Music Biz Headlines: Neil Young Fears U.S. Blacklist, Billboard Women in Music's Best Moments
Also in the news this week: a full list of Junos winners, a new South Asian SiriusXM channel, an interview with rising star Aqyila and more.
Neil Young performs on stage in Hyde Park on July 12, 2019 in London.
North of the border, many in the music business gathered for the Juno Awards this week. South of the border, the Billboard Women in Music 2025 event in Los Angeles was a star-studded affair, with one Canadian star shining very bright.
Elsewhere this week, we gather stories on rising ticket prices, a tour cancellation by Alessia Cara, snubs by the Academy of Country Music Awards, Morgan Wallen's walk out on Saturday Night Live and more.
Canadian Music Headlines of the Week
Neil Young Says He Fears U.S. Blacklisting Over Donald Trump Criticism
"If the fact that I think Donald Trump is the worst president in the history of our great country could stop me from coming back, what does that say for Freedom?" Young asked. – Tyler Jenke, Billboard
Sum 41, Tate McRae, Josh Ross Recognized at 2025 Juno Awards: Full List of Winners
The Beaches, Nemahsis and AP Dhillon also highlighted this year's winners, which celebrated Canadian nationalism at a time when the country faces tariffs and threats of annexation. – Richard Trapunski, Billboard Canada
Boi-1da Gives Drake Some Love in Acceptance Speech at 2025 Juno Awards
He gave his pal some affirmation after a tough year. – Paul Grein, Billboard
East Coast Music Association Posts Plan to Address Transparency Concerns Amid Boycott
The East Coast Music Association has issued a six-point action plan to address demands for greater transparency and representation that have led some to boycott its marquee event. – Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press
SiriusXM Canada Launches New South Asian Music Channel, SiriusXM Dhamaka
Emmy-nominated music supervisor Raoul Juneja will program the channel, as SiriusXM becomes the latest Canadian music institution to emphasize the massive growth of South Asian music in Canada. – Rosie Long Decter, Billboard Canada
At the Junos in Vancouver, O'Connor received the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award. Like Anne Murray’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Arts Centre at the Junos this year, the career honour seems long overdue. – Brad Wheeler, Globe & Mail
Everything Is ‘Falling Into Place’ for Aqyila: Rising R&B Star Details Debut LP
A year after "Bloom" took social media by storm, Aqyila has blossomed into one of the freshest voices in R&B on her debut album . Read our interview. – Kyle Denis, Billboard
$650 To See Coldplay? Toronto Ticket Prices Have Spiralled out of Control. How Did We Get Here?
The live music industry is more profitable than ever, but for music fans, it’s never cost them so much. Richie Assaly, Toronto Star
Alessia Cara Postpones U.S. Leg of Love & Hyperbole Tour
The Canadian star apologizes to Fans in Heartfelt Note. The run is in support of her fourth studio album. – Rania Aniftos, Billboard
Loud Talkers, Space Invaders and Dancing Fools: Will We Ever Be Able To Enjoy Concerts Again?
Why it seems as if crowd etiquette has disappeared from live shows. – Emilie Hanskamp, Toronto Star
Meet the Halifax DJ Celebrating the City’s Underground Dance Scene
Taylor Mooney — AKA Groceries — made a podcast about local electronic nightlife, a unique and tight-knit community interwoven with Halifax’s queer history. – Martin Bauman,
The Coast
International Music Headlines of the Week
Billboard Women in Music 2025: 12 Best Moments From the Star-Studded Night
Doechii was honoured as Woman of the Year, Erykah Badu received the Icon Award and performed, and much more. – Billboard
Ella Langley Leads 2025 ACM Awards Nominations. Beyoncé and Miranda Lambert are Shut Out
Ella Langley leads the nominees for the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards with eight nominations. Some major names were omitted. – Associated Press
Pophouse Entertainment, The Firm Behind ABBA Voyage, Closes $1.3bn Music Rights Buying Fund
The Sweden-based music investment firm co-founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, has raised over EUR €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) for its debut fund, reaching its hard cap.– Music Business Worldwide
‘Society SUCKS!’ The Fanatical Diary of a Teen Scribbler Who Threw Herself Into Punk
Don’t live like everyone else! Angela Jaeger met every act going in punk, in New York and London – and had crushes on them all. Now 65, she talks through her thrill-filled diaries. – Sylvia Patterson, The Guardian
30 years After Music Icon Selena’s Murder, Yolanda Saldívar is Up For Parole
Thirty years ago, music legend Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was killed by her fan club’s president, Yolanda Saldívar. For the last three decades, Saldívar has served her life sentence in Texas. – Maria Sherman, A ssociated Press
SNL Musical Guest Morgan Wallen Abruptly Exits During Goodnights — Watch and Weigh In
Country singer Morgan Wallen is stirring up more controversy. After performing “I’m The Problem” and “Just in Case” on Saturday’s episode of Saturday Night Live, the musician abruptly walked off the set just as the closing credits began to roll. Yahoo News
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dismissed
The decision came after the complainant chose not to reveal her identity due to ‘perceived danger.’ – Steven J. Horowitz, Variety
The Beatles Anthology Book Set For Republishing So What About the Albums and Doco?
The Beatles Anthology is expected to be the major project for the band for 2025 following the announcement that the book ‘The Beatles Anthology’ will be republished in October.– Paul Cashmere, Noise11
