Music Biz Headlines: The Weeknd's Catalogue Deal is One of the Biggest Ever, Joey Moi is the No. 1 Producer of the Year
This week: Trump picks fights with pop stars, a posthumous honour for Donna Summer, tributes to Rob Reiner and more.
As the end of the year approaches, stats reveal that 2025 has been a blockbuster year for Canadian star Abel Tesfaye and Nashville-based hit Canadian record producer and songwriter Joey Moi.
This week's headlines also look at the escalating costs of touring, concerns arising over the use of AI in music, Eurovision Song Contest controversies and more.
Read these stories and more in this week's roundup of music biz headlines of the week from Canada and beyond.
Canadian Music Biz Headlines
The deal, which rivals recent agreements for Queen and Michael Jackson assets, is more leveraged than typical for a single artist's catalogue. – Ed Christman, Billboard
Alongside four record-breaking sold-out shows in his home country, the Canadian juggernaut's global trek topped R&B touring records previously set by Beyoncé and Bruno Mars. The list also features big tours by Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar & SZA and more. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Anne Murray Weighs the Highs and Lows of a Big Year, and her Unexpected New Album
Murray stepped away from the music business shortly after releasing her seventh Christmas album in 2008. – David Friend, Canadian Press
Paul McCartney Tickets for $5,000? Insiders Reveal Why Going to a Concert Costs So Much
Artists' business managers say that after the pandemic touring became a lot more expensive. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star
Canadian Producer Joey Moi Is Billboard’s No.1 Hot 100 Producer of the Year
For the second time, the Vancouver-born, Nashville-based co-founder of Big Loud Records secures the top spot. Moi is currently best known for working with chart-topping country hitmaker Morgan Wallen. – Billboard Canada
HAVEN.'s 'I Run.' Climbs on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Following AI Deepfake Allegations
After a previous version of the Viral EDM track with AI-assisted vocals resembling U.K. singer Jorja Smith became embroiled in industry controversy, a new version with vocals from TikTok singer Kaitlin Aragon is now climbing the Canadian charts. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
From Naive Teen to Pop Superstar, Andy Kim Brings his Annual Christmas Show to B.C.
For 21 years, his Christmas show has played to packed rooms in Toronto, and it just visited BC for the first time. The charity fundraiser also featured Tom Cochrane, 54-40, the Washboard Union, Men Without Hats, Lee Aaron, Hot Hot Heat’s Steve Bays, Fionn and Dan Hill and more.– Kerry Gold, Globe and Mail
Edmonton's Best Concerts of 2025
The Roots, Sarah McLachlan and Sigur Ros made for a sweet year. – Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Journal
International Music Biz Headlines
Chappell Roan, The Weeknd & Noah Kahan: How Artists Prioritized Activism In 2025
How the industry supported artists while reckoning with a tumultuous year. – Billboard
Musicians are Deeply Concerned About AI. So Why are the Major Labels Embracing It?
Companies such as Udio, Suno and Klay will let you use AI to make new music based on existing artists’ work. It could mean more royalties – but many are worried. – Eamonn Forde, The Guardian
2024 Eurovision Champ Nemo Returns Prize In Protest of Israel’s 2026 Inclusion
The song contest's first openly nonbinary singer's move comes after five countries have said they will boycott next year's event over decision to allow Israel to compete. – Gil Kaufman, Billboard
The Trump Administration Keeps Picking Fights with Pop Stars. It’s a No-win Situation
By using music from SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo in ICE videos, the government is playing a game of rage-bait. – Adrian Horton, The Guardian
Nicki Minaj's Flirtatious Beef with Gavin Newsom
The pop star entered the culture war, transvestigated the California governor, and auditioned for relevance in the MAGA attention economy. – Casey Epstein-Gross, Paste
Black told Seth Meyers that both Tenacious D and his beloved 2003 rock comedy "School of Rock" could not have existed without Reiner's classic rock mockumentary. – Gil Kaufman, Billboard
Alex Warren’s Year has Been Anything but ‘Ordinary.’ Now, the Grammys are Calling
It jolted the winter, came alive in the spring, dominated the summer and went three-times platinum in the fall. Alex Warren’s bombastic ballad “Ordinary” is, by many measures, a defining song of 2025. It’s also an unusual hit. – Maria Sherman, Associated Press
The Queen of Disco: Donna Summer is Posthumously Inducted Into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Queen of Disco and then some, known for such timeless tunes as “Love to Love You Baby,” “I Feel Love,” “Bad Girls,” “On the Radio” and “She Works Hard for the Money,” was welcomed into the Songwriters Hall on Monday at a ceremony at The Butterfly Room at Cecconi’s in Los Angeles. – Maria Sherman, Associated Press
