Music News Digest, May 8, 2019
Pop pals Justin and Ed (pictured) team up, Warner Music Canada partners with Anti-Gravity Records, and The Trille Or and Forest City London Music Awards name the victors. Others in the news include Television, Kandle, Madonna, TSYO, Collective Arts Brewing, Elisa Citterio, Jane Aurora, Tanya Tagaq, and Manitoba Music. Videos added for your enjoyment.
By Kerry Doole
Pop hitmakers Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber have collaborated on a new song, I Don't Care, set for release this Friday. Yesterday (May 7), the pair each shared the news of Sheeran's newest single on their respective social media accounts. Bieber simply said he has a new song on the way with "this guy" and shared goofy pics of him and Sheeran, while Sheeran shared a sheet of the track's handwritten lyrics and took to his Instagram Story to say he has "a new song coming out on Friday." The pair previously collaborated on Love Yourself, co-written by Sheeran, Bieber, and Benny Blanco. They also both made appearances on Lil Dicky's Earth. Source: Billboard
– The Trille Or Awards recognize the artistic excellence of Canadian Francophone artists (Ontario, Western Canada, Acadia, and Quebec). The 10th edition, held last week in Orleans, featured 50 nominees in 29 categories and was broadcast live nationally on the French network Unis TV. Winners this year included YAO, Les Rats d’Swompe, Kimya, Cindy Doire, Mclean, and Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire. As surprise guests, the Gala welcomed Michelle, Annette, Suzanne and Paul Campagne who performed a special tribute to their sister Carmen Campagne, posthumous recipient of the Homage Award 2019. A full winners list here
– CMW launched in Toronto on Monday night with a party and a set by Television at The Phoenix Concert Theatre. NYC scene pioneers Television delivered the goods while Kandle (Osborne) won fans with her short, sweet set. Dad Neil Osborne (54-40) accompanied her on tambourine, and will be with her tonight in a show billed as A Family Curse that's staged at the Radical Road Brewing Company.
– Warner Music Canada has announced it will market, promote and distribute new Los Angeles indie label Anti-Gravity Records, one co-founded by Canadian Justin Gray and partner Brad Aarons. The debut release is from American R&B artist Romell, who showcases this week at CMW. The LA-based Gray is a producer and songwriter who has worked with artists including Amy Winehouse, John Legend, Luis Fonsi and Mariah Carey. He co-wrote Avril Lavigne’s recent hit Head Above Water. Aarons has a background in labels, publishing, and artist management. Source: Billboard
– YouTube has announced it is planning a project with Justin Bieber, set to premiere next year. It is termed "top secret," and no details have been leaked yet. Source: AP
– London Music Week closed out on Sunday with the Forest City London Music Awards, held at London Music Hall. Several hundred musicians and fans celebrated the Ontario city’s music industry at the event. Fiddler John P. Allen and singer-songwriter Nora Galloway were inducted into the Music Hall of Fame, and a crowd of several hundred musicians and fans enjoyed an evening of awards and music. See the list of winners here. Source: London Free Press
– The Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra(TSYO) has named Duncan McDougall is the recipient of the 2018/19 TSYO Stingray Rising Stars Award. The announcement was made on May 5, during the TSYO’s season-finale concert at Roy Thomson Hall, marking the end of the orchestra’s 45th season. The Award was launched in 1998 as Galaxie Rising Stars. This original program sets out to discover, encourage, promote, and champion new up-and-coming Canadian artists. The $1K award will help McDougall advance his career.
– Madonna's work as a pioneer for gay rights was recognised when she was given the Advocate for Change Award at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards. Her playful yet emotional acceptance speech at the gala evening in NYC last weekend has earned kudos. Source: AP
– Hamilton-based Collective Arts Brewing is launching a new series of beer cans that put the spotlight on musicians from BC. A set of four for Jam Up the Mash Dry Hopped Sour will feature album artwork and links to music by Douse, The Jins, Alexandria Maillot, and The Faceplants. A release party will be held May 16 at The Railway Stage & Beer Café in Vancouver, with all four artists performing. Source: Canadian Beer News
– Tafelmusik's Music Director Elisa Citterio has been named the winner of the 2019 Leonardo Award for Arts, Science & Culture by the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO). One of several 2019 ICCO Air Canada Business Excellence Awards granted to outstanding leaders from the business, scientific, academic, and cultural communities; it will be presented to Citterio at a gala event on May 23 at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in Toronto.
– Vancouver musician and producer Jane Aurora is spearheading a new program called the Producers Lounge, an initiative dedicated to elevating female and non-binary music producers, mixers and engineers into viable careers. The Producers Lounge is supported by Creative B.C. and the Province of British Columbia. Applications are now open until May 15. To request an application package, please send an email to the Producer's Lounge HERE
– Good Kind Productions, Aga Khan Museum, Drom Taberna, and Polyphonic Ground have teamed to present a world music showcase at CMW at Drom Taberna on May 9. Performing are Blisk, OKAN, DoVira, Big Smoke Brass, and DAGADANA.
– Tanya Tagaq continues to bask in great reviews of her debut novel, Split Tooth. The Polaris Prize winner's book was long-listed for the Giller Prize, and nominated for an Audie Award for Best Audiobook, and now she has been nominated for Amazon Canada’s First Novel Award and Rakuten Kobo’s Emerging Writer Prize.
– Manitoba Music's next MusicWorks session is entitled DIY Series: Financial Management & Music Law. Held on May 18, it features artist/entrepreneur Heather Bishop and lawyer Safwan Javed of TOML LLP. More info here
