Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 10, 2018

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