Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 25, 2019
Kiesza (pictured) is on the comeback trail, Carly Rae Jepsen puts out an eye-catching video, and The Remix Project is a hip-hop success story. Others in the headlines include Owen Pallett, SSO, Troubadour Festival, Lloyd Spiegel, Bob Dylan, The Black Keys, Emmys, Believe, George Harrison, Linda Ronstadt, music royalty funds, and Emmylou Harris.
By Kerry Doole
Kiesza's career was nearly ended by a car crash. Now she's writing her most meaningful songs yet
Two years after a near-fatal car crash, the Canadian singer occasionally still faces incapacitating fatigue, memory loss and vision issues. But she’s stopped seeing her physical setbacks as actual setbacks. “My brain injury has been my biggest pathway to growth,” Kiesza says. – Taylor Weatherby, Billboard
On Our Radar: Carly Rae Jepsen gets ready for a date in surreal style in video for Want You in My Room
A lot can happen in 60 minutes. At the beginning of the video for "Want You in My Room", Carly Rae Jepsen confirms with her date that she'll be ready in an hour. Then, after a short but extremely conspicuous Google Home product-placement shot (because a girl's gotta eat, amirite?), director Andrew Donoho condenses that hour into perfect pop-song length. – John Lucas, Georgia Straight
The Remix Project kickstarts dreams for at-risk youth
Celebrating its 15th year in session, The Remix Project recently marked its 2019 orientation day with a new group of 50 students from the GTA. Drake and Noah ‘40’ Shebib recorded two mixtapes at Remix, and the connection landed Ritchie “Rich Kidd” Acheampong four production credits on Drake’s 2007 release, Comeback Season. – Jonathan Dekel, Globe and Mail
Five fresh and compelling fall classical albums
Fall is always a big season for new releases. Among this year’s bumper crop, there are many unexpected treats, including these five albums that impress with the quality of the music as well as its interpreters. – John Terauds, Toronto Star
Owen Pallett, Cris Derksen and Matt Smith compose new music for the Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario has commissioned three new choral works from musicians Owen Pallett, Cris Derksen and Matt Smith. All are well known in Canadian indie scenes, but they've all dipped into new and experimental composition. Their program, Songs of Heaven, is three choral pieces inspired by the Early Rubens exhibition at the AGO. – NOW
Review: Evening of romanticism at SSO opening night
Despite the sophistication, the intense emotional gravity of Brahms’ fourth symphony needs no musical education to appreciate. – Eric Burge, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Ted Ferris reviews the Troubadour Festival
Highlights at the roots-oriented Barrie fest included Jerry Leger, Harrow Fair, and Old Man Luedecke. – Roots Music Canada
Lloyd Spiegel is bringing Aussie blues to Saskatchewan stages
Lloyd Spiegel has won 11 Australian Blues Music Awards, been singing since he was four and began touring at the tender age of 12. He's now on a debut Canadian tour. – Evan Pretzer, Star-Phoenix
International
Entertainment is getting even shorter and even longer
Across audio, video and other entertainment formats, there is a growing amount of buzz around really short pieces of content on the one hand (i.e. ten seconds or less), and around really long pieces of content on the other (i.e. one hour or more, such as extended podcast interviews or Netflix docu-series). What about the purgatory in the middle? – MBW
Joshua Radin digs deep for authenticity on Here, Right Now
Joshua Radin has never been a particularly “topical” songwriter. What he is, however, is a human being with a conscience, and also a citizen of the United States. As such, Radin couldn’t help but be affected by observing how his country’s government deals with the refugees and would-be migrants who turn up at the U.S.–Mexico border yearning to breathe free. – John Lucas, Georgia Straight
Bob Dylan’s musical prowess shines in depression-era musical Girl from the North Country
Girl from the North Country plants itself in the Dust Bowl-era of Woody Guthrie – one of Dylan’s major early influences – with a tale of drifters, grifters and simple people struggling to get by. –Martin Morrow, Globe and Mail
Council approves $3M annually from hotel tax for musicians, venues
For the first time, Austin’s city government will provide direct annual funding to the local commercial music industry, including venues and performing musicians. The net effect of the changes will provide an estimated $3 million per year to support the local music industry, with preservation funds going up by an equal amount. – Austin Monitor
Black Keys share statement re: Hundreds of ticketholders turned away from Wiltern show
The Black Keys blame third-party vendors, whose ticket prices were inflated as much as 800%, for the “customer service nightmare." – Peter Helman, Stereogum
Emmy viewership falls under 7 Million for first time to new Low
A big night and a big farewell for the much-watched HBO series Game of Thrones did not translate for the Fox aired awards show up against the NFL.– Dominic Patten, Deadline
French startup Believe sets up base in Indian live music market with Entco acquisition
Paris-based technology and artist services company Believe has announced the acquisition of Mumbai-based live music production company, The Entertainment Company (Entco), for an undisclosed amount. Believe Entertainment will build on Entco’s existing business of enabling live experiences, music festivals, and concerts. – Bhumika Khatri Inc42
George Harrison’s movie career inspires the (Other) HandMade’s Tale film festival
George Harrison’s post-Beatles career as a film producer, composer and occasional actor will be celebrated over the course of a 10-day film festival next month in Beverly Hills. – Randy Lewis, LA Times
Placido Domingo to perform in US for first time since sexual harassment allegations
When the opera superstar appeared in Europe last month after being accused of sexual harassment by multiple women, his performances were greeted with rapturous ovations. Domingo faces two investigations into his behavior in the US, and is scheduled to help kick off the new season at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. – Jocelyn Gecker and Jocelyn Noveck, AP
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice is a terrific and touching doc about the singer
An odd thing about Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, the terrific, music-heavy doc about the big-voiced ‘70s pop-rock superstar, is how interviewees often talk about Linda Ronstadt as if she’s dead. She isn’t, but she hasn’t performed in a decade because Parkinson’s has robbed her of her control over that gorgeous instrument. – Jim Slotek, Original Cin
Investors in search of yield turn to music-royalty funds
Betting your money on Keith Richards might sound risky. But at a time when some $15 trillion in government bonds around the world have negative yields, it might not be a bad wager. – Mischa Frankl-Duval and Lucy Harley-McKeown WSJ
City Winery opener Emmylou Harris on Ken Burns, baseball, and “the beauty and simplicity of country music”
This Friday, Emmylou Harris will be the first act to play at City Winery Philadelphia. That’s the Center City outpost of the music venue restaurant chain that’s part of Fashion District Philadelphia. – Dan DeLuca, Inquirer
