Music Biz Headlines, May 22, 2020

By FYI Staff

'There is no opportunity right now'

Live music venues in Edmonton at risk of shutting down permanently. – CTV News

Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Billboard respond to Tekashi 6ix9ine’s allegations they rigged the pop charts

The two pop stars have defended themselves after a Brooklyn rapper with a history of provocation accused them of manipulating sales of their new No. 1 hit Stuck With U. Tekashi 6ix9ine, also charged chart-compiler Billboard magazine with discounting video streams of his own song Gooba, leading to it finishing in third place this week. – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail

The show must go on for Montreal promoters and venues — but when?

When is the next time we’ll gather for a concert at the Bell Centre? Or a play at the Segal Centre? Or even an intimate gig at the legendary alt-music venue Casa del Popolo?  – Brendan Kelly, Montreal Gazette

The best of music in the worst of times

Leave it to a pandemic to make everything old new again. Especially when it comes to music. Down through the ages, a number of composers have given some of their best to the worst of the plagues. – Leonard Turnevicius, Hamilton Spectator

Protect Ya Hands: Wu-Tang Clan sells hand sanitizer, meals to benefit Ottawa charities during pandemic

The Wu-Tang Clan is raising money to help three Ottawa charities “Triumph” over covid-19. The New York City-based rap collective announced its official partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Ottawa Food Bank and the Ottawa Mission shelter on Wednesday morning. – CP

Listening together, listening alone: A music professor sounds off on his shifting industries

Brian Fauteux reflects on the way covid-19 is affecting his two passions: music and teaching. – CBC

The Toronto-shot Band Ladies uses punk rock to express the angst of a generation

On paper, or in that pitch to a big studio executive, it would seem too contrived to fly. Would audiences really buy into an eclectic group of five angst-filled, but comfortably-bored women in their 30s and 40s – some buttoned-down and financially-secure, others flaky and/or free-spirited – who make a quick jump to punk rock musicians? – Denis Grignon, Toronto Star

Cirkut chops price of Hollywood Hills home

Canadian hit record producer and songwriter Henry Russell Walter, aka Cirkut,  has not had the same success selling a celeb-pedigreed Hollywood Hills home. After two years on and off the market, the property is still available at just under $5.5 million, far less than the in-hindsight too rosy initial asking price of nearly $6.5 million. – Mark David, Variety

International

Goldman Sachs just cut its 2020 paid streaming forecast by $2.2bn... but the future still looks bright

The Goldman Sachs’ Music In The Air report has become a highly influential paper for prognosticators chewing over the entertainment industry. Now, in a new update, Goldman has, in the light of the COVID pandemic – but also in light of recently published stats from IFPI – made some adjustments to its predictions, with a mix of good and not-so-good news for artists, labels, songwriters and publishers.  – MBW

Spotify allows employees to work from home until 2021

A memo went out on May 21 explaining that the streaming giant is following local guidelines on the re-opening of its offices during the current pandemic, and will be taking a “phased approach” on the matter. – MBW

Sony Music braces for operating revenue declines after a 40% bump

At the same time, Sony music publishing revenue increased by 30.8%.– Forbes

How a top promoter is envisioning a future for live music after Covid-19

Peter Shapiro has navigated some major challenges in his career — but nothing like this.  Patrick Doyle, Rolling Stone

Songwriters go online to craft the next hit song remotely

During a recent songwriting session, singer-songwriters Sarah Loethen and Christoffer Wadensten pieced together the lyrics and melody of a song they were writing about the global pandemic. Loethen played the first verse and Wadensten, aka Meadows, came up with a melody for the chorus on his acoustic guitar. The pair were on different continents. – Kristin M. Hall, AP

Concerts by the carload: Live Nation looks to take drive-in shows bigger this summer

Keith Urban's glee at performing for socially distanced fans at a drive-in theater in Tennessee may soon be shared by more major artists, as a Live Nation plan to use amphitheater parking areas for shows could bring the automotive concert concept into the mainstream. – Variety

Nine Inch Nails turns now-postponed tour merch into fundraiser for local food banks

The industrial band was set to play four nights at Seattle's Paramount Theatre. – Taryn Daly,  KISW

After the coronavirus, the race to resume film production goes global

Ever since the coronavirus crisis put entertainment production in a deep freeze, Hollywood has been eager to get the cameras rolling again. After all, box office revenue has sunk to virtually zero and more than 100,000 entertainment industry workers have lost their jobs. With stay-at-home orders in place and domestic production at a standstill, filmmakers are starting to see a thaw abroad. – Stacy Perman, LA Times

New Robert Johnson photograph revealed in upcoming memoir

What made Charlie Minor great

Death Angel drummer says he met Satan during near-death coronavirus coma

Sky Sports apologise after libellous comment about Morrissey is aired

It aired during the latest Sunday Supplement broadcast. Viewers reportedly heard a conversation between the panel, before the libellous comment about Morrissey was then made by the Telegraph’s chief football writer, Sam Wallace. – Nick Reilly, NME