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FYI

Music Biz Headlines, March 14, 2018

Taylor Swift has been media-shy of late, and Eminem takes shots at the NRA. Also in the headlines are American Idol, Rosie & the Riveters, Weird Al, Jason Corbett, Emmylou Harris, Glen Hansard, Julian Casablancas, reggaeton, James Levine, and the Dears.

Music Biz Headlines, March 14, 2018

By Kerry Doole

Taylor Swift’s ‘Delicate’ music video holds clues to her step away from the spotlight

Swift lately has avoided the media, giving zero interviews to promote her album Reputation when it came out in November – Emily Zahr, Washington Post


Eminem attacks NRA in awards show performance: 'They control the puppet'

At the iHeartRadio Music Awards, the rapper castigated gun lobbyists, saying ‘they love their guns more than our children’ – Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian

Revamped 'American Idol' reaches more than 10 million

 Nielsen company said Monday that the viewership of 10.34 million represented ABC's biggest Sunday night audience with regular series programming since 2012 –  CP

Rosie & the Riveters debuts new video on Billboard

Saskatoon band has premiered its new video on billboard.com, getting a huge boost from the influential music publication – Cam Fuller, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

Weird Al Yankovic didn't need parodies to "rock the house" at Danforth Music Hall

On the Toronto stop of his Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, Weird Al earned the right to play a full set of originals –  Richard Trapunski, NOW

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Dutch jazz artists Ineke Vandoorn and Marc van Vugt touch down for a 10,000-km Canadian tour

Between March 8 and April 8, the vocalist and guitarist will give concerts and clinics from Montreal to Gabriola Island – Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen

Jason Corbett embraces his darkwave side

The new-wave-inspired Actors is the music the Vancouverite would be making even if no one listened – John Lucas, Georgia Straight

C2C festival review – side-eye and satin suits in biggest country celebration yet

The millennials who are reshaping country music dominated the lineup of the three-day fest at O2 Arena, but Emmylou Harris and others kept tradition alive – Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian

In Conversation: Julian Casablancas

The singer on his new album, moving past the Strokes, and how money ruined modern pop (and America)  –  David Marchese, Vulture

Glen Hansard terrific with and without the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Disney Hall 

The singer-songwriter is no shrinking violet, but even the loquacious Irishman seemed a bit awed to find himself performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Sunday –   Peter Larsen, Orange County Register

Reggaeton star insults Venezuelan leader on social media

Venezuela's reggaeton-loving president may skip the next song by Latin Grammy-winner J Balvin. The Colombian star extends a middle finger toward Nicolas Maduro and refers to him with an expletive in a brief music clip on his Instagram account –   AP

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Metropolitan Opera fires James Levine after finding ‘credible evidence’ of sexual abuse

The investigation found evidence of abuse and harassment “both before and during the period” when Levine worked at the Met, the company said in a statement  –  Michael Cooper, NY Times

The 'emo-ish' Dears bringing their postmodern romance to the Aviary

"I feel zero hesitation buying any new album by the Dears, sound unheard. They’re just that reliably tight, hook-solid and blistering with all the feelings" –  Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Journal

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Sam Fender on stage accepting the Mercury Music Prize for the album 'People Watching' at the "Mercury Music Awards 2025" at the Utilita Arena on October 16, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
JMEnternational/Getty Images

Sam Fender on stage accepting the Mercury Music Prize for the album 'People Watching' at the "Mercury Music Awards 2025" at the Utilita Arena on October 16, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Awards

Sam Fender Triumphs in Hometown 2025 Mercury Prize Ceremony

Fender saw off competition from FKA Twigs, Fontaines D.C., CMAT & more

Sam Fender‘s People Watching won the Mercury Prize on Thursday (Oct. 16) in a ceremony held in his hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Launched in 1992, The Mercury Prize is an esteemed annual prize that celebrates the best of British and Irish music across a range of music genres. For the first time in its history, this year the ceremony was held outside of London, taking place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle upon Tyne.

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