Music Biz Headlines, June 2, 2022

By Kerry Doole

Rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins dies at 87

Born in Huntsville, Arkansas, Hawkins was legendary in the ‘50s and ‘60s for his Camel walk and regularly performing sold-out residencies at such Yonge Street clubs. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star 

Rocker Ronnie Hawkins was also a mentor to iconic Canadian musical acts

But when the veteran singer-bandleader – for whom the “big time” was always “just around the corner” – died on Sunday, the entertainment world mourned the loss of a bona fide legend whose greatest legacy was his mentoring of some of Canada’s finest musical stars. – Nicholas Jennings, Globe and Mail

Designer Michael Wrycraft created artful album covers and concert posters

Michael Wrycraft, a Juno-winning graphic designer who created thousands of concert posters and album covers, was a man devoted to music and musicians. A collegial presence at the backstages of Canadian folk fests, he embraced life and people with bear-hugging enthusiasm. A larger-than-life figure with both a combustible temper and a fun-loving demeanour, he was an unsinkable, sparkle-eyed Falstaff. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Lester Smith returns to Trickbag with the blues

Lester Smith may live in Ancaster, but his heart resides in the musical triangle of Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans. That’s where blues, boogie and old-time country blend together in the alchemic stew that we now call roots music. It’s all there on the 11 original songs Smith wrote for his new album “Another Day in Paradise,” featuring Trickbag. –  Graham Rockingham, Hamilton Spectator

8 new songs you need to hear: Tate McRae, Yves Jarvis, Kanye West and more

Plus, Calvin Harris teams up with Dua Lipa and Young Thug for an early entry for song of the summer. – Staff, Toronto Star

The Scotia Festival of Music plays on

After four decades, the annual event still has lots to offer. Simon Docking, artistic director of the Scotia Festival of Music, can’t really pick what he’s most excited for at this year’s festival, happening from May 29-June 12. – Morgan Mullin, The Coast

New Rolling Stones album Live at the El Mocambo marks Canada’s rock and roll coming of age

On the just-released album Live at the El Mocambo, the Rolling Stones convincingly roar through a setlist that includes It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (but I Like It). Singer Mick Jagger had it wrong, though – It was never only rock and roll. The gig had a huge impact. – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail

Hopscotch Festival is bringing Freddie Gibbs to Halifax on July 31

One of the biggest names in modern hip hop will play at The Light House Arts Centre. –  Morgan Mullin, The Coast

In OG Punk, photographer Dina Goldstein documents the untamable spirit of middle-aged Vancouver punks

Old Vancouver punks die, but they do not fade away. “They lived hard lives,” photographer Dina Goldstein with her ongoing project and current exhibition OG Punk, is documenting the survivors and still-thrivers from the city’s punk scene of the late 1970s and 80s. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Toronto’s venerable movie theatres survived Covid — what comes next?

Cinemas adapted to Covid in different ways — offering live events, online streaming and meal options. – Ryan Uytdewilligen, Toronto Star

Legendary Vancouver music venue relists with asking price reduced for former Railway Club

An iconic live-music venue in Vancouver has returned to the market in another bid to get a new owner on board. The former Railway Club, now Railway Stage & Beer Café, listed again on May 20 with a reduced price of $449,000. A previous offering for the downtown establishment for almost half a million dollars did not land a buyer. – Carlito Pablo, Georgia Straight

International

Universal assigned Baa1 and BBB long-term credit ratings by Moody's and S&P

It's been eight months since Universal Music Group was listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. On May 31, the world's biggest music rightsholder was assigned its inaugural credit ratings since going public from two of the world's three major rating agencies. UMG has been assigned a first-time Prime-2 short-term credit rating, and a Baa1 long-term credit rating "with stable outlook" by Moody's. – Murray Stassen, MBW

Musicians are sick and tired of labels allegedly gatekeeping releases unless they "go viral" on TikTok

Recently, Halsey made a TikTok that shed light on a conversation that lots of other musicians have been talking about for a while now: TikTok basically runs their lives — and careers. – BuzzFeed

Pop stars made millions from these Russian oligarchs

“Playing for oligarchs and rich people is just fucking gross,” says one musician. “I can’t even believe we did it.” – David Browne & Adam Rawnsley, Rolling Stone

Jamming with Jokerman: how Bob Marley and Bob Dylan’s songs powered hit musicals

It’s not often you get the green light from Bob Dylan to run riot with his songs. But for composer Simon Hale and playwright Conor McPherson, a call from the Old Vic theatre in 2017 was just that: an invitation to rework Dylan’s songbook into a musical. – The Guardian

Eminem releases 20th-anniversary edition of The Eminem Show

The update of the rapper’s 2002 LP comes with previously unreleased tracks, instrumentals, and more. –  Allison Hussey, Pitchfork

When Mavis Staples and Levon Helm met for some final music

In the summer of 2011, two American iconic musicians met and jammed up a storm. Very few people heard what they created — until now. The 12-track live album “Carry Me Home” is the long-awaited record of what happened when Grammy-winning soul and gospel star Mavis Staples visited her good friend Levon Helm. – Mark Kennedy, AP

Abba Returns to the stage in London. Sort of.

The Swedish superstars — or digital versions of them, at least — performed on Thursday to 3,000 enthusiastic fans with the help of 140 animators, four body doubles and $175 million. – Alex Marshall, NYT

This week In the Hot Seat with Larry LeBlanc: Laura Whitmore

Whitmore is the founder of The Women’s International Music Network, & the creator of She Rocks Awards. After being in the music industry for decades, she thought it would be a great idea to start an organization, and an event that would help bring women together and raise awareness of women in music. – Larry LeBlanc, Celebrity Access

K-pop sensation BTS launches new show on Apple Music 1

BTS will reveal their gradual journey to becoming K-pop superstars through a new Apple Music weekly limited series. The three-episode limited series will air weekly, leading up to the release of the band’s new album Proof, which arrives on June 10. The inaugural episode aired on May 28. – Jonathan Landrum Jr., AP

FX's kinetic Pistol is a fast-paced, engaging, and slightly shallow ride

When it comes to creative mantras, you could do worse than the one seemingly adopted by Danny Boyle: "Never, ever let the audience be bored." – Shane Ryan, Paste

Pop music megastars express outrage over America's gun laws

Madonna and Brandon Flowers are among the many high-profile pop superstars expressing outrage at America's unwillingness to do something about gun control in the wake of the Texas school massacre.  – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight 

10 new albums to listen to today

Featuring Wilco, Just Mustard, Magi Merlin and more. –Paste Staff

Bob Dylan's handwritten lyrics to classics Like A Rolling Stone and Mr. Tambourine Man to be sold for $1.375M 

Bob Dylan fans now have a chance to own a key piece of his most iconic songs — assuming they have a spare $1.375M lying around. Moments in Time, which sells collectible items and historical documents, has put on sale the original handwritten lyric sheets for Dylan's most enduring song, Like A Rolling Stone, as well as the perennially popular Mr. Tambourine Man. –  Daily Mail

Thanks to ‘Stranger Things,’ Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ hits No. 1 on iTunes

Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” is running up the music charts after featuring significantly in the fourth season of “Stranger Things.” As of Sunday, the English singer-songwriter’s 1985 track was No. 1 on the iTunes charts and No. 106 on Spotify’s top 200. Google-search traffic for the song has skyrocketed since the latest chapter of “Stranger Things” debuted on Netflix.  – Christi Carras , LA Times

Billy Bragg trends after his lyrics were quoted in Anthony Albanese speech

Billy Bragg started trending on Twitter today after Australia’s new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese quoted one of his lyrics in his first press conference as Prime Minister. – Noise11