Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 24, 2018
Metric (pictured) remain relevant, Buffy Sainte-Marie's life is detailed in a new book, and an Indigenous Canadian renaissance is underway. Also in the headlines are Ticketmaster, Courtney Love, Lou Phelps, Bob Moses, CD sales, Tafelmusik, Steven Page, Christine and the Queens, Reggie Watts, and SSO.
By Kerry Doole
Emily Haines and Metric vs. the content wars
The modern rock favourites deliver a new album that is classic Metric: blistering, danceable, but tender and contemplative, too. – Sarah MacDonald, The Globe and Mail
We don't deserve Buffy Sainte-Marie
A new authorized biography by Andrea Warner writes the legendary folk musician back into history and pop culture. – Carla Gillis, NOW
Jeremy Dutcher puts spotlight on ‘Indigenous renaissance’ in Canadian arts scene
A wave of Indigenous artists making inroads in fields including music, literature, dance and film is exhilarating for playwright Reneltta Arluk, who pauses while discussing musician Jeremy Dutcher’s recent Polaris Prize win to say she’s about to choke up. – Cassandra Szklarski, CP
Ticketmaster facing class action lawsuits over ticket resales
Class action lawsuits in Canada and the U.S. are in the works against Ticketmaster — the world’s largest ticket seller, with a virtual monopoly on major events across North America — following a Toronto Star/CBC investigation that revealed new details about the company’s selling techniques. – Robert Cribb and Marco Oved, Toronto Star
Celebrity Skin at 20: Courtney Love’s exposé of Hollywood’s seedy underbelly
After becoming the bastions of the ‘no sellout’ grunge set, Hole moved to LA to live out a celebrity nightmare – and make one of rock’s greatest records. – Rebecca Nicholson, The Guardian
Lou Phelps is a laid-back and malleable MC on 002/LOVE ME
On his new album, executive produced by his brother Kaytranada, the Montreal rapper is comfortable revelling within the crevices of beats rather than lording over them. – Del F. Cowie, NOW
Bob Moses breaks down Battle Lines
Touring the world taught the electronic-pop duo that people are the same everywhere. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
US recorded music industry growth slowed in H1 2018 with a dramatic fall in CD sales
There were a handful of high-points amongst the US recorded music revenue figures in the first half of this year – but they were all overshadowed by softer growth in streaming and, particularly, an unprecedented decline in CD sales. – Tim Ingham,MBW
Steven Page project takes political turn with new album
When Steven Page released an album a little over two years ago, the United States felt like a very different place. Barack Obama was president and many thought Donald Trump would never land in the Oval Office. – David Friend, CP
Christine and the Queens: I've just discovered sex. I can't stop yet"
Héloïse Letissier’s 2016 debut made her a global star. She’s spent the years since evolving her alter-ego Chris, idolising Madonna, making ‘horny’ pop, and being misunderstood in France. – The Guardian
Reggie Watts’ musical mirth doesn’t need to be explained any more
Watts, who comes to town as one of the headliners on Sept. 29 as part of the JFL42 comedy festival, is obviously very musical. Call him a polymath. – Raju Mudhar, Toronto Star
A song in your head: U of S, SSO partner to study the effect of playing music on the brain
The season-opening concert for the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra is giving the audience a unique look into the brains of musicians — with help from the U of S. – Matt Olson, Star-Phoenix
Tafelmusik captivates with Mozart season opener
So much of the time, Toronto looks to match cultural gold standards from other parts of the world. But in the case of the Tafelmusik Orchestra, we have the gold standard for others to emulate. Tafelmusik’s season-opening, all-Mozart program at Koerner Hall offers a brilliant demonstration of their exalted status. – John Terauds, Toronto Star
