approached their vehicle. However, we’d wager that blaming the song on the radio for their decision to speed isn’t a very common one. – Tyler Jenke, Tone Deaf

The Final Days of EMI review – from Beatles glory to Coldplay toothbrushes

Eamonn Forde’s account of the fall of the music company, whose acts included the Sex Pistols and Rolling Stones, is full of comedy and tragedy.  – John Harris, The Guardian

Godless Studios’ Jerad Anderson and Sebastian “Seb” Webber

This week In the Hot Seat with Larry LeBlanc:  Jerad Anderson & Sebastian “Seb” Webber, co-founders/executive producers, Godless Studios, and two of the music industry’s staunchest advocates for serving the best interests of music artists. – Celebrity Access

We analyzed every dang song that cracked the Billboard Top 5 in 2018

Welcome back, pop music scholars, and Look Alive… because we did it again. There were exactly 40 songs in the Billboard’s Top 5 in 2018. Exactly 40 — how clean is that? – Dean Olivet, flypaper

Oscars: Most of the Best Song nominees won’t perform on telecast

Only two of this year’s five Oscar-nominated songs may be presented live on the Academy Awards show Feb. 24, Variety has learned. They are the Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga hits. – Jon Burlingame, Variety

Music legend Oliver Mtukudzi is given national hero status in Zimbabwe

It is the highest honour that can be given to an individual by Zimbabwe and Mtukudzi is the first artist to attain the rank.  CNN