Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 11, 2019

By FYI Staff

Dubmatique: Making history

The hip-hop combo Dubmatique is known for popularizing the genre in Québec in the latter part of the ’90s. This month, their hit Soul pleureur will become the very first hip-hop song to become a SOCAN Classic in Québec. – Eric Parazelli, Words and Music/SOCAN

David Foster gets candid about his long list of failures & the artists he can't produce

"My goal when I go in the studio with a singer is I believe in my head that I'm going to get a better vocal out of this singer than he or she has ever done before or ever will do again," says producer/songwriter David Foster in the new documentary, David Foster: Off The Record, directed by fellow Canadian Barry Avrich. –  Karen Bliss, Billboard

Major music CEO warns Aussie acts of Triple J hype

“You are better not to get added to triple j… [It] will kill your career internationally.” It was the key takeaway from Nettwerk head Terry McBride’s keynote speech at BIGSOUND 2019, his first industry presentation in ten years (he claimed he stopped delivering talks after his last one angered so many people).  –Lauren Baxter, Mick Radojkovic, The Musc News

MattyFest attendees furious after Toronto chef's festival runs out of food

Toronto-based financier for Joker has made movies into ultimate yield play

Jason Cloth manages risk in his film-financing business just like he did as an investment banker, scrutinizing deals with one big question in mind: “How do I not get screwed?” That means staying focused on business and not getting bedazzled by the glitz and glamour of Hollywood."  – Natalie Wong Bloomberg

International

Paid streaming music subscriptions in US top 60M, says RIAA

Streaming music subscriptions continue to drive the U.S. music industry’s growth and revenues, according to a new report from the (RIAA) released this week. The organization said total music revenue grew 18% to $5.4 billion in the first half of 2019, with streaming music accounting for 80% of industry revenues. The report also noted the number of paid subscriptions topped 60 million in the U.S. for the first time. Sarah Perez, Tek Crunch

John Batiste: So much more than Steven Colbert’s music director

Louisiana native Jonathan Batiste is a Grammy-nominated musician, TV personality, and bandleader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Though just 33 years old, he has released 11 albums and Eps (including his just-released “Anatomy of Angels: Live at the Village Vanguard”)  and has recorded and performed with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Prince, Willie Nelson, Ed Sheeran and Mavis Staples.  – Margie Goldsmith, Forbes

Venice Film Review: ‘Roger Waters Us + Them’

Roger Waters may be “running over the same old ground” in his latest concert film, but the new material shows Pink Floyd’s ageless war dog is always up for a new fight. –  Mark Keizer, Variety 

Music history says Nicki Minaj is lying, not retiring

Musicians say lots of things that should not be taken seriously. Remember when Keith Richards said he didn’t have a drug problem? The biggest lie of all is, “I’m retiring.” On Thursday, Nicki Minaj fans convulsed to a backbeat of confusion when the rapper said that was a wrap. – Vinay Menon, Toronto Star

Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett talks ‘Selling England by the Pound’ tour

“Genesis is a very competitive band, and there’s still that tension when we get in the same room,” Hackett says. “But at the end of the day, I honour the music politics-free.” – Andy Greene, Rolling Stone

In Conversation: Liz Phair

On being misunderstood, working with Ryan Adams, and the dawn of Girlville.– Rob Tannenbaum, Vulture

Long before cannabis went commercial, DJ Muggs was on the frontlines preaching the green gospel

Having spent most of his life in the often unscrupulous industry known as the music business, DJ Muggs is quick to note he has a finely tuned bullshit detector. This served him well when he branched out from the job that made him famous. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

How Jack White reactivated his other band — with a new album and a show in Toronto on Thursday

Jack White and Brendan Benson apologize for not having a really good yarn to explain the Raconteurs’ sudden return to active duty this year. There was no magical, catalytic moment that inspired the Detroit-bred four-piece to reunite in early 2019 after 11 years of silence, just a series of “baby steps.” – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star 

Review: Tyler, The Creator goes high concept on his Igor tour

The California rapper donned alter-ego regalia to perform his most mature, choreographed and biggest Toronto concert to date at Scotiabank Arena. – Kevin Ritchie, NOW 

On Our Radar: Billie Eilish flexes her powerful black wings in the highly symbolic video for "all the good girls go to hell"

More so than most of her fellow multimillionaires, Billie Eilish seems to actually give a shit about the future of the planet. The 17-year-old multi-platinum wunderkind tied the release of her new video into both the UN’s 2019 Climate Action Summit in New York City and the upcoming Global #ClimateStrike, spearheaded by like-minded teen activist Greta Thunberg. –  Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

I Am Woman' star Tilda Cobham-Hervey says Helen Reddy's anthem 'will always be relevant to women'

The Helen Reddy biopic premiered this week at Toronto International Film Festival. –  Karen Bliss, Billboard

Robert Plant allows Indie film ‘The Friend’ to use Led Zeppelin songs

“Ramble On” and “Going to California” would have cost a third of drama’s budget, but singer cuts filmmakers a deal. – Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone

Mick Jagger lashes Trump for wiping out environmental protections

“The U.S., which should be the world leader in environmental control, has lost that and has decided to go the other way,” said the Rolling Stones singer.– Mary Papenfuss, HuffPost US

Sinead O'Connor apologizes for racist remarks about white people

Sinead O’Connor retracts race comments she made following her conversion to Islam last year. Returning to Twitter on Sunday, the 52-year-old Nothing Compares 2 U singer raved about her new faith but confessed she went too far with her conversion message, telling fans she was “angry and unwell” when she made the “racist” remarks. –  WENN

The Waterboys review – breathless, hair-prickling Big Music

Pan-Celtic post-punk returns with a dash of tambourines and a swirl of mysticism as Mike Scott leads his genre-hopping crew. – Malcolm Jack, Guardian