Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 3, 2018
Bono incites feminist ire with his comments and a Leonard Cohen collection at the U of T offers gems. Those also featured in today's headlines include Lady Gaga, Major Love, Cheapies, Doug Paisley, Lorde, Rihanna, The Killers, and more Best of 2017 albums lists.
By Kerry Doole
Take off your shades, Bono; girlies are on top
The U2 singer seems to have missed what happened for women in 2017 – Barbara Ellen, The Guardian
U of T’s Leonard Cohen collection digs up diamonds in the mine
Within the library of Leonard Cohen’s materials, what may strike you isn’t uncommonness, but familiarity – Cathal Kelly, The Globe and Mail
Colleen Brown finds Major Love in both Edmonton and Kingston
The acclaimed singer/songwriter's new band will release a debut album soon – Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Journal
On the heels of Lady Gaga, the economics of Las Vegas residencies reach new highs
The race to lock down Las Vegas’ highest-paying residency is heating up with Gaga announcing a two-year engagement at the MGM Park Theater – Shirley Halperin, AP
Cheapies’ 40th Boxing Day bash may have been the last
The owner of the famed downtown record store in Hamilton mulls its future – Paul Wilson, Hamilton Spectator
The best music of 2017, from Alvvays to the xx
Music critic Ben Rayner’s hopelessly subjective opinion after a year of far too many albums to evaluate – Toronto Star
David Bowie book club launched by his son
“My dad was a beast of a reader,” says Duncan Jones – Pitchfork
Doug Paisley on being inspired by Canadian poet Al Purdy
The Toronto roots songsmith is beloved by critics and his peers – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail
Lorde cancels Israel concert after pro-Palestinian campaign
The New Zealand singer cites an ‘overwhelming number of messages and letters’ she received as having led to her decision – The Guardian
Vice founders apologize for allowing a “boy’s club” culture at the company
Shane Smith and Suroosh Alvi say they are “truly sorry” for not doing enough to stop inappropriate behaviour at the company – Catherine Shu, techcrunch.com
The 36 best overlooked albums of 2017
All the good stuff that might've flown under your radar in a hectic year – Noisey
Year-End Roundup: Vancouver albums you may have missed, Part 1
Presenting the best local releases of the first half of 2017 – Shawn Conner Inside Vancouver
Rihanna calls for end to gun violence after cousin shot and killed in Barbados
The singer posted that she “can’t believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms!” – AP
The Killers, together and apart
The hit US rock band is united behind a new album although Dave Keuning and Mark Stoermer are taking a break from touring – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star
2017 Year-End Roundup, Part I: Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia
This year’s roundup of favourite albums begins on the East Coast. The choices include Mo Kenney, The East Pointers and Florian Hoefner – Great Dark Wonder
The lost art of music snobbery
Snobs derive enormous pleasure from lording their refined taste over the great unwashed. And there are no more odious snobs than music snobs, at least as they existed before the advent of streaming services such as Spotify – Marc Weingarten, Globe and Mail
Kendrick cruises, Wiley confuses, and Gaga goes OTT: the essential pop for 2018
Can Lady Gaga get away with murder? Will Kendrick Lamar stay on top? Are Franz Ferdinand set to blossom? And has Harry Styles’ transformation only just begun? We preview the new year’s pop highlights – The Guardian
