Music News Digest, Nov. 4, 2019

By FYI Staff

David Marsden brought his magic to Toronto’s Reference Library late last month where he held audience for a one-hour trip down memory lane that is captured in video and a podcast. Among the anecdotes, before launching his career on radio, he managed The Revols, a band out of Stratford, ON, that was the precursor to The Band. Marsden’s tenure included a brief tour in the US that included performing at Ronnie Hawkins’ Arkansas club, The Rockwood. Marsden, of course, was the ‘spirit’ in CFNY that Rush offered tribute to in Spirit of Radio, a track that has become a classic and was first included on the trio’s 1980 album, Permanent Waves. Marsden, the NextGen, can only be heard online now @ NYtheSpirit.com

— Here’s a double bill we never thought possible: Live Nation has announced a Journey co-billing with Pretenders: May 18, at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena; July 13 at T.O.’s Budweiser Stage, and 14 at QC’s Videotron Centre.

— UMG has announced Bon Jovi’s next albumwill be on the Island Records imprint with an anticipated release in Q1 2020. The new but unrelated song, released this past Friday, is included on the Netflix doc To Be of Service Netflix doc that the streamer releases Veterans Day, (Nov. 11).

–  Nov. 9 is the final deadline for $25 early bird tickets to Unison’s Holiday Schmoozefest at Toronto's Liberty Grand. The annual fundraiser features longstanding supporter DJ Brendan Canning.

— Anne Murray sets the record straight: It has been commonly believed that she was signed to Capitol Records in Canada by Paul White when Arnold Gosewich was president, but the history is only half right. It was White who brought her to the label, but the CEO was Ron Plumb, who was to be succeeded by Gosewich. However, it was under Gosewich’s watch that the Springhill, NS songstress first launched herself with a succession of No. 1s that started in 1970 when Snowbird topped the charts in Canada and the U.S.

— Quebec’s Eli Rose makes her album debut on Universal’s newly minted Maison Barclay Canada imprint. The collection traverses urban and pop genres, marking a maturity for the singer with matinee looks who started nine years ago in the indie-folk duo, Eli and Papillon.

UMC President & CEO Jeffrey Remedios teases the launch of its reinvigorated foray into la belle province, stating that "Eli and her music are a reflection of the world-class talent that is originating from Quebec and Canada. This is the beginning of an exciting journey for us to showcase and champion our artists."

Rose's debut UMC Barclay single, Carrousel, is  #5 on Mediabase in Quebec. Earlier she recorded two albums that failed to see the light of day. Her eponymously titled debut is backed by a credit list of celebrated Quebec beatmakers, and, teasing an upcoming 6-city Quebec tour in the new year, she’s released a trio of videos that include her current hit.

– Alessia Cara has a featured vocal on Another Place, the new single from hit dance music act Bastille. The original version of the song appears on the band’s current album, Doom Days. Cara joined Bastille on stage at the group's recent Toronto show.

– Estonian Music Week returns to Toronto and Hamilton this month, running Nov. 14-17 at the WE Global Learning Centre and various concert venues. It is presented in collaboration with a new IT conference, Latitude44 (L44) that brings together prominent IT countries Canada and Estonia. Artists included: Puuluup, Kaili Kinnon, Mari Sild, and Ensemble  U.  Info and tickets here

– SOCAN's Her Music Awards (sponsored by Re:Sound) celebrates and supports female-identified Canadian mid-career music creators on the verge of taking their creative careers to the next level. Recipient(s) will receive a grant of up to $5K each. All genres of music are welcome. Eligible applications will be considered by a jury of prominent Canadian music creators selected by SOCAN Foundation in consultation with Re:Sound. Apply here by Nov. 28.

– Drake's company, October's Very Own (OVO) is back in the news, this time as the subject of a $2M lawsuit filed by Ali Showbeg, a Toronto man shot at an after-party for Drake's OVO Music Festival at the Muzik nightclub in 2015. The suit also targets others, including the CNE Association, Toronto Police Services Board, and the City of Toronto, alleging inadequate security measures. Showbeg is currently facing multiple firearm-related offences from an unrelated incident. Two people died in the Muzik shooting, and the family of one victim has sued the venue for $2.5M. Source: Toronto Star

– The Polaris Music Prize is looking for new jury members. Apply here

– A fundraiser for non-profit Music Can Heal is set for Toronto's Jazz Bistro tomorrow (Nov. 5). The lineup features Ann-Marie Boudreau, Ori Dagan, Debbie Danbrook, Brian Katz, Steve Koven, and Kristin Lindell & Nathaniel Edgar.

– Music Managers Forum (MMF) UK has released a report that explores the changing role and value of music managers. It is the result of an extensive survey of and interviews with over 180 music managers. Download the document here