Music Biz Headlines, July 5, 2019
Jim Cuddy (pictured) up close and personal, the divisive nature of Taylor Swift, and the Roxodus fallout. Also in the headlines are Jann Arden, Lil Nas X, BSS, Big Machine, Justin Bieber, Troy Carter, Neil Diamond, Grace Jones, Graham Nash, Hipgnosis, and the Rolling Stone Charts.
By FYI Staff
Making plans and hatching ideas, Jim Cuddy stays fresh creating with his pals
Cuddy rubs his hands together in glee discussing making music with friends, whether it’s around a campfire, in the barn just outside, or on stage in front of tens of thousands of people. – Michael Hollett, Beat Route
Roxodus: What the hell went wrong?
"Trust me when I say that they ticked all the right boxes when it came to organization, finances, and their overall vision for the festival," says Alan Cross, the ill-fated fest's media spokesperson. – A Journal of Musical Things
Scooter Braun feud is part of Taylor Swift’s instinct for victimhood
As a superstar in the music industry, it’s time for Taylor Swift to ditch the victim act. To her mind, Swift has been mistreated more than a rented mule in Lima. – Vinay Menon, Toronto Star
Toronto concerts we're looking forward to in July 2019
Outdoor concerts from PUP and Tame Impala, a classic hip-hop lineup at a beer fest and more shows to catch this month. – NOW
Ailing Jann Arden rises to occasion in JazzFest closer
Dressed in radiant layers of white, Arden delivered a full-on performance from the start, occasionally sipping tea to keep her voice going. – Kathy Fitzpatrick, StarPhoenix
Review: Broken Social Scene's Canada Day concert had a ton of special guests
Back at the Harbourfront Centre after a decade, your hometown band brought July Talk, Charlotte Cornfield, an Arcade Fire cover and Anthems with an actual 15-year-old girl. – Richard Trapunski, NOW
Rain excuse for Roxodus cancellation a 'bunch of bunk,' says airport employee
'We feel bad for the people who bought tickets,' Edenvale Aiport owner says; Vendors, ticket purchasers concerned about recouping the money they've spent. – Shawn Gibson, Orillia Matters
Stones won't be packing it in anytime soon
Judging from Jagger’s Energizer bunny performance, his surgery seems to have given the singer renewed purpose as a performer with something to prove. – Jane Stevenson, Canada.com
International
Big Machine inadvertently just did a promo ad for label services deals
The more that the media is awash with stories like this, the more that artists will be considering their options. This does not however mean that all artists will be turning down traditional masters deals in favour of label services deal. – Music Industry Blog
What is Big Machine actually worth in its pending nine-figure acquisition by Ithaca Holdings?
With Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings apparently agreeing to pay upwards of $300 million for Scott Borchetta's entire Big Machine operation, industry deal makers are wondering if that price tag is a final valuation for the Nashville-based company. Billboard estimates the range somewhere between the upwards of $300M amount and $460M. – Ed Christman, Billboard
Taylor Swift, entitled millionaire, is the labor activist the music industry needs
Taylor Swift, one of pop music’s most polarizing superstars, is enmeshed in another very public battle, and the world has promptly, predictably, divvied up into pro- and anti-Swift camps. She has consistently spoken out in support of the economic rights of her fellow creatives. – Randy Lewis, LA Times
UFC celebrity match: Justin Bieber vs. Tom Cruise could be the most profitable PPV in history, says Dana White
Justin Bieber's absurd tweet from June is now making fans — and even Dana White — look forward to a possible celebrity Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) match. The UFC president said that the Bieber vs. Cruise fight might sound “crazy” but confirmed last week that someone has officially approached him to make it come true. – EconoTimes
Atlanta music executives get support through Creative Industries Exchange program
Invest Atlanta, in partnership with City National Bank, 902 Hip Hop, The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR), and Spotify Secret Genius, recently hosted the Creative Industries Exchange program to help rising leaders in the music industry. It was conducted in Toronto in May. – ADW News
Troy Carter's Q&A reveals partnership with Warner Music to help 'upstream Independent artists'
Troy Carter continues to make moves with Q&A, the music and tech venture he co-founded in April. After announcing a partnership with Sony/ATV in May, the company has now revealed the details of a pact with Warner Music under the label's CEO Max Lousada. – Tatiana Cirisano, Billboard Biz
Who is the biggest hit songwriter working today?
So, to shine a momentary spotlight on the behind-the-scenes musicians creating today’s standout chart smashes, MBW has pulled together data that reveals who the most successful hit songwriters on the US hit parade were in the first half of 2019. – Tim ingham, MBW
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ writer to bring Neil Diamond musical to Broadway
Many artists’ lives have been portrayed in Broadway shows over the past few years, including Cher, Carole King, and The Temptations. Now, “Sweet Caroline” fans can rejoice as a new Neil Diamond musical is in the works. Dramatist Anthony McCarten, known for Bohemian Rhapsody, will pen the musical’s book. –Ticketnews
10 songs, 10 languages: Because music knows no language barrier
Do you know that feeling when you suddenly hear a brand new song in a totally unknown language, but you just can’t resist its adorable melody and keep humming it for days? We bet you do because it happens to everyone! “It’s a phenomenon that clearly proves the power of music and the impact it has on people all over the globe. – Joe McLean, Music Think Tank
Vivendi’s sale of UMG enters ‘ndefinite pause’ as fire crisis worsens
Vivendi’s planned sale of a portion of Universal Music Group may be delayed substantially into 2020, according to sources to Digital Music News. – Paul Resnikoff, DMN
Grace Jones has quit her role in the next James Bond film
The diva has reportedly chucked her role in the upcoming James Bond film just minutes after arriving on set, apparently angry with the number of lines she was given. – Harrison Williams, MixMag
Graham Nash is auctioning his collection of historic guitars
Few know of his passion for the historic collection of guitars he amassed over the years. On July 20, Heritage Auctions will present a group of 19 guitars from Nash’s important collection at auction for the first time, including the iconic 1969 Martin D-45 Acoustic Guitar, which he played at Woodstock. – Buddy Iahn, The Music Universe
'We push each other forwards': tuning into the north's independent radio scene
Stations such as KMAH, Melodic Distraction and Sable Radio are propping up local music scenes – but can they survive when all the funding goes to hip Londoners? – Jemima Skala, Guardian
Belgium’s VestiVille turns into ‘Fyre Fest 2’ catastrophe
There’s one thing a music festival doesn’t want to be called, and that’s “Fyre Fest 2.” However, Belgium experienced its own version of the infamous event this past weekend when the Vestiville festival was slated to kick-off in Lommel. festival-goers experienced havoc upon arrival, as they were met with disappointment and disorganization. – Olivia Perreault, Ticketnews
Hipgnosis says its monster bets are already paying off: “There’s more evidence to back our thesis”
Hipgnosis is paying 10X — or more — on hit-heavy songwriter catalogs. Just months later, the company says its bets are already paying off and it's applauding itself for a successful year one. – Marsha Silva, DMN
Welcome to the Rolling Stone Charts
Taking you inside Rolling Stone’s in-depth, in-the-moment new music charts tracking your favorite artists, songs and albums. – Rolling Stone
Lil Nas X is gay and he thought he made it obvious. Apparently not.
During the last day of Pride Month on June 30th, Lil Nas X pointed to lyrics from his song “c7osure,” from his debut EP. – Ashley King, digitalmusicnews.com
South Korean protest music is inspiring Hong Kong’s demonstrators
During the height of the demonstrations, on June 14, a protester with a guitar took the stage at the downtown Chater Garden and sang “March for the Beloved,” an iconic protest song of South Korea—first in Chinese, then in Korean. This shows how South Korea’s protest music has traveled internationally. – T.K. Park, The Nation
Multi-media Brisbane Festival announces the 2019 Program
David Berthold has announced his fifth and final program as Artistic Director of the Brisbane Festival, and it is, he says, the biggest and most ambitious of the lot. – Jo Litson, Limelight
Inside Katharine McPhee and David Foster's 'perfect day' — See their gorgeous wedding album
McPhee and Foster tied the knot last Friday in London, more than a decade after the pair first met on American Idol. – Joelle Goldstein, People
