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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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Jack White Mocks Trump’s Rambling One-Year Accomplishment Presser With Hulk Jokes: ‘Trump Smart, Pass Brain Test, Name Giraffe’
Gilbert Flores/Billboard

Jack White at 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on November 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Rock

Jack White Mocks Trump’s Rambling One-Year Accomplishment Presser With Hulk Jokes: ‘Trump Smart, Pass Brain Test, Name Giraffe’

The rocker has repeatedly lashed out at the administration, blasting Trump's gaudy White House decor, thin skin and "vile" response to director Rob Reiner's death.

There’s nothing funny about Donald Trump’s threats to forcibly acquire Greenland or the terrifying scenes of immigration agents detaining a five-year-old child in Minnesota this week as “bait” to draw members of his family out of their home.

But on Wednesday (Jan. 21), Jack White found time to lighten the mood (a bit) with a lengthy Instagram post in which he mocked the president’s 81-minute rambling press conference on Tuesday (Jan. 20), during which Trump weaved around more than usual as he touted what he considers to be his administration’s first-year achievements.

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