By Kerry Doole
Drake’s rapping and sticky hooks return in collab with 21 Savage. Here are five take-aways from ‘Her Loss’
Between Drake’s opulent mafioso persona and 21 Savage’s grim villainy, the two form an intimidating duo on the new album, which dropped last week. – Demar Grant, Toronto Star
Upset by lyrics, Megan Thee Stallion tells Drake, ‘Stop using my shooting for clout’
She’s taking issue with a lyric that appears on Drake’s “Circo Loco,” a track off “Her Loss,” his new collaborative album with fellow rapper 21 Savage. – Christie D’Zurilla, Los Angeles Times
‘Her Loss’ is a misfire that Drake will hopefully learn from
With 21 Savage reduced to a supporting role, The LP plays like a concept record about refusing to grow up, and not in a fun way. – Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone
‘Nice day for a party, isn’t it?’ Hamilton concert celebrated Teenage Head’s Gord Lewis
If you felt the ground shake in Hamilton Saturday night, we have an explanation for you. A party with more than 1,500 friends, singing and dancing to Teenage Head is how the “A Celebration of Life — Gord Lewis,” tribute concert waved its final goodbye to the late musician. – Beatriz Baileero, Hamilton Spectator
Transgender soul pioneer Jackie Shane the focus of new Heritage Minute
Historica Canada released her story as the latest in its ongoing series of minute-long shorts celebrating influential figures and accomplishments in Canadian history. Shane, who was born in Nashville but thrived in the Canadian R&B music scene, was selected for her contributions to “the Toronto sound,” a version of electric soul shaped in the early 1960s. But she’s also considered a trans pioneer at a time when few held visible positions in the local community. – David Friend, CP
Gone but not forgotten
Over the last 18 months, the Hamilton music community has sadly lost three of its brightest lights: Boris Brott, Gord Lewis, and Steve Parton. Here, we pay tribute to these individuals, proud Hamiltonians all, who had a huge impact on the cultural life of our city and whose passing is being deeply mourned. – Kerry Doole, Hamilton City Magazine
Ani DiFranco talks U.S. politics, fascism and inspiration as she brings her show to the Danforth Music Hall
Alternative folk singer and songwriter is touring to promote her latest album “Revolutionary Love.” – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star
Punk’s poet laureate
Biography of the legendary Art Bergmann tackles the rocker’s rollicking highs and lows. – John Kendle, Winnipeg Free Press
City Fidelia on the City of Ottawa’s new community centre and the release of his new album ‘Painkillers’
Fidelia earns the moniker “mayor of Ottawa” and takes introspection to a new level over rap and R&B coated rhymes. – Annette Ejiofor, Toronto Star
Don Pyle collects portraits of David Bowie, Lou Reed, the Runaways for new book 'Shot in a Mirror'
A pair of publications by the Toronto photographer and musician will be celebrated with a Toronto launch event later this month. – Exclaim!
From Biggie to Buffy, Giller finalists share their pop culture influences
From rap music to social movements to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” the Scotiabank Giller Prize finalists drew from a wide array of influences to write books that contribute to the cultural conversation. The five writers are vying to win the $100,00 honour told us about the touchstones that shaped their shortlisted titles. – CP
‘It’ll move your soul a little’: How Andrew Broderick became Canadian Stage’s leading choir boy
Andrew Broderick, a “Canadian Idol” alum and frequent face on Ontario’s most famous stages, leads in “Choir Boy” by “Moonlight” screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney. – Aisling Murphy, Toronto Star
November concerts have ABBA covered, Yo-Yo Ma tested and Marcel Proust remembered
A look at some concerts taking place nationally this month. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
It’s only rock ’n’ roll, but he lived… lives it
Winnipeg legend Randy Bachman adds new chapter featuring son to remarkable history in music. – Alan Small, Free Press
Jann Arden on heist film Vandits
Jann Arden has range, and at 60 years old, she’s primed for more levity. “It was fun to swear,” says Arden of her new role in the Canadian indie comedy film “Vandits,” in which she plays an unhinged bingo hall receptionist named Blanche. – Noel Ransome, CP
International
Over 44M people attended Live Nation concerts in Q3 2022 - a record figure
Concerts giant Live Nation just delivered what it says was the “biggest summer concert season in history”. According to new investor filings, the company generated Q3 revenues of $6.15B in the three months to end of September, up 63% YoY. Those revenues were generated across all divisions, including concerts, ticketing and advertising & sponsorship. – Murray Stassen, MBW
Believe's revenues jumped by 37%YOY in Q3. It has just raised its FY forecast again.
Paris-headquartered music company Believe generated EUR €197.0M in Q3 – a 36.9% YoY increase in revenues. On an organic basis (at a like-for-like perimeter and constant exchange rate), that figure was up 37.6% YoY. These impressive percentage rises have been fairly typical for Believe. – MBW
The coming long-tail cull
The biggest major label executives are starting to seed a narrative into the marketplace about the potentially corrosive effect that the rapidly-growing long-tail of music and creators is having on consumers’ music-streaming experiences. Of course, it also happens to dent major label market share too, but the issue is not quite as clear cut as it might first appear. – MusicIndustryBlog
Chris Blackwell accepts the A&R Icon Award in London
Chris Blackwell, the legendary founder of Island Records, accepted the A&R Icon award at the A&R Awards in central London on Nov. 8. The list of artists Blackwell has worked with and supported throughout his musical life includes Bob Marley U2, Steve Winwood, Cat Stevens, Grace Jones, Roxy Music, Nick Drake, and John Martyn. – MBW
Has streaming made it harder to discover new music?
Services such as Spotify and Apple Music give us access to the entire history of popular songs. But has that access made us lazy listeners? And could TikTok or TV really help us rediscover our passion for discovery? – Alexis Petridis, The Guardian
A new start after 60: I joined a garage band and found my inner punk
With barely any musical experience, Cathy Loughead signed up for an all-female rock band. Now she’s painting her nails, shopping for outfits and ‘thrashing it out’ on stage. – The Guardian
Bruce Springsteen wants to change the topic with ‘Only the Strong Survive’
Springsteen’s current obsession, it seems, is paying homage to the soul music of his youth, striving to do justice to songs that have long been near and dear to him.– Dan DeLuca, The Philadelphia Inquirer
‘There is no cure’: Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor reveals he has stage 4 cancer
Original guitarist of British new wave group reveals diagnosis in a letter read by his bandmates while being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. –The Guardian
Eminem celebrates Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction: “I’m probably not supposed to be here”
The Detroit rapper performed a six-song set that included guest appearances from Steven Tyler and Ed Sheeran. – CoS
Rock Hall 2022: Dolly Parton performs “Jolene” with inductee supergroup
The country icon brought out Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, Pat Benatar, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, and more for the performance. – Allison Hussey and Rob Arcand, Pitchfork
After a decade in Nashville, Lainey Wilson is just getting started
Last year the stars aligned for Lainey Wilson after more than a decade trying to get the doors to open for her as a country singer-songwriter. But even as she was winning awards and hitting the top of the Billboard country airplay chart, her family bedrock was shaken this summer with the hospitalization of her father, Brian. – KM Hall,, AP
