Music Biz Headlines: Tate McRae Highlights VMA Winners, Drake Makes Cameos in TIFF Films

This week, Drake is back in the news as the just-named recipient of a prestigious 2025 SOCAN Special Achievement Award and as a key component of a TIFF-screened film documentary on Degrassi, the TV series that started his road to superstardom.

Other music-driven Canadian films also grabbed attention at The Toronto International Film Festival, Justin Bieber returned to the top of the charts after a three year absence and there's yet more speculation about a Song of the Summer.

Elsewhere, the two members of Dayglo Abortions jailed in Ohio are free, allowing the veteran Canadian punk band to resume their U.S. tour.

Read these stories and more in this week's collection of music biz headlines.

Canadian Music Biz Headlines

Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol Crash Drake's Toronto House in 'Nirvanna the Band the Show The Movie'

For the film, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival's 50th edition, the duo snuck onto the crime scene outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion after a security guard was shot there last May. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada

Drake Reflects on ‘Degrassi’ Days in New Documentary at TIFF

"Man, what a wild journey that started,” the rapper shares in the trailer for Degrassi: Whatever It Takes. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada

Toronto Film Festival So Far: Short on Prestige Movies, Big on Popcorn Flicks

Most of the year’s hottest titles chose to premiere at other festivals, leaving TIFF to fall back on something it has always done exceptionally well: showcase crowd-pleasing movies that will entertain audiences even if they don’t impact the culture or shape the face of the upcoming season. – Steve Pond, The Wrap

Drake Reunites With YEAT and Spotlights Rising Singer Julia Wolf on New Single ‘Dog House’

Emerging singer Julia Wolf is featured on the track's grungy intro. – Michael Saponara, Billboard Canada

Dayglo Abortions Released From Ohio Jail, With Police Promptly Loading Up on Band T-shirts

Capping off an experience those close to the band have described as “pure insanity”, two members of West Coast punk legends the Dayglo Abortions have been released from jail in Ashland, Ohio, cleaning up on merch sales and getting a memorial photo in the process. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

Rebecca Black's Queer Celebration & More Memorable Moments from Montreal's Palomosa Festival 2025

The second edition of the Montreal festival took place from September 4 to 6 at Parc Jean-Drapeau, offering three days of electrifying performances and musical discoveries from ARCA, Zack Fox, Marie Davidson and more. – Yasmine Seck, Billboard Canada

Justin Bieber Cruises 'Yukon' to First Radio No. 1 in Three Years

He last ruled a radio ranking with "Ghost" in early 2022. – Trevor Anderson, Billboard

Everything You Need to Know About Nova Scotia Music Week 2025

Nova Scotia Music Week is an annual celebration of the province’s music community through awards, showcases, workshops and most importantly, connections. The annual awards and artist showcase will be taking place in Yarmouth from Oct. 23-26. – Brendan Creamer, The Coast

Neil Young Drops Trump Dissing, Anti-Authoritarian Single ‘Big Crime’

At a time when most major artists are holding their lyrical fire when it comes to protest songs taking on the norm-smashing Trump administration, as always, Neil Young is saying the quiet part out loud. Very loud, in fact, on his latest broadside against Donald Trump and his MAGA-fication of Washington, “Big Crime.' – Gil Kaufman, Billboard

cleopatrick Return With New Single ‘GUTS’ Ahead of First Ever Australian Tour

Canadian alt-rock duo cleopatrick have released their new single ‘GUTS’ and will mark the milestone with their debut Australian headline shows this month. – Noise11

International Music Biz Headlines

This Year's Song of the Summer Is A Ballad, Not A Banger.

Every year, summer arrives with a buzzing energy. School’s out, the sun is shining, music is blaring out of car windows and speakers are blasting on the beach. – Bridget Brown, Associated Press

Tate McRae Wins Two MTV VMAs With ‘Just Keep Watching’

At the show, the Canadian pop star's F1 track took home Song of the Summer and Best Editing. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada

Here Are All the 2025 MTV VMAs Winners: Full List

Lady Gaga went into the night leading with 12 nominations and came out the big winner with four trophies. – Anna Chan, Billboard

2025 VMAs Leap 42% With 5.5 Million Viewers Across Paramount Channels With First-Time CBS Simulcast

LL Cool J hosted the awards show from New York’s UBS Arena. – Loree Seitz and Jose Alejandro Bastidas, The Wrap

Body Found in Trunk of Car Registered to D4vd

The singer is currently on the road for his Withered World Tour. – Michael Saponara, Billboard

Spotify’s HiFi Listening Feature Is Here (Finally)

After years of promising the feature, Spotify is now rolling out lossless audio to premium users for no additional charge. – Kristin Robinson, Billboard

Long in the Shadows, a New Generation of Songwriters Gain Recognition and Success as Artists

When songs top the charts, they become inescapable: Cross-genre hits are heard on the radio, on streaming, in lobbies and grocery stores. The artists who perform them become famous. But the people who wrote those earworms? Many do not. – Associated Press

Over 1 Million Artists Have Registered With TikTok's SoundOn. It Now Expands Into Germany

The launch comes as TikTok reported reaching 25.7 million users in Germany. – MBW

Morrissey Says He Has Shut Down E-mail Address Shared to Sell Stake in Smiths

Singer had said he was open to offers for stake in former band although email address never appeared to work. –The Guardian

Sam Fender, Fontaines D.C. & PinkPantheress Among 2025 Mercury Prize Nominees – See Full List

The annual music prize recognizes outstanding albums by U.K. and Irish artists from the past year. – Thomas Smith, Billboard