Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 19, 2018

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