Music Biz Headlines, Oct. 25, 2019
Emmylou Harris (pictured) tops a Calgary benefit concert, Drake turns 33 in style, and the Unison fund seeks help. Also in the headlines are Amazon, Eminem, Spotify, Sony, Catherine MacLellan, AR Paisley, PledgeMusic, Twitter, Lizzo, and the theremin.
By Kerry Doole
Emmylou Harris joins Calgary charity band BANC for all-star fundraising concert
The event at Jack Singer Concert Hall, titled 33 1/3, will raise money for Indigenous Missing and Murdered Women, Bonapartes Animal Rescue in Nashville, Tenn., and the National Music Centre. The Oct. 29 concert will also feature Sass Jordan and Calgary pop choir Revv52. – Jon Roe, Calgary Herald
Inside Drake's star-studded birthday party with Adele, Chris Brown and more celebs
The "God's Plan" artist has turned 33, and he's been celebrating all week long. On Wednesday, Drake threw a bash at Goya Studios in L.A. with celebs Adele, Chris Brown, Sean "Diddy"Combs and more stars. – Jess Cohen, E News
This fund helps sick and injured musicians with nowhere else to turn. Now it needs help itself
More than 800 people who have received relief from the Unison Benevolent Fund, a non-profit charity providing emergency relief and counselling to the Canadian music community since 2011. – Nick Krewen, The Star
Snowblink’s Daniela Gesundheit reimagines Jewish prayer music for a secular audience
Singer Daniela Gesundheit is releasing a new album of Jewish music entitled Alphabet of Wrongdoing, featuring traditional Jewish prayer songs usually performed during High Holidays services. – Tabassum Siddiqui, Globe and Mail
Catherine MacLellan, P.E.I. singer-songwriter, launches new album, 'Coyote'
Award-winning singer and songwriter Catherine MacLellan is back after a four-year break from her own singer-songwriter career. The Juno award-winning performer took a hiatus to celebrate the life and legacy of her late legendary father, Gene MacLellan. – SaltWire Network
Review: AR Paisley aims for classic hip-hop on Timeless
The Mississauga rapper has big goals on this debut album, and though he doesn't always meet them, he hits a good sweet spot. – Claudia McNeilly, NOW
Music Notes: Fauth and BADKITTY under a Cedar Sky
As autumn starts to lose its grip on the end of 2019, remember that music in Saskatoon is still great regardless of the weather. – Matt Olson, Star-Phoenix
International
Eminem Interviewed By The U.S. Secret Service Over Anti-Trump Lyrics
According to documents obtained by Buzzfeed, Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers, was interviewed by the Secret Service in 2018, with the federal protective agency who said that Em was “exhibiting inappropriate behaviour” and his lyrics “threatens protectee.” – Ian Courtney, CelebrityAccess
Is Amazon unstoppable?
Politicians want to rein in the retail giant. But Jeff Bezos, the master of cutthroat capitalism, is ready to fight back. – Charles Duhigg, New Yorker
Record labels can now pay Spotify to promote artists on the platform
Yesterday, Spotify announced that, for the first time, record companies (and other industry players) will soon be able to pay to have their artists promoted to targeted fans within the Spotify ecosystem via a ‘Brand New Music For You’ pop-up visual unit. – Tim Ingham, MBW
PledgeMusic debts top $9.5M leaving ‘little prospect’ that artists will be paid says UK Court
PledgeMusic entered liquidation with $9.57 million in debt and assets worth just $20,000, according to court documents. With an “estimated deficiency” of $7,405.502.48 and secured creditor Sword Row, LLC first in line, there is “little prospect” that artists and other creditors will be paid, according to the court-appointed receiver. – Hypebot
Disillusion or Revolution? Understanding AI’srole in the future of music rights
As part of the Music Business Association’s Keeping Tempo series, Synchtank CEO Rory Bernard discusses the current state of AI applications in the music industry and what future AI applications may look like. – Synchtank
Is one Sony finally becoming a creative reality?
In a bid to differentiate itself from its key competition (Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group), Sony’s recorded music division has long tried to spin the idea that it is uniquely connected to Sony Corp’s other powerful owned-media divisions –particularly Sony Pictures (movies and TV) and Sony Game & Network Services (including PlayStation). – Tim Ingham, MBW
Spotify saved the music industry. Now what?
Profits are hard to come by—and Apple and Amazon aren't going away. – Andrew Nusca,Fortune
German buying behavior study shows listeners love streaming, but are more willing to get physical
A University of Hamburg study commissioned by a collection of music industry organizations, including trade group BVMI and collecting society GEMA, has found an increasing willingness among German consumers to spend more money on the music they love. – Wolfgang Spahr, Billboard
How Twitter changed music
Hashtag rap! Kanye rants! Terrifying stan pile-ons! For better and worse, Twitter has forever altered the music landscape. – Eric Harvey, Pitchfork
Happy 100th birthday, theremin!
Russian inventor Léon Theremin, a cellist and physicist, was doing research for the Russian government on something called proximity sensors. That was in 1919. Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin reportedly “adored” the newfangled contraption. – PRI's The World
Lizzo fights back against Truth Hurts copyright claim with her own fierce lawsuit
“Have a hit, see a writ – that’s never been more true.” Those words, delivered by a leading US-based publishing figure on Monday night, have been left ringing in our ears. chatter has grown louder around the scenario of Justin and Jeremiah Raisen, who claim that they are each owed a credit on – and a portion of royalties from – Lizzo’s hit single. – Tim Ingham, MBW
