Music News Digest, Jan. 12, 2018

By FYI Staff

Alessia Cara is confirmed to appear on the Grammy Awards on Jan. 28. Her fellow Best New Artist nominees SZA and Khalid will also be featured, alongside Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Pink, Little Big Town, Childish Gambino, and Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

– Justin Bieber (with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee) earns seven iHeartRadio Awards’ nominations, Shawn Mendes has five, and The Weeknd, Alessia Cara, Zedd and Drake are also in the running for the annual that takes place Sunday, March 11, at the historic Forum in LA.

– Drake has launched another eatery in the city called Pick 6ix. Before its opening, the rappin' restauranteur hosted a private birthday party for NBA star Dwayne Wade, with attendees including Wade's teammate, superstar LeBron James, and members of his musical posse such as OVO Chubbs, Baka Not Nice, Future The Prince, and DJ Charlie B. Drake also has ownership in Frings diner.

He’s also teamed up with spirits producer and entrepreneur Brent Hocking with the intention of launching a Q1 IPO that offers investors equity in Virginia Black Whiskey, an aged Bourbon whiskey, focused on a high-rye content. They are hoping to raise US$30M. Opening share price is $5.

– Film composer John Williams stands to earn his 51^st Oscar with both “The Post” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” in the running this Oscar season.

– Carlin Music Publishing, home to songs by Elvis Presley, James Brown, AC/DC, Billie Holiday and many others, closed its sale to Round Hill Music, Variety has confirmed. The deal includes all of the company’s 100K-plus copyrights. The company was founded in 1966 by legendary publisher Fred Bienstock.

– Joe Walsh, songwriter of such hits as the Eagles’ “Life in the Fast Lane” and “In The City,” has signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing for representation in all territories. In addition to his role in the Eagles, Walsh has released 20 solo albums. Copyrights covered in the agreement include “Life’s Been Good,” “Rocky Mountain Way,” “All Night Long” and “Lucky That Way.”

– The annual Indie Week in Toronto runs Nov. 6-11 this year. The fest's super early bird application price ends Jan 23. Details here

– Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Bon Jovi have announced the spring dates of their “This House Is Not for Sale” Tour, presented by Live Nation. Canadian dates are limited to Montreal’s Bell Centre–April 4, and Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre on May 7. An earlier N/A leg of the same tour has earned US$47M with an additional $40M generated from South American shows.

– Post Malone’s “Rockstar” now has the record for longest run in the #1 spot on the Spotify Global Chart, generating over 55.5M and holding down the top place for more than 110 days (as of Wednesday, 10^th). The track featuring 21 Savage has been certified 6X Platinum in Canada.

– CIMA hosts its annual pre-Grammy showcase in NYC at the Metropolitan Pavilion (123 W 18th St, 5th Floor) on Jan.  25. Showcasing are Dear Rouge (Pandyamonium Management), Neon Dreams (Hyvetown Music) and Iskwé (Iskwé Music). Aliya-Jasmine will be the emcee throughout the event that is in partnership with the Consulate General of Canada in New York, The Government of Canada and SOCAN.

– CIMA returns to Kansas City, Missouri for the 2018 edition of Folk Alliance International. This year’s Canadian Blast showcase will take place at Benton’s (Westin Crown Center) on Friday, Feb. 16. Music Ontario is hosting three nights of showcases at West Crown Center as part of FAI–details here.

– Country singer Kenny James launched the release of Ghost Town, his second album, at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton this week. The $15-ticketed event was done in collaboration with Music NB.

– Saint John-based singer/songwriter and pianist Aryelle Morrison releases her debut Stereotypical EP on Jan. 25.

– Moncton’s Shades of Sorrow has signed a contract with Europe-based label Sliptrick Records. The label releases their album, Ascension, ASAP, as well as a currently-untitled follow-up release later in the year.

– Boisetown musician Josh Norrad has won the 3rd Country Liberty Cover Contest and will be performing a set during the Cavendish Beach Music Festival this summer. Fans had voted Norrad to be the winner of the contest with 84,000 views, 3600 shares, and 3700 votes.

– White Rock Sun publisher and longtime FYI reader Dave Chesney writes the column: “Now that I have picked myself up off the floor let me share a beautiful Marlene Palmer story. Eight years ago, shortly after I lost my wife and best friend Laurie, Marlene contacted me. I had not heard from her in a number of years. I met her during the Loverboy days. Laurie for a period worked with Marlene at Bruce Allen Talent. She expressed her sadness and shared with me the song one of her clients Paul Quarrington had co-written about his imminent passing. I pray Marlene was as ready as any of us can be.

– The second annual ‘In The Can: Singers for Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’ takes place Jan. 31 at TO’s Lula Lounge. On tap so far to perform are Ori Dagan, Alex Pangman, Barbra Lica, Devin Cuddy, Johnny Max, Genevieve Marentette, Great Big Sea’s Murray Foster and actress Melissa Lauren — who is also ‘In The Can’s founder.

– North Caroline’s self-described sci-fi metal trio XAEL has signed with Vancouver’s Test Your Metal Records.

– Northern Pikes record their next album at Studio Bell. The roots-rock outfit will be performing at the Calgary venue on Feb. 10. Randy Bachman has also done a recording at the complex, using the Centre’s mobile truck.

– The Independent Music Business series, an Ottawa-based free seminar and lecture series, hosts a conversation with artist manager and label head Jon Bartlett (Kelp, Megaphono),  Jan. 13 at 11.30 am. RSVP at IMBseries@gmail.com.

– Toronto pop-punk band Seaway, currently completing an eight-date UK tour, starts a N/A road trip with Welsh rockers Neck Deep, beginning in Tucson, AZ, on Jan. 19. Canadian stops include Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The track concludes in LA on Feb. 28. The band is plugging its recent Dine Alone album, Vacation.

– Vancouver's Reid Jamieson Band teams up with fiddler Anne Lindsay for an ON mini-tour this month. Show stops are Guelph's eBar (14th), Toronto's Fermenting Cellar, as part of the Walrus magazine gala (17), Hamilton's The Lager Shed (20), and Toronto's The Rivoli (21), a matinee that is a benefit for the Anduhyaun Indigenous women's shelter.

– Let’s Hear It BC, the 2018 Juno Host Committee, has announced learning resources designed by BC music educators for use in classrooms across the province. For grades 4 through 7, students are encouraged to study recipients of the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, analyzing their social activism and humanitarian work. For high school students, grades 10 through 12, the program outlines ways to improve awareness of the music industry and career opportunities. More information here. Source: Music Canada

RIP

Edward Allan (“Fast” Eddie) Clarke, the guitarist in Motörhead and Fastway, died Jan. 10, reportedly from pneumonia. Age 67. The news was reported on Motörhead’s Facebook page.

Clarke was the last surviving member of Motörhead’s classic lineup, being predeceased by Lemmy Kilmister and Phil Taylor. He played on the Brit band’s first six albums before going on to form Fastway, returning to make guest appearances on a number of subsequent band recordings. Source: Uncut