Music Biz Headlines, June 11, 2020
Hitmaking producer Noah ’40’ Shebib (pictured) fights MS, a look back on a decade of Canadian hip-hop, and Roberta Battaglia stuns American judges. Others in the headlines include Stephen Hough, Wilko Johnson, John Lydon, Alien to the Ignorant, Apple, Luminato, WMG, AEG, Black Lives Matter, the Grammys, David Geffen, Sony Music, McCabe’s Guitar Shop, Taylor Swift, BTS, Miles Davis, Neville Staple, and The Dalai Lama.
By FYI Staff
Noah ’40’ Shebib is racing to fix the damage
The producer and engineer is Drake’s right-hand man and the sonic architect behind a decade of pop music. Now, he’s finally fighting back against a disease that could take away everything. –– Charles Holmes, Rolling Stone
The decade in Canadian hip-hop, 2010-2010
A decade ago, there were very few people that would have predicted that a Canadian hip-hop artist might be the most listened-to artist on the planet – even in the decade when hip-hop largely supplanted every other music genre in popularity. –– Del Cowie, Words & Music
Stephen Hough’s a world-class pianist; boy, he can write, too
One of the books to arrive on my shelves earlier this year, before his performance of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, was a volume of essays by the British pianist Stephen Hough, titled “Rough Ideas: Reflections on Music and More." What many of his listeners do not realize is that he is also something of a polymath. In addition to recording more than 60 albums on the Hyperion label, he has been exhibited as a painter, written a novel and contributed to Christian discourse. –– William Littler, The Toronto Star
Saskatoon band plans a "virtual tour" during covid-19
Alien to the Ignorant will be playing a "virtual tour" in the early days of July as a replacement for the big North American tour they'd planned that was cancelled by the pandemic. –– Matt Olson, Star-Phoenix
Moving its festival online, Luminato leaves the light on for Toronto
In lieu of a fully-fledged festival, Luminato has moved online. A virtual variation streams June 11 to 13, with an offering of live events and taped performances. To fill out the programming, Campbell reached back to Luminato’s greatest hits catalogue. –– Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail
Two injured after gunmen open fire at a vigil for slain Toronto rapper Houdini
Two men were shot when gunmen opened fire at a Tuesday-night vigil for Toronto rapper Dimarjio Jenkins, who was shot dead in a brazen daylight gunfight in the Entertainment District last month. ––Ted Fraser and Betsy Powell, Toronto Star
Canada's Federal Court of Appeal rules in favour of Apple in double royalties case
The decision states that publishers are only entitled to royalties when content is downloaded. –– Aisha Malik, Mobile Syrup
International
WMG has now been a public company on the Nasdaq for the equivalent of a full working week.At the end of trading on June 9, the company’s share price has risen to $32.00. According to our calculations, that $32.00 share price gave WMG a day-end market cap value of $16.32bn. –– Tim Ingham, MBW
AEG is to make significant layoffs and furlough employees, staff memo says
AEG is implementing significant employee cuts starting July 1, AEG chief executive Dan Beckerman announced in a recent email, saying staff and cost reductions were a result of the long term impact of a global shutdown of concerts and events from the spread of the virus causing covid-19. –– Dave Brooks, Billboard
Nearly 90% of US independent venues face a permanent shutdown
According to a newly published survey from the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), 90 percent of independent venues may be forced to permanently close their doors in the next few months, owing to the fiscal strain of ongoing coronavirus lockdown measures. ––Dylan Smith, Digital Music News
The elephant in the room regarding music business racism
“I’m happy that Universal, Warner, and Sony Music want to donate money to support the Black Lives Matter movement. But what the movement needs is meaningful change, not window dressing. Address the elephant in the room. Why is it that Black music generates millions and millions of dollars a year and yet none of the companies have a meaningful number of employees of color, let alone in the executive suite? –– Ronald E. Sweeney, MBW
10 ways the coronavirus will change the music industry
Because of covid -19, the music business will be forced to shift. This pandemic will be another time of innovation and presents a great opportunity for the music business. Here are 10 ways the coronavirus will change the industry. –– Adam Aziz, Okayplayer
A few Grammy rules get rewritten
The Recording Academy has again altered the eligibility requirements for the Best New Artist category and addressed potential conflicts of interest on the nominations review committees. ––Hits Daily Double
David Geffen buys 3rd residence, for $62M
The 18.5K square feet Beverly Hills home features six bedrooms and 16 bathrooms set on 3.3 acres. The entertainment czar also owns a $54M Manhattan penthouse, a $70M Hamptons estate and a $590M superyacht. –– James McClain, Variety
Sony Music donates $100 million to racial justice causes
In the wake of nationwide protests and chaos, Sony Music Group has established a $100 million social justice fund. Per its press release, Sony Music will immediately begin using the $100 million fund “to donate to organizations that foster equal rights.” However, the non-profit organizations set to benefit from the initial round of aid weren’t disclosed. –– Dylan Smith, Digital Music News
UK music industry executives request the removal of the ‘urban’ descriptor in an open letter to labels
Aussie music industry sends an SOS to the government for urgent financial support
A cross-section of the contemporary Australian music industry is sending a plea to the federal government to make a meaningful financial contribution and ensure the survival of the sector. The music industry adds $16 billion to the economy each year, and now over 1,000 artists, as well as music businesses and industry workers are calling for urgent intervention. –– Zanda Wilson, The Music Network
After five decades, McCabe’s Guitar Shop owners are retiring, citing the coronavirus crisis
Co-owners Espie and Bob Riskin are in their 70s and figured on retiring in a few years, but 2020 has taken its toll, Espie said. So, after a life spent supporting and offering refuge for countless musicians, they’re leaving the business, which will carry on. –– Randall Roberts, LA Times
Taylor Swift reveals her high school graduation wasn't what she expected in ' Dear Class of 2020'
Taylor Swift didn't get the high school graduation she imagined either. In YouTube Originals 'Dear Class of 2020',' Swift addressed the graduates by telling a story of how she was on tour and couldn't attend her own ceremony. "It wasn't exactly what I had pictured," she said, but added she hopes everyone can "expect the unexpected." –– Denise Warner Billboard
BTS Black Lives Matter: Fans match band's $1M donation
Fans of K-pop superstars BTS have matched a $1m (£787,000) donation by the group to the Black Lives Matter movement. The US-based Black Lives Matter campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people. –– BBC
Miles Davis: where to start in his back catalogue
In the Listener’s digest, our writers help you explore the work of great musicians. Next up: the jazz pioneer who stepped outside of genre to revolutionise music as a whole. –– Ben Cardew, The Guardian
A black mark against Facebook: Afro-Caribbean ska legend Neville Staple falls foul of the blanket ban for ‘racism’
The deep flaws in Facebook’s moderation system have been thoroughly exposed after it banned a raft of accounts connected to the ska music scene on racism grounds, including that of Neville Staple of The Specials, who is black. Ska appears to have fallen foul of Facebook’s scattergun system because of its links to skinhead culture. –– RT
The Dr. Feelgood axeman, who cheated death a few years back, looks forward to the end of his strict isolation at home in Southend. –– The Guardian
Mark Wahlberg's hate crime history resurfaces after his Floyd tribute
The star took to Twitter last week to share his thoughts about Floyd’s death at the hands of police in Minnesota, urging his followers to “work together to fix this problem.”But many people who read his post have not forgotten Wahlberg’s criminal past and his history of violence against minorities when he was a teenager. –– WENN
John Lydon is his wife Nora's full-time carer as her dementia worsens
Best known as snarling Sex Pistols’ frontman Johnny Rotten, the 64-year-old revealed a softer side as he spoke tenderly about his wife of 35 years. –– The Mirror
The Dalai Lama is to release an album of teachings and mantras
The Dalai Lama has announced Inner World, an album of teachings and mantras set to music. The 11-track album is being released through Khandro Music and L.A. Reid’s HitCo Entertainment and arrives July 6, which is also the Dalai Lama’s 85th birthday. –– Eric Torres, Pitchfork
