Music Biz Headlines, March 13, 2019

By Kerry Doole

Rapper Emmanuel Jal highlights Sudanese refugee experience on new album

When it came to recording Naath, the 2019 Juno Award contender by former Sudanese child soldier Emmanuel Jal and his sister Nyaruach, crowdfunded by what Jal calls “invisible angels,” there was a very visible one who donated to the cause. Peter Gabriel. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

Pledge allegiance to The Sorority 

The Toronto hip hop group is here to fill your head with hooks, not your female quota. – Morgan Mullin,The Coast

Junos 2019: Drake is the key to understanding the music award’s confused mission

Drake has been estranged from the Junos since getting shut out of the winner’s circle when he hosted the affair in 2011.  – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Emo is now retro — and big once more

In recent years, emo nights have popped up in Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, Halifax, Montreal and elsewhere in Canada, as well as most major American cities. It’s simply time for this music to have its nostalgic moment.  – Adam Kovac, Toronto Star

Canadian jazz great and 'musical force' Ed Bickert remembered by his son

When news of Ed Bickert’s passing started circulating there was an outpouring of condolences about the legendary jazz guitarist named to the Order of Canada, the country’s highest honour awarded to a citizen. – Karen Bliss, Billboard

Best Toronto music of the week: Haviah Mighty, HanHan, Ted Kennedy and more

This edition also includes new music on buzzy Toronto electronic labels Bare Selection and Bedroomer and a new #NOWplaying playlist. – M Da Silva, CV Grier, NOW

The Enthusiast: I’m hooked on Galt MacDermot’s time-travelling hooks, from hippies to hip hop

I had a long-standing mild interest in and arms-length admiration of Galt MacDermot, the Canadian composer of Hair. But, since he died in December just shy of his 90th birthday, I’ve developed a full-on fascination with his strange, almost unbelievable musical career. – J. Kelly Nestruck, Globe and Mail

Comics yuk up biggest hits to vie for Juno Comedy Album of the Year

Although great songs are what typically come to mind whenever the Juno Awards are mentioned, several of this year’s nominated recording artists likely can’t carry a tune. No one sings along to their cuts but everybody laughs hysterically. – Karen Paton-Evans, Post Media

Dolly-loving Brit Yola explores fusion of country and soul

Her new album, Walk Through Fire, is an exploration of the intersection of soul, country and rock combined with her background in songwriting. Produced and co-written with Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, the record is an introduction to an artist who has spent most of her career behind the scenes as a songwriter or singing in bands. – Kristin M. Hall, AP

Women warriors from the world of Indian music

In honour of International Women's Day, here's a look at the wondrous women currently active in the India music world. However, we cannot appreciate the present without acknowledging the past. –  Radioland

Michael Jackson music bans show double standards of cultural elitists

Brian Boyd: It is one rule for popular figures and another for revered idols of high art.– Irish Times

Finding the ghost of Hank Williams in Montgomery, Alabama

A light rain was falling as I stood before Hank Williams’ grave. It was the end of the day at the end of February, chilly and damp, appropriate weather for visiting a cemetery. My wife and I were the only people on this lonely knoll on the east side of Montgomery, and dark woolen clouds lay across the Alabama sky. – Geoffrey Himes, Paste

Hozier goes straight to Number 1 in US ... ‘Can’t put it into words’

Irish singer's Wasteland Baby tops US charts in its first week, supplanting A Star is Born soundtrack. – Amy O'Connor, Irish Times

Syd Barrett's strangest tune yet

A lecturer in hauntology has turned debris from the Pink Floyd singer’s garden into a piece of music. Should Dua Lipa be worried? – Tim Jonze, The Guardian

Watch Neil Young discuss Randy Bachman’s influence

The clip comes from the upcoming documentary ‘Bachman,’ which traces the life of the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive guitarist. – Andy Greene, Rolling Stone

Here’s how Spotify can fix its songwriter woes (Hint: It’s all about pricing)

Songwriter royalties have always been a pain point for streaming, especially in the US where statutory rates determine much of how songwriters get paid. The current debate over Spotify, Amazon, Pandora and Google challenging the Copyright Royalty Board’s proposed 44% increase illustrates just how deeply feelings run. –Musicindustryblog

How we made Booker T and the MGs' Green Onions

‘It was originally called Funky Onions – but to laced-up, deep-south America, that sounded like a cuss word, so we had to retitle it.’ –  Dave Simpson The Guardian

Two new docs, ‘Punk’ and ‘Godfathers of Hardcore,’ prove the genre’s not dead

Despite its built-to-self-destruct ethos, punk rock has not only endured, it continues to attract fans both old and young. – Roy Trakin, Variety

The Tubes to perform entire ‘The Completion Backward Principle’ live

In 1981 The Tubes' 1981 corporate rock spoof ‘The Completion Backward Principle’ will be played for the first time in its entirety on their upcoming US tour. David Foster produced the album.  – Paul Cashmere. Noise11

Review: Justin Timberlake is a man — and a pop star — still in the woods

Kneeling at the end of “Mirrors,” the singer known as one of pop’s most dynamic live performers made you wonder instead if he just needed a little rest to finish the song. – Mikael Wood, LA Times