Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 14, 2018
Molly Johnson (pictured) returns with her jazz fest, vinyl standards to be updated, and Rosanne Cash defends free speech. Also in the headlines are Childish Gambino, Scooter Braun, Westward fest, Deep Purple, Gary Gersh, Kate Bush, Michael McDonald, Warren Zevon, The Dirty Nil, and Kaleido fest.
By Kerry Doole
Local Hero: Molly Johnson has some things to say
Ahead of her Kensington Market Jazz Festival, the fiery local treasure talks community, equity and the state of Canadian jazz. – Chaka V. Grier, NOW
RIAA to set updated standards for vinyl
“Manufacturing specifications for vinyl were last updated in 1978. The advent of new manufacturing technologies and resurgent popularity of vinyl prompted music industry leaders to review existing specifications and evaluate whether updated standards could help further advance the vinyl market.” – Paul Resnikoff, Digital Music News
Rosanne Cash calls threats to journalism ‘really alarming’
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter just received the “Spirit of Americana” Free Speech award during the Americana Honors & Awards show in Nashville. Her father received the honour in 2002. – Kristin Hall, AP
Childish Gambino’s Toronto show quick, slick, smart, and complete
If Donald Glover is indeed about to make good on his pledge to put Childish Gambino away for good, he’s throwing one hell of a retirement party. The mood was anything but funereal at the Scotiabank Arena. – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Scooter Braun's company files suit against Troy Carter over alleged $10M loan default
Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Management Holdings filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday against Troy Carter, his wife and his company, Atom Factory, alleging fraud and breach after Carter allegedly failed to pay back a $10 million loan. Melinda Newman, Billboard
EU copyright law may force tech giants to pay billions to publishers
Legislation opposed by firms like Facebook and Google and groups warning of detrimental consequences for the internet. – Mark Sweney, The Guardian
Six under-the-radar acts to catch at this weekend’s Westward fest
The neat thing about the fest is that, unlike most such events, it doesn’t feature a couple of headliners and a vast undercard playing outdoors while the punters jostle for space in a field that will eventually turn into a mud pit because, well, Vancouver. – Staff, Georgia Straight
Review: Deep Purple, Judas Priest are in it for life at Bell Centre
On paper, the Deep Purple/Judas Priest co-headline tour that hit the Bell Centre Wednesday is a bit of a curious match, with Priest’s operatic but lean metal colliding against Purple’s heavy-duty prog/psychedelia/blues hybrid in 75-minute twin sets. – Jordan Zivitz, Montreal Gazette
How to prevent and deal with arthritis as a musician
Arthritis is a widespread disease and one of the main causes of disability among adults. The situation is particularly acute in the music world, where awkward posture and the repetitive nature of playing an instrument cause chronic joint pain to the large portion of both professional and amateur performers. – Warren Fowler, musicthinktank
Gary Gersh named President of Global Touring as AEG Presents their executive suite
Gersh, who previously served as President of Global Talent since joining AEG in 2015, will assume oversight of all aspects of AEG Presents’ worldwide touring operations and talent relations, the company said. – Celebrity Access
'She makes children of us all': Guardian writers pick their favourite Kate Bush lyrics
As Kate Bush announces a book of her collected lyrics, Guardian writers pick out their favourite lines from across her career. – Staff, The Guardian
Q&A: Michael McDonald's surprising resurgence
The soft rock veteran talks working with Thundercat and Aretha, hearing his voice in hip-hop, and attracting a new generation of fans. – CV Grier, NOW
Rhye buys his way to freedom
After Polydor failed to support his first album, musician Mike Milosh decided to go it alone. – Kate Wilson, Georgia Straight
The Curmudgeon: Does Warren Zevon belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
Well, there are two ways of looking at this. On the one hand, Zevon is more deserving than a lot of embarrassing selections already in the Hall: Kiss, Yes, Rush, Chicago, Journey, Bon Jovi and so on. On the other hand, Zevon is less deserving than some acts still waiting to get in: Chic, Radiohead, Whitney Houston, Gram Parsons, Graham Parker, the Replacements, the Meters and the Zombies. – Geoffrey Himes, Paste
The Dirty Nil’s ‘Master Volume’ Is the Album Rock ‘n’ Roll Deserves
When the three members of The Dirty Nil spill out of their van onto a Lower East Side street corner one sunny Thursday afternoon, they might as well be stepping out of a time machine, transported from a time when rock bands ruled the world. – Dan Ozzi, Noisey
'The most eclectic we've ever been': Kaleido Festival takes on the world
Some 680 artists of all sorts will present or perform at 13 venues, from rooftops to back alleys to parking lots on varied indoor and outdoor stages this Friday through Sunday, hoping to surpass previous crowds of up to 60,000. – Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal
How the San Francisco Symphony used design to convey peace, beauty and inclusion
Working with longtime collaborators Blueprint Studios, the symphony created nine design-heavy events in one night for its 107th opening-night gala. – BizBash
Headline to publish pep talks from Hamilton mastermind
Headline has acquired Gmorning, Gnight!, a book sharing the best motivational pep talks from the creator of the musical "Hamilton", Lin-Manuel Miranda. – Katherine Cowdrey, Bookseller
Diljit Dosanjh photographed by Lane Dorsey on July 15 in Toronto. Styling by Alecia Brissett.
Diljit Dosanjh photographed by Lane Dorsey on July 15 in Toronto. Styling by Alecia Brissett.
Diljit Dosanjh photographed by Lane Dorsey on July 15 in Toronto. Styling by Alecia Brissett. On Diljit: Hermès shirt & pants.
Diljit Dosanjh photographed by Lane Dorsey on July 15 in Toronto. Styling by Alecia Brissett. On Diljit: EYTYS jacket