Music Biz Headlines, March 21, 2018
Rod Stewart has a soft spot for Canada, SXSW remains relevant, and Johnny Reid is back on the road. Also making the headlines are Lorde, Canadian country acts, Pussy Riot, Katy Perry, Nels Cline, Superorganism, Pharis and Jason Romero, Sir Ringo Starr, vintage T-shirts, and a musical Soviet spy.
By Kerry Doole
'A lovely country to come to': Rod Stewart on Canada
The 73-year-old U.K. music legend plays Toronto's ACC on Thursday in advance of new album Blood Red Roses – Jane Stevenson, Canoe.com
After 31 years, how does SXSW stay relevant?
There was a political edge to the Austin festival this year and a genuinely impressive gender balance – Toronto artists also made a splash – Mar Sellars, NOW
No tent needed for a Johnny Reid revival
"As long as people keep showing up, I keep being there," says the superstar singer Johnny Reid – Jeff DeDekker, Regina Leader-Post
Lorde's US tour has flopped – but it might be the making of her
The New Zealand star is playing to arenas that are only a third full. But dropping out of pop’s upper echelons may give her the long future she deserves – Laura Snapes, The Guardian
The eight best contemporary country singers from Canada
The list includes Corb Lund, Brett Kissel, Whitney Rose, and Lindi Ortega – Bobby Moore, Wide Open Country
There’s a new app to tell you which festival is perfect for you
A new tool analyses your Spotify listening and tells you which festival you should be going to this summer – Nick Reilly, nme.com
Pussy Riot protest against Putin election with new song
The punk provocateurs release a statement alongside new track Elections, attacking corruption, censorship and the erosion of democracy in Russia – Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian
American Idol treats Katy Perry’s flirting as a joke. Some viewers aren’t amused
For some, Perry’s ogling of one contestant, kissing of another and offer to ‘hang’ with yet another strike sour notes in the age of #MeToo – Emily Yahr, Washington Post
State legislation addressing sexual harassment in music business is killed
Attorney Alex Little: 'Hollywood is standing up for its own. It's time Nashville did the same' – Cari Gervin, Nashville Scene
Guitar genius rolls from intensity to subtlety, between rock and jazz
"I have the luckiest life because I get to work many different dynamic and stylistic parameters" – Nels Cline – Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal
How the indie-pop behemoth Superorganism achieved the impossible
They’re the first new band from this generation who sounds like no one else and make exhilarating, meaningful music for every damn age – Ryan Bassil, Noisey
Pharis and Jason Romero prep a new album, Sweet Old Religion
The acclaimed Canadian roots music duo has had a difficult couple of years, having lost their instrument shop to a fire in the summer of 2016 – No Depression
Sir Ringo Starr is now a Knight! Prince William awards the Beatle a royal title
The drummer joked that he would wear the insignia “at breakfast” – Simon Perry, People
Got some old band T-shirts at home? You might be sitting on a goldmine…
A rare Led Zeppelin shirt fetched $10,000 – and others go for hundreds as nostalgic memorabilia market booms – Rob Davies, The Guardian
Glamorous harpist is believed to be a Russian spy
She performed a 'stern-faced' concert at a provincial British church after arriving in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes – Daily Mail
