Music Biz Headlines, July 11, 2018

By FYI Staff

Drake caught in legal wrangle between Cash Money, Aspire and UMG

Aspire Music Group claims that they signed Drake to a contract in 2008 before Cash Money inked him to a new deal a year later. The case is moving forward and is one of several legacy entanglements Drake faces from his past when he was unproven and starting out as a rap artist. — Eric Skelton, Complex

Breaking the box office

How the ticket industry became a scalper's game and why we all have to play – Josh O'Kane, Globe and Mail

Twainiacs rejoice: Shania is back, owning her femininity and rockin’ the hell out of an NHL rink

Shania’s lack of polish in the between-song banter was actually one of the evening’s more endearing elements at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena –  Ben Rayner, Toronto Star

Alanis Morissette review – a full-throttle tour through greatest hits

At her show in London, the Canadian alt-rocker delivers high-energy thrills amid sing-alongs that could rival the cheers of jubilant football fans – Hannah Ewens, The Guardian

A profile of Canadian music industry exec Meg Symsyk

"You don't get gender equality by waving a magic wand," she declares – Rhian Jones, MBW

Dunlevy: SLĀV director Robert Lepage just doesn't get it

"Newsflash, M. Lepage: no one is taking away your rights. You were free to mount this highly problematic production. People have the right to question your choices. And they did" – T'cha Dunlevy, Montreal Gazette

Bruce Springsteen’s childhood home is sold

The home in New Jersey where Bruce Springsteen lived for seven years as a child has been sold for $255K (US), which is under the asking price  – AP

80/35 review: Female artists take the lead at Des Moines' downtown music festival, proving they're no longer bill-fillers

From the sublimely ethereal Phoebe Bridgers to the ridiculously over-the-top Kesha, who closed it with a bang on Saturday, the lineup provided a ringing affirmation of what was once called “girl power" – Don McLeese, Des Moines Register

Hear Hanoi Rocks’ Michael Monroe talk glam rock with Chris Shiflett

Finnish blues-rock trailblazer is the latest guest on the Foo Fighters guitarist’s podcast – Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone

On Our Radar: lié makes guitar music sound alive and amphetamined with the video for "Fill It Up"

At a time when rock, punk, indie, chillwave, and every other six-string subgenre seems pretty much dead, it's good to know that someone is making old-fashioned guitar music sound thrillingly alive – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

Fringe Fest review: Movin' Melvin Brown – A Man, A Magic, A Music

The human jukebox who played with B.B. King and James Brown croons, twists and totally entertains – Jordy Kieto, NOW

Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher on artist payments in today’s music industry

 “If this continues, the artist is going to disappear. There are so many people behind those songs you hear on the radio. I can only speak for my genre and the people who know how we do it. I could live a thousand years and if Spotify played me all day long, I’d maybe make a thousand dollars" – mxdwn.com

Sheryl Crow ends folk fest with bang

The American roots-pop singer-songwriter was the perfect accompaniment to cap off the Winnipeg Folk Fest as the sun began setting in a cloudless sky at the main stage at Birds Hill Park  – Jill Wilson, Winnipeg Free Press

Westben Festival’s Don Giovanni needs more substance to be seductive

A stripped down concert version of Mozart’s perennial favourite Don Giovanni at the Westben Festival in Campbellford ON leaves too much to the imagination – John Terauds, Toronto Star

The Weeknd, Neil Young and Future drew huge crowds at Festival D'ete

The sprawling, eclectic Quebec City festival should be on the radar of music fans across the country –  Richard Trapunski, NOW