advertisement
Music Biz Headlines, May 4, 2018

By Kerry Doole

Drake’s courtside antics at Raptors games are firing up the wrong team

On Tuesday night, Drake used his power to make himself look ridiculous. The only way he could have looked like a bigger fool was if he had showed up for the game in a potato sack and propeller beanie – Vinay Menon, Toronto Star


It ain't tea, babe: Bob Dylan embraces Tennessee whiskey

A distillery is partnering with Dylan to distill whiskey at a 140-year-old Tennessee church and bottle it under the name Heaven's Door. Media outlets reported Dylan partnered with Angel's Envy Bourbon co-founder Marc Bushala in the venture –  AP

Kanye West slavery comments spark backlash: 'He's putting targets on our backs'

Black cultural figures from Ava DuVernay to Will.i.am and Spike Lee have condemned Kanye West for saying ‘slavery for 400 years ... that sounds like a choice’ –  Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian

advertisement

M.I.A. enters Canada after border ordeal

The British-Tamil musician encountered a few hiccups en route to her Hot Docs appearance in Toronto  – Radheyan Simonpillai, NOW

Rich Aucoin bike blog #4: Tucumcari, NM to Elk City,

Wind is the mountain you cannot see. At least that’s what it feels like as a cyclist going against it. You’re pedalling non-stop all day, no coasting –  Rich Aucoin, The Coast

Montreal’s anglo rappers are ready for their breakthrough

Montreal has produced lots of international talent, but our English rap scene has yet to yield a superstar. Why is that? – Erik Leijon, Montreal Gazette

Red Truck Beer announces Coleman Hell and Allen Stone as headliners for Truck Stop Concert Series

Genre-blurring Thunder Bay songwriter Coleman Hell anchors the June 16 kickoff show, with Seattle indie-rock darlings Pickwick, 2017 Truck Stop Talent Search winner Sam the Astronaut, and Vancouver up-and-comers Aviator Shades on the undercard – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

Why should Mike Watt slow down, when he's got so much to learn?

It took decades for the US punk hero to make it to Edmonton, and he’s not planning on letting it go now that he knows about us – Tom Murray, Edmonton Journal

Look who made the jump to the Air Canada Centre

Russ? Kygo? Nick Cave? A hot market and a lack of mid-sized concert scene are pushing some surprising acts to play the Toronto arena when they come to town –  Ben Rayner, Toronto Star

advertisement

Opera festival's Russian repertoire a new experience for Quebec diva

Canadian soprano star Karina Gauvin is also featured in the fest's second edition  DG Duke, Vancouver Sun

Leonard Bernstein shaped American music. Here’s how to celebrate him around D.C.

Some upcoming highlights as Washington fetes the lionized American composer for his centennial – Washington Post

Contemporary album of the month: Brian Eno – Music for Installations

Despite his mainstream pop collaborations, Eno has never stopped making interesting ambient music, as is evident on this six-disc set  – John Lewis, The Guardian

advertisement
Shhenseea, MOLIY, Skillibeng and Silent Addy
ACEPXL

Shhenseea, MOLIY, Skillibeng and Silent Addy

Awards

Here’s Why ‘Shake It to the Max’ Was Deemed Ineligible at the 2026 Grammys — And Why Its Label Calls the Decision ‘Devoid of Any Common Sense’

Representatives from the Recording Academy and gamma. CEO Larry Jackson comment on one of this year's most shocking Grammy snubs.

Few phrases define the year in music and culture like Moliy’s scintillating directive to “shake it to the max.” The Ghanaian singer’s sultry voice reverberated across the globe, blending her own Afropop inclinations with Jamaican dancehall-informed production, courtesy of Miami-based duo Silent Addy and Disco Neil. Originally released in December 2024, Moliy’s breakthrough global crossover hit ascended to world domination, peaking at No. 6 on the Global 200, thanks to a remix featuring dancehall superstars Shenseea and Skillibeng. Simply put, “Max” soundtracked a seismic moment in African and Caribbean music in 2025.

Given its blockbuster success, “Shake It to the Max” was widely expected to be a frontrunner in several categories at the 2026 Grammys. In fact, had the song earned a nomination for either best African music performance or best global music performance, many forecasters anticipated a victory. So, when “Shake It to the Max” failed to appear on the final list of 2026 Grammy nominees in any category earlier this month (Nov. 7), listeners across the world were left scratching their heads — none more than gamma. CEO Larry Jackson.

keep readingShow less
advertisement