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FYI

Music Biz Headlines, July 6, 2018

Gordon Lightfoot bids a temporary farewell to Massey Hall, members of The Hip still mourn their Gord, and Arthur Fogel reflects on the concert business. Others in the headlines include James Blake, Kanye West, Shania Twain, D.O.A., Joe Jackson, streaming, Kensington Market, Friar's Music Museum, Vance Joy, Jesse Zubot, and Jiants.

Music Biz Headlines, July 6, 2018

By Kerry Doole

Review: Gordon Lightfoot bids farewell to Massey Hall

As the concert hall prepares to close for extensive renovations, the Canadian folk icon's wit and timeless songs cut through the air of finality – Michael Rancic, NOW


The Hip mourn "the loss of a good friend," eight months after Gord Downie's passing

The Hip still hurts. Gord Downie’s Tragically Hip bandmates — guitarists Rob Baker and Paul Langlois, and bassist Gord Sinclair — say they continue to mourn the loss of their long-time friend and frontman as they slowly step back into the spotlight –  Jane Stevenson, Toronto Sun

How Canadian Arthur Fogel became the go-to tour promoter for U2, Lady Gaga, and Madonna

The head of global touring for Live Nation dishes on digital disruption, ticket prices and his most disastrous decision ever – Dawn Calleja, Globe and Mail

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James Blake speaks out about the struggle with depression

The musician says he has sought treatment for ‘suicidal thoughts’, and urges public figures to help remove the stigma of mental illness – Laura Snapes, The Guardian

Louis Vuitton’s next generation steps up to Kanye’s latest tune

At last week’s Louis Vuitton menswear show in Paris, newly hired designer Virgil Abloh sent hoodie-clad models down the runway toting duffel bags made from gleaming high-tech plastic, all to the latest Kanye West album. Kanye watched – Carol Matlack and Robert Williams, Bloomberg

Review: Shania's better 'Now' than ever

The 52-year-old singer-songwriter from Timmins who climbed the musical charts to become known as the Queen of Country Pop brought it all and more to London’s Budweiser Gardens – Joe Belanger, London Free Press

X-Plycit and Mackie are on the come-up 

Halifax rappers merge life and art with their first co-headlining tour  – Brandon Young, The Coast

The SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival attracted an estimated 75,000 this year.

The 32nd annual event wrapped up last Sunday. Hit shows included Flaming Lips, City and Colour, Tom Cochrane, and Michael Kaeshammer – Star-Phoenix

DOA says you need an a — kickin' right now

Bon Jovi is a 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. D.O.A. is not. Apparently being legendary innovators of hardcore punk doesn’t matter as much as being Jersey pretty boys who only sing about being wanted; dead or alive. Joey Keithley doesn’t give a toss – Stuart Derdeyn, Vancouver Sun

Joe Jackson is buried in same LA-area cemetery as son Michael

The Jackson family patriarch Joseph Jackson has been buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park close to his late son Michael – AP

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How streaming is saving the music business

There has never been a more vast, diverse, and readily available body of music to explore. But how does a below-the-megastar-radar artist or band survive the new paradigm? – John Kehe, Christian Science Monitor

Kensington Market’s former Fairland grocery transforming into an immersive art maze

A group of artists and musicians are teaming up to turn an old Kensington Market grocery store into a funhouse featuring an art maze, music venue and more. Artists involved include Lights, Jazz Cartier, and The Beaches – Raju Mudhar, Toronto Star

Vance Joy packed Rogers Place

The Australian songsmith is a master of the mundane, trading in small moments, crafting songs that zero in on the homiest of topics. Standard folk club stuff, slightly Hallmark tinged, but how does it translate to a hockey arena? – Tom Murray, Edmonton Journal

On the second floor of a Shoppers Drug Mart, there’s a shrine to Yonge Street’s musical history

As a shiny new Shoppers Drug Mart takes over the landmark space at 279 Yonge St. — occupied by the Hard Rock Café from 1978 until 2017 — part of its second floor is now the Friar’s Music Museum, a time capsule snapshot of the famous music venue that stood there a half-century earlier –  Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

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Jesse Zubot’s happy to stay busy

The violinist and head of Drip Audio is a man with many projects on the go –  Alexander Varty, Georgia Straight

How former pro skateboarder Jesse Landen ended up in Jiants

The Toronto indie rock band is the result of skate videos, injuries and lust for life –  Luke Ottenhof, NOW

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Blond:Ish
Courtesy of Pacha Ibiza

Blond:Ish

Music News

Blond:Ish Will Be Pacha Ibiza’s First Ever Female Resident DJ

The Canadian producer begins the 11-week residency at the clubbing institution in May and will release her debut album, Never Walk Alone, on February 14.

When one steps outside the airport in Ibiza, they see a long row of billboards promoting many of the club nights on the Spanish island, a longtime destination for dance music fans. Many visitors have noticed the simple but striking fact that all of these billboards feature the names and faces of exclusively male artists.

“Is it equal opportunity? It’s definitely not. There’s something going on there. It’s still controlled by a bunch of, I guess, old school bookers and club owners.” So says Aloki Batra, the CEO of hospitality and real estate group FIVE, which acquired Pacha Ibiza in 2023. Hoping to innovate on the island while also maintaining and extending Pacha’s historic status, he was determined to do something different.

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