Music Biz Headlines, May 13, 2019
Merck Mercuriadis (pictured) and comrades advocate for songwriters, Nils Lofgren remembers Lou Reed, and CMW highlights. Also in headlines: Toronto Bach Festival, shadow, Art of Time Ensemble, Liz Cooper, rock sidemen, Ed Sheeran, Woodstock, PledgeMusic, Common, R. Kelly, Madonna, Idris Elba, Pras Michel, and Merle Haggard.
By Kerry Doole
Status upgrade: how music insiders are boosting the lot of songwriters
The music industry finally profits from streaming, but songwriters get a slim share of revenue, recognition. Industry leaders like Dave Stewart, Merck Mercuriadis, Nile Rodgers and Linda Perry want to change that. – Deana Sumanac-Johnson and Jessica Wong, CBC News
With Blue with Lou, guitarist Nils Lofgren uncovers old gems
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Toronto Bach Festival a labour of love for musician awestruck by composer’s powers
May 24-26 marks the fourth time in as many years John Abberger has presided over the Toronto Bach Festival, an event he founded at St. Barnabas Church on the Danforth, bravely devoted to fathoming the unfathomable. – William Littler Toronto Star
Canadian Music Week 2019: the best and worst of the fest so far
Reviews from the first few nights of the club-hopping music festival, including Television, Azealia Banks, Rhye, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and more. – NOW staff
Between the light with shadow
After a long but gentle gestation, shadow—a five-piece band led by Bethany Fulde—is ready to release the fruits of its two-year labour: A double EP, one titled the dark and the other, fittingly, the dawn. – Maggie Rahr, The Coast
Natural Sympathies' new single an anthem for parents and caregivers, just in time for Mother's Day
"Hello, is anybody out there?" Regina synth-pop artist Amber Goodwyn's new single is about grief and struggles in caregiving. – Ashley Martin, Regina Leader-Post
Art of Time Ensemble celebrates 20 years of bridging cultural gaps with a best-of program at Harbourfront
Twenty years on, Andrew Burashko’s Art of Time Ensemble continues to have a unique place in Toronto’s cultural life. He has presented some best-of material this season, including this past weekend at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre. – John Terauds, Toronto Star
Rock My World Canada, chapter 65: Matthew Barber
Mike Carr has put together a massive volume on Canadian music history entitled Canadian Alternative & Indie Reference and Collector’s Guide. It’s an incredible discography of hundreds of bands. This latest excerpt from his book profiles noted roots songsmith Matthew Barber. – Alan Cross, A Journal of Musical Things
Liz Cooper expands horizons beyond Nashville country with Window Flowers
Nashville-based Liz Cooper & the Stampede took over four years to follow up a debut EP, Monsters, with last summer’s impressively accomplished full-length Window Flowers—the musical differences on the two releases dramatic. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
Great new doc on rock’n’roll sidemen
When someone like Madonna, Justin Bieber, or Britney Spears play live or go into the studio, they need a backing band. That’s when they dip into a pool of extraordinarily talented musicians, guns for hire who can handle any assignment, no matter how demanding. A new documentary seeks to give props to the sidemen (and women) of rock. – Alan Cross, A Journal of Musical Things
International
Ed Sheeran: I Don't Care (with Justin Bieber) review – the most surefire pop hit of the year
Two seismic stars, one super-producer and a chorus that only leaves your head after surgery … ubiquity is assured for this breezily infectious smash. – Alexis Petridis, The Guardian
Is Woodstock 50 cancelled? Warring Festival partners go to court
Peace, love and litigation: The battle over Woodstock’s 50th anniversary festival has landed in court. The event’s chief investor declared it dead, but its promoter pledged to continue as planned. Fans, artists and the industry at large have been scratching their heads and awaiting a definitive answer. – Ben Sisario, NY Times
Music industry calls for PledgeMusic inquiry after costly collapse
The British music industry is calling for a government inquiry into the collapse of PledgeMusic. As reported in TMN, the UK crowd-funding platform went belly-up after being unable to find a new owner. $1 million is estimated to be lost by musicians. – Byron Jones, The Music Network
Labor to invest millions into Australian music with new arts policy
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) will announce plans to invest millions of dollars into the Australian music industry if elected next weekend. The ALP's music and arts policy will not only invest in artists, venues and industry programmes, but it will also take on fake tickets which have continued to be problematic in Australia in recent times. – Neil Griffiths, The Music
‘I think I was abused’: Hip-hop star Common opens up about childhood molestation
Common’s story of abuse during his childhood is one of the central themes of the 47-year-old’s new book, which was released last Tuesday. The revelation has also dominated the conversation swirling around the book’s rollout — and this seems to be Common’s point. – Kyle Swenson, Washington Post
R. Kelly judgment withdrawn after lawyers say he can’t read
The embattled singer spent much of last Wednesday in court, with his lawyer explaining to one judge that the singer didn’t respond to a lawsuit brought by one of his sexual abuse accusers because he is illiterate. – AP
Madonna says Michael Jackson 'innocent until proven guilty’ of child sex assaults
The Queen of Pop isn’t ready to dethrone the King of Pop just yet — despite a global backlash caused by a recent documentary that reopened allegations Michael Jackson sexually abused children. – Karu Daniels, NY Daily News
Idris Elba's music inspires new stage show
Director Kwame Kwei-Armah created the project, titled Tree, around the UK movie star and DJ's Mi Mandela album, with Idris on board as a producer. It will premiere at the Manchester International Festival in England this summer. – Music-News
North and South Korean musicians perform together in China
A South Korean violinist and a North Korean singer held a rare joint performance they hope helps bring the divided Koreas closer together via music. The performance at a Shanghai concert hall came at a time of emerging tensions amid deadlocked nuclear diplomacy. – Dake Kang and Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press
Fugees rapper Pras Michel and financier charged in scheme to raise money for Obama
Pras Michel, one of the founding members of the hip-hop group the Fugees, is charged with federal campaign finance violations, alongside a fugitive Malaysian financier. – Liam Stack, NY Times
Boxcar Music Festival keeps music, spirit of Merle Haggard alive
Held at the Kern County Museum, the fest honors the country great's childhood home and his contributions to country music and the Bakersfield sound. – Joseph Luiz, Bakersfield.com
