Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 10, 2018
Robots are influencing the music industry, Macca plays a secret show at Grand Central Station, and Nicki Minaj and Cardi B duke it out. Others in the headlines include Avril Lavigne, Terra Lightfoot, Justin Trudeau, Haim, Ron Mann, Steve Perry, Courtney Barnett, Mutek Montreal, Eminem, and Elizabeth Fraser.
By Kerry Doole
Rise of the Robots: How AI is changing the music world
In the music world, AI is fundamentally changing not just how we listen to music, but how music is made and even how the music industry operates. And as all tech does, AI is evolving at such a radical pace that, frankly, we can only speculate about its long-term impacts. – Michael Raine, Canadian Musician
Paul McCartney’s Grand Central surprise
On the scene at the Beatle’s secret performance in a New York City landmark. – Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone
Cardi B left injured after trying to fight Nicki Minaj at New York Fashion Week party
The feud between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B just turned physical. On Friday night, the rappers got into a fight at the Harper’s Bazaar ICONS party that left Cardi bruised. The bash was part of the festivities for New York Fashion Week. – People
Avril Lavigne announces new music in emotional open letter
Avril Lavigne announced her first album in five years as she opened up on her battle with a debilitating illness. – Keiran Southern, The Independent
Terra Lightfoot is thrilled by spot in Willie Nelson’s fest
The hard-working Hamilton rocker is featured alongside the country music icon on the Outlaw Music Festival. – Ben Rayner, The Toronto Star
Steve Perry walked away from Journey. A promise finally ended his silence.
On Feb. 1, 1987, Steve Perry performed his final show with Journey. In October, he’s returning with a solo album, “Traces,” that breaks 20 years of radio silence. – Alex Pappademas, NY Times
Playing culture card is good politics for Trudeau
Justin Trudeau says he won’t sign a new NAFTA deal unless it keeps protection for Canadian media and culture. – Thomas Walkom, Toronto Star
Haim played a surprise show at TIFF
The sisterly Los Angeles pop-rock trio kicked off the film festival in quirky style, trying their best to cut through the private party pretension. – Richard Trapunski, NOW
Courtney Barnett review – a rock-star welcome for her biggest hometown show
Ahead of an enormous global tour, the Melbourne artist brought light, shade and local love to the crowd at Festy Hall. – Sarah Smith, The Guardian
Toronto electronic artists made their move at Mutek Montreal 2018
Korea Town Acid and Edna King brought their A-game to Montreal, making their debuts on one of Canada's largest electronic music stages. – Michelle de Silva, NOW
Eminem breaks 36-year-old UK chart record for most consecutive No 1 albums
The record held by Abba and Led Zeppelin is broken by the Detroit rapper, who also scores three tracks in the UK singles chart. – Ben Thomas, The Guardian
TIFF 2018: Canadian ‘cultural historian’ Ron Mann vs the times
Acclaimed Canadian documentary filmmaker Ron Mann's latest film, Carmine String Guitars, profiles the famous guitar shop in New York's Greenwich Village. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser makes a rare live appearance in London
The other worldly voice of Cocteau Twins performed a rare gig in London last Monday night. Fraser has been elusive these days, having performed live just a handful of times since the band’s demise over 20 years ago. – PostPunk.com
How I stopped worrying and learned to love pop music: An excerpt from Anne T. Donahue’s Nobody Cares
When do musical tastes become a marker of personality – and when do we stop caring what, exactly, anyone else might think about that? In her new collection of essays, Nobody Cares, writer Anne T. Donahue explores this question and other modern cultural quandaries. – Globe and Mail
