Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 19, 2018
Rihanna (pictured) praises education, ticket gouging explored, and the Music Modernization Act passes. Others in the headlines include William Prince, Quebec's music industry, Martin Bandier, Michael Ford, Bob Marley, The Mercury Prize, luthiers, Hubert Lenoir, Prince, and Rifflandia.
By Kerry Doole
Growing up in Barbados, school was a grind. But I was lucky
We must fight for the quarter of a billion young people still denied an education by conflict, poverty, sexism and bad policy. – Rihanna, The Guardian
Got tickets to this weekend’s Bruno Mars show? Here’s why the guy sitting beside you may have paid hundreds of dollars less
The Toronto Star and the CBC spent seven months analyzing box office sales for Bruno Mars' September 22nd show at the Scotiabank Arena. We found that prices and availability are manipulated to create the appearance of scarcity and maximize revenues. – Marco Oved, Robert Cribb, Toronto Star
The United States Senate has passed the Music Modernization Act by unanimous consent
The passing of the bipartisan bill, which was co-sponsored by more than 80 Senators, sets into motion an overhaul of music licensing legislation in the US. – MBW
The best acts we saw at AmericanaFest in Nashville
Indigenous Canadian folk singer/songwriter William Prince tops the list. – Bruce Warren, NPR
Québécois music isn’t marginalized—it’s English Canadians who are missing out
How Quebec’s music industry has remained strong, prolific, and diverse, while also being unapologetically Québécois. – Luke Ottenhof, Maclean's
Sony/ATV’s upheaval at the top: What went down behind the scenes
With Martin Bandier's 2019 exit comes the arrival of former protege Jon Platt as his successor. – Shirley Halperin and Jem Aswad, Variety
For "hip-hop architect" Michael Ford, rap holds the key to a just society
“Rap music, as I see it, is a critique of the lived environment,” states designer Michael Ford, who will conduct one of his Hip-Hop Architecture Camp workshops for youth at IDS Vancouver on Saturday. – Lucy Lau, Georgia Straight
Bob Marley & The Wailers 'Kaya': The story 40 years later
Chris Salewicz, writer of the biography Bob Marley: The Untold Story, fills us in on what was happening in Marley’s life at the time. – gigwise
The Mercury music prize has lost its way – here’s how to fix it
The question posed most often, and most crabbily, in the history of the Mercury prize is: what’s the point of the “token” acts on the shortlist? Jazz, folk and classical nominees are only ever there to make the judges of the UK’s most prestigious music award look clever; they certainly never win. – Jude Rogers, The Guardian
Singaporean DJ files suit to legalize gay sex in Singapore
Days after India legalized consensual gay sex in a historic judicial ruling, a Singaporean DJ has filed a lawsuit to bring that ruling to his home country. Johnson Ong Ming, who performs as DJ Big Kid, filed the suit against the Singaporean high court on Monday. – Joshua Bote, Billboard
Big sounds from the small boutique guitar luthiers of California
A cacophony of sounds emerged from a warehouse in Newbury Park: the hum of the wood-sanding machines, the hiss of paint sprayers and the occasional bark from two dogs roaming the factory floor. – Ethan Millman, LA Times
Quebec’s Hubert Lenoir breaks through with genre-bending album Darlène
If you want to single out the artist who’s benefited most from his Polaris Music Prize nomination, the answer is easy: Hubert Lenoir. – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Prince's new basement tape: Just him singing, playing piano
Fans of Prince expecting his usual pyrotechnic guitar work will be surprised that one of the first official albums released from his fabled vault since his death more than two years ago showcases his jazzy piano playing. – AP
Musicians take note at Victoria music industry conference
Rifflandia Gathering brings together emerging artists and industry professionals. – Keri Coles, Sooke Mirror
