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FYI

Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 21, 2018

Shania slays in Glasgow, Frank Turner's love affair with Toronto, and Polaris Prize gains international attention. Also in the headlines are KK Downing, Saskatoon concerts, Jeff Dalziel, Sirius XM, Mac Miller, Lauryn Hill, Ticketmaster, and Modern Sky.

Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 21, 2018

By Kerry Doole

Jeremy Dutcher wins Polaris prize, Canada's top music award

The prize of 50,000 Canadian dollars is won by classically trained indigenous singer who reinterpreted traditional songs of his Native Wolastoq people. – Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian


Frank Turner adds perplexed pop to his musical recipe

Clearly, Toronto has some affection for Frank Turner. The English folk-punk troubadour and his ace backing band, the Sleeping Souls, set up shop at the 1,350-capacity Phoenix this week for three consecutive shows — the first two of which sold out long ago. – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star

Shania Twain review – barnstorming, thigh-slapping spectacular

Brash staging, old-school charisma and a bulletproof back catalogue power an energetic performance from the Canadian superstar. – Graeme Virtue, The Guardian

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Music Notes: We're going Big and going Rogue

With pretty much all the music venues in full swing, Matt Olson recommends some great upcoming concerts in Saskatoon. – Star-Phoenix

Judas Priest's KK Downing writes a revealing memoir

In a frank new memoir, the guitarist opens up about his time with the metal band and how boiling tensions caused him to leave.  – Jim Farber, The Guardian

Kim Gordon, Stevie Nicks, Paul McCartney, more boycott SiriusXM over Music Modernization Act

A group of about 150 artists and executives have signed a new open letter addressed to SiriusXM’s corporate parent, Liberty Media, declaring their intentions to boycott the satellite radio company in support of the MMA. – Braudie Blais-billie, pitchfork

Durham College professor wins CCMA's Record Producer of the Year award

As Aaron Streck reports, Jeff Dalziel's work is going a long way to inspire his students. – Global News

10 albums to listen to in fall 2018

A secretly recorded live album, an indie rock supergroup and Lil Wayne’s long-awaited release are among our most anticipated this season.  – Samantha Edwards, NOW

Mac Miller fans furious the rapper wasn't given an Emmys tribute

Fans were left furious when the dead rapper was left out of the In Memoriam segment at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday night.  – Musicnews.com

Twenty years after the debut of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” the singer played the Hollywood Bowl

The former Fugee rose to the occasion. –  LA Times

Toronto Star went undercover to investigate Ticketmaster, but did they find anything new?

The Toronto Star has been hammering Ticketmaster this week in a series of investigative reports with the CBC on ticket pricing and Ticketmaster’s relationship with the secondary market. Interesting reporting, but not particularly ground-breaking. –  Dave Brooks, Billboard

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Modern Sky is bringing Chinese music to the masses at Echo Beach

The Chinese music festival expands to Toronto with a lineup that includes Calvin Love, Bohan Pheonix and Sunset Rollercoaster. – Cam Lindsay, NOW

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Clockwise from top left: Naomi Sharon, Loud Luxury, Gigi Perez, bbno$

Clockwise from top left: Naomi Sharon, Loud Luxury, Gigi Perez, bbno$

Media

Billboard Canada Backstage 2025: Interviews With Simple Plan, Gigi Perez, Loud Luxury, bbno$ & More

From breakthrough performers to established names, Billboard Canada's Billboard Backstage series got up close and personal with artists as they passed through Canadian stages, festivals and tour stops. Watch video interviews with Naomi Sharon, Quadeca, James Hype, Durand Bernarr and many more.

Not every interesting moment happens on stage. Some of the most revealing conversations take place just before or after the set — when artists are fresh off a performance, thinking ahead to what’s next, or reflecting on how they arrived there. Those moments unfolded across festivals and tour stops in Canada, offering snapshots of artists at different points in their journey, and Billboard Canada was there to capture it in Billboard Backstage.

Collected here, these interviews bring together a broad range of Canadian and international artists, spanning genres and stages of career. From Osheaga mainstage performers to rising artists and global touring acts, the series captures how artists engaged with Canadian audiences throughout 2025.

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