Music Biz Headlines, May 8, 2019
Canadian stars endorse a Green New Deal (pictured), suggested CMW musical picks, and Solitair's work with inmates. Also in headlines: Spotify, Jory Nash, Kelly Fraser, PledgeMusic, copyright, Kamasi Washington, Live Nation, Little Steven, Bruce Springsteen, and Marina.
By Kerry Doole
Neil Young, Grimes & Rufus Wainwright push Green New Deal in Canada
Along with Murray McLauchlan, k.d. lang, Melissa auf der Maur, Broken Social Scene, Sarah Harmer, The Sadies, and more, these stars are among the Canadian musicians who have signed the "Pact for a Green New Deal," asking Justin Trudeau's Liberal federal government to devise "an ambitious policy platform that re-tools our economy to respond to the multiple crises we are faced with today." – Karen Bliss, Billboard
Canadian Music Week 2019: 12 musicians to catch at this year's festival
It's not all industry panels – from vintage psych-rock to fiercely feminist Toronto hip-hop, here are some of the best bets and hidden gems of CMW. – Richard Trapunski, Michelle Da Silva, NOW
You can enjoy 4 am last call at these Toronto bars this week
Attention, music, and booze lovers! It’s Canadian Music Week, and you know what that means. It means extended last call at some of your favourite Toronto watering holes. – Kayla Gladysz, Daily Hive
F-You: Solitair discusses the impact of working with young inmates
“The time I’ve spent working with inmates has really opened my eyes to how much potential for greatness is being stifled or lost. If we continue to ignore the root causes of why these men end up on the paths they have, that loss of potential will continue to be perpetuated.” – DutchUnkle, Hip-Hop Canada
Local heroes: UNCDTNL Support uplifts women of colour in Toronto's music scene
Deneita Evans and Yvette Angela's collective, whose new mentorship program culminates in a showcase at CMW tonight, provides opportunities both onstage and behind the scenes. –Samantha Edwards, NOW
Boris Eifman delves into another Russian artist’s torment in Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA
There's no reason to deny yourselves the thrill of experiencing the celebrated Russian choreographer’s unique blend of contemporary ballet, over-the-top emotional intensity and rampant spectacle. In fact, it might even deepen your understanding of the great composer’s work. – Michael Crabb, Toronto Star
Sudbury music scene: Singer Jory Nash finds his bearings again
One of the most respected artists on the contemporary Canadian folk scene, Jory Nash, will perform in Sudbury on Mother’s Day, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. With a strong voice, keen wit, and an evocative way with words, Nash has built a loyal following. – Sudbury Star
A whole bunch of men won ECMAs
Reeny Smith, Mallory Johnson, Kilmore, Makayla Lynn, Ouroboros and Vishtèn also won awards. – Tara Thorne, The Coast
A pop singer from Nunavut requires persistence, Kelly Fraser tells us
It doesn’t take much time spent in a confined space with Kelly Fraser to deduce that one is in the presence of an uncommonly strong personality. – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
International
Game over for PledgeMusic — Leaked e-mail reveals pre-liquidation fire sale set to begin
The e-mail has revealed that PledgeMusic has laid off its staff and won’t ever pay back artists. So, how did it come to this? For nearly a year, failed British crowdfunding platform PledgeMusic has promised to pay back the hundreds of thousands it owes artists. – Daniel Sanchez MBW
Copyright terminations: What music rightsholders need to know
The window is open for authors and heirs to recapture ownership of their copyrights. Terminations create a lot of new movement for copyrights in the marketplace and music rightsholders need to be just as knowledgeable as authors and heirs in order to stay competitive. – Erin M. Jacobson, Synchtank
Kamasi Washington talks about the impact of Brexit on touring artists
Musicians have been very outspoken in their opposition to Brexit for a long time. Now US jazz saxophonist – and Kendrick Lamar collaborator – Kamasi Washington has added his voice into the mix, saying how Brexit will make touring in the country difficult, especially for less established musicians. – Thom Waite, Dazed Digital
Live Nation’s Q1 2019 — $1.7 Billion in revenue, $24 Million in operating losses
The concerts giant has released its financial report for the first quarter of 2019 (Q1 2019). Sharing its operating income and AOI projection for the full year of 2019, the mega-promoter wrote, “We have now booked enough concerts, sold enough tickets, and secured enough sponsorship commitments to expect that the company will deliver double-digit operating income and AOI growth for the full year.” – Daniel Sanchez, Digital Music News
E-Street Band's Stevie Van Zandt on soul music and Springsteen
Springsteen’s long-term bandana-clad sideman Stevie Van Zandt is better known by his stage name of Little Steven. With the E Street Band on sabbatical, he’s seized the opportunity to take his Disciples of Soul on the road to support his first new album of original material in 20 years – Summer of Sorcery. – Richard Purden, Scottish Herald
How to make it big in hip-hop when your city pretends you don't exist
Young artists are finding creative ways to carve a space in Portland's lively—if fractious and often ignored—hip-hop scene. – Britta Lotking, PS Mag
How HP created the coolest spot at Coachella
The tech brand showcased the power of its technology in a psychedelic, interactive space with EDM band Rüfüs Du Sol. – Claire Hoffman, BizBash
Bruce Springsteen reveals he just wrote an entire album for E Street Band to tour behind
The Boss hasn’t made too many public predictions about whether he’d ever record or tour with the E Street Band again. Sunday night, he answered a firm yes to both those questions. – Chris Willman, Variety
Marina and the Diamonds review – pom-poms, lightsabers and striking pop showtunes
Despite singing to backing tracks, the Greek-Welsh conceptualist creates a vivid show out of her stylised electropop. – Caroline Sullivan,The Guardian
Lifetime collection of music rarities spanning 140 years to be sold
Echoes of how recorded music has been listened to down the ages, from music boxes to gramophones, feature in the collection of Richard Bartram that is to be sold at a sale at TW Gaze auction rooms in Diss on May 17. – Simon Parkin, EDP24
Tours rake in the cash but only stars benefit
Ed Sheeran pulled in a record $432 million from concert sales as changes in the music industry help those at the top get richer Almost two thirds of live music revenue is now made by 1 per cent of performers, a newly published analysis by the late Alan Krueger, a Princeton University economist who served two US presidents, has found. – The Times
The average salary of a Spotify employee hit $132K (US) last year - more than double the 2011 figure
The general pattern over the past decade remains: in 2009, the average Spotify salary was more than three times smaller than that we see today. – Tim Ingham, MBW
The record industry is booming again – but the digital services who rescued it deserve better·
The ancient alchemists famously sought to turn ordinary metal into gold. Today’s digital services have arguably achieved something similarly magical with music. – Kim Bayley - guest blog, MBW
