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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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Coldplay at Toronto's Rogers Stadium on July 8, 2025.
Anna Lee
Coldplay at Toronto's Rogers Stadium on July 8, 2025.
FYI

Music Biz Headlines: Coldplay Walk Back Rogers Stadium Comments, Matthew Good Cancels U.S. Tour Dates Due to Trump

Other stories making news this week: Scooter Braun on Justin Bieber's Swag, Quebec legend Serge Fiori is remembered, more on Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke's indictment.

After a long absence, Justin Bieber returns to the spotlight , via the surprise release of his seventh album. A prominent lobby group is aiming to block Bob Vylan and Kneecap from playing Canada over Israel comments. Russ caused controversy over stopping his show at Toronto's Budweiser Stage. Plus, stories about OVG and Universal Music Group are making music industry headlines internationally.

Read about those stories and more in this week's roundup of music biz headlines.

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