Music Biz Headlines, Sept, 21, 2023

By Kerry Doole

Fake Drake won't be eligible as Junos add AI guidelines to prevent robot takeover

The Juno Awards say a controversial "deep fake" song featuring unauthorized sound-alike vocals of Drake and the Weeknd won't be eligible at next year's celebration of Canadian music. – David Friend, CP 

Art, memorabilia exhibit celebrates Hamilton's musical icons, most notably Teenage Head

Tom Beckett, owner of Locke Street gallery Beckett Fine Art, calls his current exhibition, “Love Hamilton: A Celebration of Hamilton Art & Music,” “a labour of love.” It was inspired by his deep affection for hometown rock ‘n roll heroes Teenage Head and fuelled by the passing of its guitarist/co-founder Gord Lewis last year.  – Kerry Doole, Hamilton City Magazine

TIFF 2023: For the Talking Heads, once in a lifetime is enough

At the end of the premiere screening of the newly restored version of the acclaimed 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense at the Toronto International Film Festival, Talking Heads musician Jerry Harrison noted that it was too short.  “I thought to myself, ‘Is it over already?’” It is over – has been for some time. The Talking Heads broke up in 1991 but have reunited for the festival and for an interview in a downtown hotel. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Guess Who played this Ancaster backyard?

Canadian rock icon Burton Cummings shows up in town to play a show for 30. – Scott Radley, Hamilton Spectator 

Aerosmith postpones Toronto show, other dates after Steven Tyler suffers vocal cord damage

Aerosmith has postponed a half-dozen dates on their farewell tour because front man Steven Tyler injured his vocal cords during a performance, Tyler announced last week. “I’m heartbroken to say I have received strict doctor’s orders not to sing for the next thirty days,” Tyler, 75, posted on Instagram. – AP

Everything you need to know about Halifax’s 2023 Hopscotch Festival

Atlanta rap duo EARTHGANG and LA producer The Alchemist headline the annual hip hop festival, back for its 13th year. – Martin Bauman, The Coast

Peter Gabriel puts on a rewarding, heartfelt show at Scotiabank Arena

The former Genesis frontman achieved moments in which the entire 15,000-member audience seemed so fascinated by his approach that they were silent. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

Voivod drops “Fix My Heart (2023 Version)” music video

Canadian longtime metal band Voivod released a new music video for their song “Fix My Heart“. The track was originally released in 1993, but the group released a re-recorded version as part of their “Morgöth Tales” LP. – Hernan Osuna, Chaoszine

‘It’s not just a mixtape, it’s an art piece’ — emerging rapper Swavy on his debut project

The 22-year-old Mississauga rapper on never giving up and meeting his heroes, Bryson Tiller and Drake. – Janiece Campbell, Toronto Star

HPO celebrates 50 golden years of FirstOntario Concert Hall/Hamilton Place

Celebrate 50 golden years of the Great Hall, now named after the late Boris Brott, as the HPO open their 2023-24 season on Saturday. – Leonard Turnevicius, Hamilton Spectator

Fall concert season packed with legends, trailblazers and Drake drama

For those who cannot wait for Taylor Swift to make to her way to Toronto’s Rogers Centre late next year, the concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour hits over 150 Cineplex theatres across the Canada on Oct. 13. For those who prefer their live music on stage, not on screen, the fall concert calendar is fabulous, and includes Janelle Monáe and Jeremy Dutcher. –   BradWheeler, Globe and Mail 

International

Concord set to buy Round Hill's UK-listed fund in huge $468.8m deal

Concord has confirmed that it's on the verge of pulling one heck of a sizeable transaction. Alchemy Copyrights, LLC, trading as Concord, has agreed terms on a deal whereby it will acquire the entirety of Round Hill Music Royalty Fund (RHM) – the UK-listed fund operated by Round Hill Music. The deal values the entire issued and to-be-issued share capital of RHM at approximately USD $468.8M.– Billboard

Concord acquires Mojo Music & Nedia's catalog of over 30K songs

Concord has acquired the music publishing catalog of New York, Nashville, and London-based music publisher, Mojo Music & Media. The catalog includes works of REO Speedwagon, KISS, and Cheap Trick. The Mojo catalog spans nine decades and comprises more than 30K songs including 89 Billboard No.1 hits, adding what Concord says is “a remarkable selection of music” to its publishing portfolio of 800K songs. – Murray Stassen, MBW

Katy Perry has sold a bundle of music rights to $500M-backed Litmus Music

The deal spans Perry's five studio albums recorded for Capitol Records, including the Grammy-nominated Teenage Dream. Litmus now owns the artist's stake in her master royalty income and her publishing rights to the albums One of the Boys, Teenage Dream, PRISM, Witness, and Smile .Universal Music Group continues to own and/or control the master rights to the Capitol albums. – MBW

Distrokid acquires website hosting firm Bandzoogle

Independent music distributor DistroKid has acquired website hosting company Bandzoogle. Bandzoogle offers various e-commerce tools allowing musicians to market and sell products directly to their fanbases. – MusicTech

JKBX goes live, featuring listings to reserve shares in royalties from hits by many superstars

The platform's arrival in the music business has been talked about a lot this year, with the company announcing in a press release last month that it is aiming to "become a transformative force in music and investing". At launch, JKBX features listings of hits written and recorded by various superstar songwriters and artists including from Beyoncé and Ryan Tedder, Ed Sheeran, and many more. – MBW

Jann Wenner apologizes for controversial comments after being removed from Rock Hall of Fame Board

A day after the publication of a NYT interview in which Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner said that Black and female musicians “didn’t articulate at the level” of the white musicians featured in his new book of interviews, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced that he has been removed from its board of directors. – Jem Aswad, Variety

Music Review: The Chemical Brothers' 'For That Beautiful Feeling' is dreamy electronic music

“FThe 11-track record is a dreamy otherworldly vibe, reflecting its title to a tee. Recorded in their close-to-the-coast studio in England, one can almost feel the chill descend on one’s shoulders as the music lifts one up. – Cristina Jaleru, AP 

Fall music releases: Pop powerhouses, country classics, hip-hop heavyweights and beyond

Music fans, it is time to bid adieu to the sunny, slow summer months, and welcome fall — historically, one of the busiest times in the calendar year for new albums, EPs, and mixtapes. – Maria Sherman, AP

Music Review: BTS baritone V makes a smooth alt-R&B landing on 'Layover,' his first solo album

A lot can go wrong when a performer endeavors outside of the group that made their career. In the case of BTS baritone V, a lot can go right, as well. – Maria Sherman, AP 

Annie Lennox plans to fundraise and entertain at Rotary event in Italy. She does not plan to retire

Annie Lennox is not retiring. Though her partner in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Eurythmics Dave Stewart recently posted that Lennox “won’t be touring anymore," Lennox told us she will continue to perform. – AP

Bruce Springsteen postpones September shows, citing doctor’s advice regarding ulcer treatment

The Boss announced on his website Wednesday that he was postponing shows for the remainder of the month while he is treated for symptoms of “peptic ulcer disease.” The disease causes ulcers to form in the stomach or small intestine that can cause heartburn, nausea and stomach pain. – AP

Beyoncé thanks Diana Ross for coming to her birthday

Beyoncé has thanked Diana Ross for singing Happy Birthday to her during her recent Los Angeles show. – Noise11

A$AP Rocky sued for defamation

A$AP Rocky has been sued for defamation by his alleged shooting victim. – Noise11

Olivia Rodrigo announces 2024 arena world tour with The Breeders, Chappell Roan, PinkPantheress

Olivia Rodrigo is going on tour, and she's bringing the next generation of pop talent — as well as a beloved '90s alt-rock band — with her. – Maria Sherman, AP 

Diddy made music a priority over businesses to create 'The Love Album - Off the Grid'

 If Sean “Diddy” Combs had a choice, the self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur would be hunkered down in a recording studio rather than running his many successful businesses. – Jonathan Landrum Jr. , AP

NSYNC release first new song in 20 years

The group’s new tune, ‘Better Place’, appears in a trailer for forthcoming DreamWorks Animation film ‘Trolls Band Together’, and comes after the band reunited at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. – Noise11