Music Biz Headlines, July 19, 2021
Adrian Sutherland builds a studio in Attawapiskat, life lessons from Art Bergmann (pictured), and Harry Styles alienates Canadian fans. Others in the headlines include Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Ruth June Budd, Charlotte Cardin, Anne Murray, Kent Nagano, Celine Dion, Primal Scream, Mary Weinrib, Woodstock 99, Spotify, vinyl pressing, Willie Nelson, Foo Fighters, rock photographers, and Machine Gun Kelly.
By Kerry Doole
Attawapiskat musician builds recording studio in shipping container
Over the course of the pandemic, Adrian Sutherland transformed an old shipping container into a recording studio, which he's called SeaCan Studio. "There hasn't been anything like this here before," said Sutherland, who is a singer/songwriter and the front-man and founder of the band Midnight Shine. – CBC
Lessons from a legend: Punk icon Art Bergmann advocates theft, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll
What is Art Bergmann fighting against? Whatever you got. Late last year, the anti-establishment rocker was named to the Order of Canada, but the songwriting guitarist is not done speaking truth to power. This year’s Late Stage Empire Dementia is a potent and poetic collection of songs that address everything from the drug crisis in Alberta to rise of fascism in the US. – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail
Interview: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson bridges generations of Indigenous music
The Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg musician and writer will win the Prism Prize's 2021 Willie Dunn Award, one of many accolades she's received recently, including a Polaris Prize shortlist nomination. – Richard Trapunski, NOW
No Love for Canada: Harry Styles fans angered as singer cancels concert dates
Canadian fans of Harry Styles saw their “Watermelon Sugar” high crushed after the British singer quietly cancelled concerts set for Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal later this year. The pop star released an updated schedule of his North American tour on Wednesday and missing from the 40 dates was any mention of his four Canadian shows. – David Friend, CP
TSO bassist Ruth June Budd was one of the notorious Symphony Six
Noteworthy for her breakthrough as the first professional female bassist to play with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Ruth June Budd earned notoriety for something she wasn’t allowed to do. In 1951, along with a handful of other TSO musicians, Ms. Budd was denied entry to the United States, where the orchestra had been invited to perform. – Susan Ferrier MacKay, The Globe and Mail
Charlotte Cardin on the creative process behind her first full album ‘Phoenix’
The rising star modelled for five years, from the ages of 15 to 20, so she could pursue her true passion: music, and the path that recently led to the release of her first full album, “Phoenix,” one that recently landed her on the Polaris Music Prize long list for album of the year contention. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star
Angela Wrigley Trio draws on personal history, popular standards and jazzed-up covers for debut
Like many artists who have spent a good deal of time prepping for a first record, Calgary jazz singer Angela Wrigley had a wealth of material and years of experience to draw on and sort through when it came to recording You Don’t Know What Love Is. Her jazz outfit has been playing for nearly four years. – Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald
Anne Murray songs delighting millions through the years
With her melodious and warm voice, Anne Murray songs dwell in the hearts of her fans since the day she emerged into the music industry. Within a short span, she was able to climb up the ladder of success at its highest point. – Country Thang Daily
Maestro Kent Nagano returns to Quebec and the Festival de Lanaudière on short notice
When Kent Nagano takes the podium to lead the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in a program of Mahler and Debussy at the Festival de Lanaudière in Joliette, Que., it not only marks the resumption of the summertime classical music fixture after last year’s cancellation because of Covid, but also the return of the maestro who led the orchestra as its music director from 2006 to 2020. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Celine Dion biopic ‘Aline’ boggles critics at Cannes
Cannes 2021: “You have not lived until you have seen this 57-year-old actress-director shrink herself down to Hobbit size to play a pre-teen,” a New York Times writer says. – The Wrap
How did a small coffee shop outside of Ottawa become an important concert stop?
45 minutes west of Ottawa is the small village of Burnstown. Over the summer the local café, Neat Coffee Shop will play host to a series of concerts, a music festival that they call the Shed Sessions (say that five times fast). For the past year, whenever possible, Neat has been one of the few venues hosting live music in Canada. – A Journal of Musical Things
Q&A: Recalling ‘out of control’ Woodstock ’99 with Kim Clarke Champniss
Former MuchMusic VJ Kim Clarke Champniss has fond memories of the Woodstock ’94 festival. Good music. Friendly vibe. A worthy successor to the original Woodstock. Woodstock ’99? Not so much. – John Law, Niagara Falls Review
Mother of Rush singer Geddy Lee survived Auschwitz
When Rush singer-bassist Geddy Lee walked out on stage at a concert at Maple Leaf Gardens one night in the late 1970s, he was surprised to see a certain middle-aged woman in the front row. It was his mother, Mary Weinrib, a survivor of Auschwitz, a Yiddish-speaking variety store owner and a spirited suburban mom of three. She passed away this month, at 95. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
International
British MPs call for ‘complete reset’ of music streaming to protect artists
Committee calls for investigation into whether competition in the recorded music market is being distorted. – Alex Hern,The Guardian
How much does Spotify pay per stream? Here’s the latest data (updated for 2021)
If you’re racking up Spotify streams, then knowing roughly how much other artists are earning per play is a must. The following information – sourced from Spotify royalty data shared directly with DMN – will help you verify that your compensation is comparatively fair. – Dylan Smith Digital Music News
Pressing issues: vinyl revival held back by production capacity, Brexit and more
This weekend’s Record Store Day celebrates the vinyl revival, but the format is facing multiple obstacles at once. – The Guardian
Getting fans back in theaters is hard.
Tech and celebrities like Ludacris are helping the US film industry rebound. – Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times
The hip-hop song that's driving Cuba's unprecedented protests
Cuba is suffering through a summer of dire shortages, from food and electricity to medicine. Fed-up Cubans are taking to the streets in unprecedented protests — and they're voicing their outrage through a song called Patria y Vida — homeland and life. – Bill Chappell, NPR
Foo Fighters postpone LA show after crew member tests positive for Covid
Last week's show was planned to be the first major event in Los Angeles since lockdowns began with 18,000 tickets sold for The Forum show. – USA Today
Willie Nelson and Beto O'Rourke use star power to raise thousands of dollars for Texas Dems
Country music star Willie Nelson and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke are fund-raising for a group of Texas Democrats threatened with arrest by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) after fleeing the state to block GOP-led voting restrictions. – Yahoo News
Bobby Gillespie: “Everyone in Primal Scream is really flattered that Lorde was influenced by ‘Loaded'”
"It's incredible," the Scottish rock band's frontman told NME. – Andrew Trendell, NME
Music for the eyes: PBS documentary explores the adventures of rock photographers
Once upon a time, photographers could shoot concerts start-to-finish in search of the best possible images. Trusted shooters were given free rein to lurk around before shows and get candid backstage shots of performers. When the stars aligned just right, the snapshots — moments in time, really — were glorious. And then things changed, as things are prone to do. –Tulsa World
Independent black artists are changing the landscape of country music
The past two years have seen a Black artistic revolution emerge in country music, even as America faces a resurgence in strife directly linked to anti-Black racism and bigotry. Iconoclastic Black artists working in both the genre’s mainstream and independent spaces are standing up for themselves by creating uniquely organic homages to country’s traditions. – Marcus K. Dowling, Bandcamp Daily
High School reunion with Machine Gun Kelly and Wesley Lowery
The singer's first-ever review was written by his Cleveland high school classmate. Nearly 15 years later, they talk about how Kelly willed himself into stardom—and the Megan Fox GQ poster that adorned his teenage bedroom. – Wesley Lowery, GQ
