Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 30, 2019
88Glam (pictured) making moves, Drake snubs the Junos, Bryan Adams is eternally young, and Paul Brandt gets reflective. Others in the headlines include Future, Kate Bush, Kurt Dahl, Raine and Chantal, Kristel Jax, Universal Music, streaming, John Martyn, Michael Jackson, Richey Edwards, and folk artists.
By Kerry Doole
Hot Toronto rap duo 88Glam marvel at their rapid rise
Sometimes it’s best to add up what’s been staring you in the face all along and just go with the obvious. Case in point: the musical partnership of Toronto rappers Derek Wise and 88 Camino hatched in late 2017 under the name 88Glam. – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Why Drake's record-smashing Scorpion is missing from the Junos
One of Canada's most successful musicians has stopped submitting his albums for consideration. – Eli Glassner, CBC
Concert review: Bryan Adams is eternally young at the Bell Centre
Saturday night at the Bell Centre, the 59-year-old shared some of that fountain of youth energy with a packed house of adoring fans, who were transported back to their respective Summer of 69’s as Adams kept pulling favourites from his endless catalogue of CanCon staples. – Erik Leijon, Montreal Gazette
Home and Away: Paul Brandt tells his story through double-EP Journey project
It was an extracurricular journey down the highways of California that put the country star in a reflective mood and had him contemplating what he calls the “good, the bad and the ugly” of his more than 25-year career. – Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald
Review: Future shows a new side on Future Hndrxx Presents: The WIZRD
The Atlanta rapper has previously kept his hard trap and softer, more melodic songs separate, but his new album successfully combines the two. – Claudia McNelly, NOW
Five Songs About classic novels
In this edition, we bring you five songs inspired by books. Because musicians read too, you know. The list features Kate Bush, The Cure, and The Ramones. – John Lucas, Georgia Straight
One bad lawyer
Kurt Dahl is a lawyer by day, a rock star in One Bad Son by night and an advocate for artists throughout. – Aidan Macnab, Canadian Lawyer
Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk reflect on marital struggles in documentary
Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk are no strangers to putting their marriage on display for public scrutiny, but in their new documentary “I’m Going to Break Your Heart” the musicians go a step further by inviting cameras into some uncomfortably tense situations. – David Friend, CP
Kristel Jax creates a safe space for people to keep calm and drone on
Kristel Jax is a Toronto-based musician, writer and performance artist who founded Drone Therapy as a YouTube comedy series that explores mental illness in 2015. – Carly Lewis, Globe and Mail
International
Universal Music sale puts resurgent industry on the market
With a strong appetite for investment opportunities in the business and Universal’s command of the market, world’s largest music company could fetch a hefty premium. – Anne Steele, WSJ
The four types of music subscription models in 2019
There’s a widespread perception that paid streaming subscriptions have become recorded music’s lifeline, restoring the sector to a state of growth and driving its ongoing global expansion. – Cherie Yu, MBW
Grace & Danger: A Celebration of John Martyn review – torrid tribute from Paul Weller and friends
This Celtic Connections’ jewel marked 10 years since the death of a jazz-folk visionary. It was a reminder of his potent talent. – Graeme Virtue, The Guardian
Nigeria's Mavin Records secures multi-million dollar investment from Kupanda Holdings
Local African repertoire is set to become one of the global music industry’s stories of 2019. – Tim Ingham, MBW
Michael Jackson's family blasts new documentary
The family of the late star terms the new documentary Leaving Neverland “tabloid character assassination”. The four-hour expose, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will be shown on HBO later this year, centred on claims from James Safechuck and Wade Robson that the musician, who died in 2009, sexually abused and manipulated them when they were children. – WENN
Missing Manic Street Preachers rock star Richey Edwards still alive, new book proposes
A rock star who disappeared 25 years ago and was later presumed dead may, in fact, ,may be alive and living in Israel, a new book claims. – Dan Satherley, News Hub
The month's best mixes: Nkisi, Aleksi Perälä and silken Berlin memories
We select the best of January’s mixes, including recordings from Terraforma, Mutek Mexico and Panorama Bar. – Lauren Martin, The Guardian
10 folk artists you need to know in 2019
Listen up, because these folkies are going to be everywhere this year. Canadian Kaia Kater makes the list. – Ellen Johnson, Paste
