Music Biz Headlines, July 16, 2018
Scooter Braun (pictured) opens up, the beauty of the Red Rocks venue, and an essential look back at Devo. Others in the headlines include Neko Case, Drake, North Carolina musicians, summer hits, Boots Riley, the Hunter Brothers, feminist pop anthems, Foo Fighters, Raffi, Chastity, and Karimah.
By Kerry Doole
Pop super-manager Scooter Braun: 'I was not going to let Justin Bieber die'
He helped Bieber find God and Ariana Grande respond to the Manchester Arena attack while having to keep tabs on Kanye West. Scooter Braun explains why managing pop stars is perfect training for politics – Alexis Petridis, The Guardian
Sitting in the palm of nature: The unique energy — and performances — of Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre
“There are very few places to play in the world that still make me nervous, and this is one of them,” says Decembrists singer Colin Meloy – Christopher Reynolds, LA Times
What is the most nostalgic song of all time?
A simple question posed at eight o’clock on a Saturday night. I got 5,000 comments back – Mikel Jollett, Village Voice
Devo co-founders talk retrospective book and the early years: 'Devo was an alternate reality'
The new book DEVO: The Brand/DEVO: Unmasked is an essential document. This weighty, beautifully designed book is part oral history, and part exhibition catalog – Robert Ham, Billboard
Why Drake should run for mayor of Toronto
Drake needs a new professional challenge. There’s not much left to conquer in music, so why not take possession of his city's highest office? – Vinay Menon, Toronto Star
Neko Case is excited about musical storytelling, fossils, and balancing beautiful sounds with ugly ones
After seven studio records under her own name and a further seven with the New Pornographers, Neko Case could be forgiven for being jaded – Alex Varty, Georgia Straight
10 North Carolina musicians who shaped American music
The list includes Coltrane, Monk, Nina Simone, and Emmylou Harris – Jason Bivins, news.ncsu.edu
Mellany Sanchez makes Drake look ‘exclusive’
The young New Yorker first made a name for herself on Instagram and is now Drizzy's image director – Joanne Nikas, New York Times
That’s hot! How to make a summer hit
Summer demands its own tunes, from J Balvin to the Rhythm Method. Here’s our five-point guide to how to make the biggest track of the season – Sam Wolfson, The Guardian
Boots Riley wants to make America think again
A member of hip-hop crew the Coup, he is also a filmmaker who always prided himself on keeping up with current concerns – Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Hunter Brothers are striking while the iron is hot
When it comes to music and farming, it doesn’t appear that there is anything black and white about the Hunter Brothers – Jeff Dedekker, Leader-Post
The Enthusiast: The powerful messages in today’s pop anthems are far outstripping those of the past
"I’ve come to spend many weekends cheering on my girls’ troupe and developing an unlikely soft spot for female empowerment anthems" – Simon Houpt, Globe and Mail
Foo Fighters have made it to the stadium-tour big leagues
Dave Grohl and Co. have been unapologetically churning out sky-high anthems with the cheap seats in mind for a good 20 years now – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
While venues close in Toronto, these musicians are bringing one back to life
Fighting against the city’s venue crisis, Future Peers, Witch Prophet and VERSA are throwing a multi-disciplinary show at the former home of Whippersnapper Gallery – Jordana Goldman, NOW
Playing Raffi songs for my son brings my childhood full circle
Raffi just turned 70 this weekend. My son will be two next month. Both are hard to believe – Natalie Stechyson, Huffington Post
Tracy Lawrence is still motivated by his passion for the creative process
He may no longer have the killer mullet or the wicked moustache but Tracy Lawrence is still making his mark on country music – Jeff Dedekker, Leader-Post
Chastity's Death Lust is transcendent rock music
Brandon Williams and his Whitby band have composed an album full of violence, dread, and claustrophobia that's also totally cathartic – Cam Lindsay, NOW
Award-winning Edmonton singer Karimah looks to music's past and future
“There's no single influence but I like voices that are raw and visceral, that can be technically impressive as well.” — singer Karimah – Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal
