Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 6, 2020

By Kerry Doole

Justin Bieber returns with Yummy, an ode to (sex with) his new wife

“I’m elated that you are my lady.” That’s what Justin Bieber tells us — well, tells his new wife — in his long-awaited comeback single, Yummy, which hit streaming services Thursday night, more than four years after the pop singer’s most recent solo album, Purpose. – Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times

Justin Bieber thanks Drake for "letting" him have space in Toronto

Justin Bieber has just released some new music, and he jokingly thanked Drake for letting him have space in Toronto’s Yonge Dundas Square to promote it. “Thanks for letting me have some space in Toronto @champagnepapi king,” Bieber wrote in an Instagram post Friday. – Daily Hive

Toronto concerts in January 2020: 15 most anticipated of the month

Laurie Anderson, iskwē, Burdock's Piano Fest, Long Winter and the Class of 2020 series get the new decade of live music off to a good start.–  Richard Trapunski,  NOW

Jessie Reyez, Carly Rae Jepsen and Daniel Caesar among Canadians booked for Coachella

Pop darling Carly Rae Jepsen, rising star Reyez and Grammy winner Daniel Caesar are joining a stacked roster of Canadians in the lineup at this year's Coachella. – David Friend,  CP

The year of T. Thomason 

He recently opened a big New Year’s show in town, and here the pop star reflects on what’s now and what’s next. – Jonathan Briggins,  The Coast

Back in 2004, a couple of pairs of brothers came together at Waterdown High, enlisting their singer while he was still in Grade 6. –  Ric Taylor, The View

Kenni G keeps it real 

The bass-dropping DJ is making EDM more inclusive, one dance floor at a time.  – Morgan Mullin, the Coast

Reflecting on a decade: Supercrawl founder Tim Potocic

Tim Potocic, who became Hamilton’s 75th citizen of the year in 2013, is the founder of the hugely successful Supercrawl street festival. The signature event — showcasing not-for-profit music and arts — drew close to 250,000 people over four days in 2018. Potocic shares his thoughts on Hamilton over the last decade. – Don Mitchell, Global News

This quartet plays everything from bluegrass to Beethoven — and its Toronto program is another sort of surprise

“Orange Blossom Special”? Yes, that was the famous bluegrass fiddle tune the Miro String Quartet was furiously fiddling its way through in Calgary in September at the first Honens International Piano Festival. The same Miro Quartet can be heard playing Mozart, Glière, Franck and Schubert Thursday for Music Toronto at the Jane Mallett Theatre. –  William Littler, Toronto Star

Toronto concerts we're most excited for in 2020

Notorious feminist punk bands, black metal, jazz, the (maybe) final performance by a pop legend, 90s and 00s nostalgia – plus more to look forward to this year. – Staff, NOW

International

George Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue enters the public domain

Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin is entering the public domain, along with other works from 1924, and not everyone is happy about it. The Gershwin estate are worried that someone will adapt the composer’s music in ways that Gershwin would never approve of.  – Colin Cohen, Digital Music News 

Jimmy Iovine knows music and tech. Here’s why he’s worried.

The record executive who made the leap to Silicon Valley looks back on the decade in the music business, and sees a major problem on the horizon. –. Ben Sisario, NYT

Coachella 2020: Full lineup announced

Rage Against the Machine, Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, Thom Yorke, Run the Jewels, FKA twigs, Lana Del Rey, Lil Uzi Vert, and more.  – Pitchfork

I have reported on 30 Korean celebrity suicides. The blame game never changes

I dread getting calls in the middle of the night in case it is to tell me about another suicide by a K-drama actor or K-pop celebrity. – Kim Dae-o, the Guardian

10-year old guitarist Taj Farrant is the first Universal signing for 2020

Taj Farrant, the pre-teen Australan guitarist who recently joined Rob Thomas in concert, has just signed to Universal for 2020. – Noise 11

Woman makes giant hay sculpture of Willie Nelson

The country star frequently sings about travelling and seeing things he may never see again. Chances are he had never before encountered a 4.5-metre-tall hay sculpture of himself — guitar and iconic pigtail braids included — like the one a Virginia woman recently created.  –AP

Sir Rod Stewart and son Sean charged with assault

Rod Stewart has been charged in Florida for allegedly punching a hotel security guard. Stewart and his son Sean were at a private event for children at the Breakers Palm Beach Hotel in Florida when they were stopped by security guard Jessie Dixon. – Noise11

Music legend Meat Loaf goes vegan – but refuses to rename himself Veg Loaf

Meat Loaf joins a host of music stars who have converted to veganism, including Sir Paul McCartney, Bryan Adams, Ellie Goulding, Will.I.Am and Ariana Grande.– Daily News

Guided By Voices performed 100 songs in 4 hours 20 minutes, and we knew every word

It was in the spring of last year when the legendary frontman for Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, told the world he’d received an omen: His doctor had dreamed that Guided by Voices played 100 songs for $100. It was to be so, a New Year’s Eve mega-set at the Teragram Ballroom, Guided by Voices’ adopted home venue in Los Angeles. – Ben McShane, Buzz Bands LA

Barack Obama displays impeccable cool with faves of 2019 list

Barack Obama finished up 2019 by once again showing the world that he's not only the coolest president to have ever sat in the Oval Office, but also a man with impeccable musical taste.  The 44th POTUS wound down the year by revealing what he spent much of the past 12 months listening to.  – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

 Bass legend Carol Kaye blasts ‘Mrs. Maisel’ homage as ‘slander’

Carol Kaye didn’t make history by being easy. The outspoken bass player blazed a trail as the only woman in a group of elite male West Coast studio musicians — now known as The Wrecking Crew. She is not grooving on the vibe of the TV ht. –  Rob Bailey-Millado, NY Post

Elvis Presley’s Graceland planning auction for 85th birthday

Elvis Presley’s Graceland is planning an auction of artifacts to be held during the late entertainer’s 85th birthday celebration on Jan. 8. All the items up for auction come from third party collectors but have been thoroughly researched and certified by Graceland Authenticated, according to a news release from Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. –  AP