Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 5, 2018

By FYI Staff

What to expect at CES this year

The consumer electronics extravaganza is expected to draw close to 200K product buyers who will be pitched by 4K exhibitors at the annual in Las Vegas. Wearables, AI, and monster-sized 8K TVs are among the products being hawked by manufacturers from 150 countries this year – Mike Freeman, San Diego Union-Tribune

A gaggle of headlines about CES

From the main show floor at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the likes of LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony showcase increasingly outlandish TVs and more, to the halls of The Venetian, home to some of the world's best-known hi-fi brands, to VR, wearables, car tech and more... There is something for everyone. And with CES 2018 set to have 11 official venues, across 2.5 million net square feet of space, this year should be no different.

CES again fails to marquee female keynoters

The last time CES’s keynote lineup included women was in 2016 with the inclusion of General Motors CEO Marry Barra and IBM CEO Ginny Rometty – Shannon Liao, The Verge

How much music are Canadians streaming

Canadians streamed twice as many songs on any day in 2017 than they downloaded over the whole year. Or did they? – Josh O’Kane at the Globe & Mail explains

Music industry trying to save the CD any way it can

CD sales were boosted this year by a trend that saw some concert tickets for big arena shows — including tours by Arcade Fire, Shania Twain and Pink — bundled with a copy of the band or artist’s latest album – David Friend, CP

L.A. Reid raises $75M for new label venture, sources say

It’s been eight months since Antonio ‘L.A’ Reid departed Sony Music under controversial circumstances – but BMW is hearing that the executive has already raised serious funding to stage an independent comeback in 2018.

Is now really the best time to invest in music royalties?

"The song ['Hallelujah'] earned only about $20,000 in the first eight years of its life,” said Merck Mercuriadis. “But then Jeff Buckley and John Cale covered it, and then it ended up as a sync in the first Shrek film, and suddenly every four- to 14-year-old in the world and their parents hear that song for the first time and fall in love with it. 20 years later, that song has earned a few million dollars and is ubiquitous across feel-good moments in movies and even in talent competitions. That’s part of what we’re trying to do here [at Hipgnosis Song Fund]: recognize those Hallelujah moments for songs that haven’t been exploited, but that can add value for our investors.” – Cherie Hue, Forbes

The Distillers to reunite in 2018?

Brody Dalle has teased the return of her former seminal punk band, The Distillers – nme.com

Toronto musicians to watch in 2018: hip-hop edition

Toronto’s rap scene has been on a wave for the last four years, and it’s not slowing down. Here are six acts poised to have a major year – Jordan Sowunmi, NOW

In Memoriam: Jazz and blues artists we lost in 2017

Not a month went by this year without too many figures from the world of jazz and blues bidding us farewell. Here is a look at some of those we lost – Matt Micucci, jazziz.com

45 Vancouver concerts in January

The list includes First Aid Kit, Lights, Big Boi, Matt Mays, and Monty Alexander –  Steve Newton, Georgia Straight

Less than 2% of content creators on Patreon earn monthly minimum wage

Rising Windsor rockers Huttch led by the nose

Wide-ranging indie-rock trio, playing the Horseshoe on Friday, is getting more attention after deriving its new name from sneeze – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

Remembering Rick Hall and the musical alchemy of FAME Studios

The famed studio owner and record producer passed away this week – Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker

Country singer Carrie Underwood warns fans she ‘might look a bit different’ after injury from a fall

“Even though I’ve had the best people helping me, I’m still healing and not looking quite the same,” Underwood said in a letter to her fan club members – Emily Yahr, Washington Post

Secret sounds: the best songs you didn't hear in 2017

Our writers pick their ones that got away this year, from mournful Swedish house music to sun-drenched soul – The Guardian

The best Toronto concerts happening in January

From Bahamas to A Tribe Called Red, here are the shows our critics are most looking forward to this month – Richard Trapunski, Kevin Ritchie, NOW

Three bands that prove LA's modern doom-metal scene is maturing

Los Angeles has long been known for its expansive metal history, but recent years have seen a resurgence locally in the thicker musical rumble of doom –  Jason Roche, LA Weekly

Year in Review: You can leave the country, but it never leaves you

Thanks to two of the biggest names in country music (plus a couple of its newest stars), a spark in the dark turned into a bush party bonfire – Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Journal

Country home: Calgary's Sykamore releases new EP, pens publishing deal in Nashville

The country singer/songwriter likes to stubbornly maintain an independent streak – Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald

The legendary history of Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern

David McPherson's labour of love preserves the story of an iconic, genre-shifting music venue  – Joel Rubinoff, Toronto Star

The 10 albums that we can’t wait to hear in 2018

The eclectic list ranges from rap to classical, with choices including Laila Biali, Bahamas and Chromeo  – CBCMusic.ca