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FYI

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.

Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 25, 2019

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

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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

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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 LucasGeorgia 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

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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

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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

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Swiftcouver sign in Vancouver.
Destination Vancouver/Instagram

'Swiftcouver' sign in Vancouver.

FYI

Music Biz Headlines: FACTOR's Missing Millions, Les Cowboys Fringants' Anglo Fans

Topics in the headlines this week include Andy Kim Christmas, Martin Scorsese exploring the Beatles and Taylor Swift's Vancouver takeover.

FACTOR's missing millions remains the biggest Canadian music industry story this week. On the eve of his star-studded charity concerts, Hall of Fame songwriter Andy Kim reflects upon his career with candour, while Taylor Swift's three shows in Vancouver this week keep her in the headlines.

We look at these topics and much more in our weekly roundup.

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