Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 6, 2022
Guitar hero Domenic Troiano (pictured) is remembered, Bryan Adams has cinematic ambition, and Kensington Sound turns 50. Also in the headlines are The Weeknd, theatre shutdowns, Jack Long, Catseye, Sean Kelly, Denise Ho, David Bowie, Spotify, 2022 predictions, Kodak Black, Elton John, Nirvana, Slade, and David Lee Roth.
By Kerry Doole
Domenic Troiano is remembered as a ‘complete human being with foibles’ in biography
Troiano was revered by other musicians but never mainstream famous. He was kind and selfless but also demanding, and music destroyed his marriage, authors say. – Denis Grignon, Toronto Star
Bryan Adams wants to expand on his photography career by making a film
"I can easily see myself as a cinematographer, maybe even a director." – Charlotte Krol, NME
The Weeknd releases new album Dawn FM this week
Tyler, the Creator, Lil Wayne, Quincy Jones, Oneohtrix Point Never, and, mysteriously, Jim Carrey feature on the After Hours follow-up. – Pitchfork
Toronto’s Kensington Sound recording studio turns 50
From Ron Sexsmith and David Wilcox to Alannah Myles, Teenage Head and Sharon, Lois & Bram, studio musician-owner Vezi Tayyeb looks back on five decades of producing music. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star
Ontario and Quebec’s movie theatre shutdown is shameful
When cinemas reopen in Ontario and Quebec – and they will, eventually – I propose a cross-provincial screening of Sidney Lumet’s Network. Why? Because, in the words of that film’s tragic figure Howard Beale, I’m mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take this any more. – Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail
A look back at the Calgary arts scene of 2021
Artists, art organizations, audiences, fans and just about everyone else would have preferred if the biggest arts story in Calgary was not the impact of Covid-19. But, sadly, it remained the strongest, most disruptive force affecting all aspects of the sector. – Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald
Long & McQuade’s Jack Long reflects on a life filled with music
Jack Long reminisces about 65 years of famed Toronto music store Long & McQuade. – Gilles LeBlanc, Toronto Star
Calgary's new arena deal officially terminated
City of Calgary, CSEC spent an estimated $20 million to $25 million on project. – CBC News
The Catseye album finds a release after 48 years
Back in the early '70s, when he was 22 years old, Vancouver singer-songwriter Duane O'Kane hooked up with Brit Colin Brown to pursue their dreams of a career in the music business. The three musicians--along with instrumentalist José Gross--ended up recording nine tracks of psychedelic folk under the name Catseye., only now being released. – Steve Newton, Georgia Straight
Guitarist and teacher Sean Kelly rocks international stages and local classrooms
The in-demand Toronto rock guitarist leads a double life as a Catholic-school teacher. – Sean Kelly, Toronto Star
Best Canadian music writing 2021
It’s the end of another year and for the fourth year running, I’ve decided to compile a Best Canadian Music Writing list. I still wanted to highlight the written word while completely recognizing it is a completely subjective and personal list. – Del Cowie, Invisible
Police arrest Hong Kong pop star, actor, and human rights activist Denise Ho
The Canadian-raised entertainer was taken to a police station in late Dec. – Charlie Smith, Georgia Straight
International
David Bowie’s estate sells his publishing catalog to Warner Chappell
After months of negotiations, David Bowie’s estate has sold the singer’s formidable publishing catalog to Warner Chappell Music for a price upwards of $250M. The deal brings nearly all of Bowie’s music into the Warner system. Last Sept., the estate announced a global partnership with Warner Music that will bring the late artist’s vast recorded-music catalog from 1968 through 2016 under the company’s umbrella; the deal includes Bowie’s albums from 2000 - 2016, originally released via Sony Music. – Jem Aswad, Variety
The brakes have been slammed on audio streaming's growth in the UK. Is the US next?
Are the world's biggest music markets headed towards an era where streaming growth plateaus, in the same way it has in the 'early adopter' Scandinavian territories? The latest data, at least on a volume basis, suggests so. – Tim Ingham, MBW
As Spotify fights to lower songwriter pay, its top lawyer exits for Disney.
Spotify‘s Horacio Gutierrez has become a well-known figure in the music industry as the firebrand leader of SPOT’s legal assault on Apple over the latter firm’s app store charges. Gutierrez is now leaving – exiting his position as SPOT’s Head of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer for a top job at The Walt Disney Company. – Tim Ingham, MBW
2022 MIDiA predictions: The year of the creator
Westminster Abbey pushed for Elton John to play at Diana’s funeral
Buckingham Palace received a personal appeal from the Dean of Westminster to allow singer Elton John perform at the funeral of Princess Diana, newly released government documents show. Rev. Wesley Carr urged a senior figure in the royal household to include a performance by Mr. John, a friend of the princess. – Reuters
The Worst Songs of 2021
Songs that make you go hmmm took no holiday during the second year of the pandemic. Libs-owning country? Check. Gay-baiting hip-hop? Sure, we had that. Anti-vax rock? It’s practically become its own subgenre — why not? Defiantly rabble-rousing songs from Kid Rock, DaBaby, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, and more weren’t exactly the height of fun or enlightenment in 2021. – Chris Willman, Variety
Rapper Kodak Black arrested on trespassing charge in Florida
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said Black was taken into custody in his hometown of Pompano Beach early Saturday morning, according to the South Florida SunSentinel. Investigators did not immediately release details about what prompted the arrest. – AP
Greek operas soar at cultural complex in Athens
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre in Athens presents two Greek operas. – William Littler, Toronto Star
Lawsuit accusing Nirvana of sexually exploitive imagery is dismissed
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a man who said he had been sexually exploited by the grunge rock group Nirvana when the band used a photo of him as a baby, naked and drifting in a pool, for the cover of its seminal album “Nevermind.” – Maria Cramer, NY Times
David Lee Roth’s farewell Vegas residency has been cancelled due to Covid-19.
Roth had announced he was retiring following the solo run at the legendary House Of Blues at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, which was due to kick off on New Year’s Eve. After early shows were cancelled, now the remaining dates between January 7 and January 22, have also been axed owing to the pandemic and the “alarming” spread of the Omicron variant. – MusicNews.com
Folk’s unsung heroines – the sisters who saved English music
My new play Folk focuses on two Somerset sisters whose – uncredited – recall of traditional songs helped Cecil Sharp save the music from extinction. It’s an ambivalent legacy. – Nell Leyshon, The Guardian
Noddy Holder wants original Slade line-up to reunite for Glastonbury
"I think we’d probably all have to go in on a coach each." – Tom Skinner, NME
