Music News Digest: Toronto Indie Label Telephone Explosion Records Announces Closure After 19 Years

Toronto-based independent record label Telephone Explosion Records will shutter at the end of 2026. The news came via an Instagram post along with word that the labels' physical stock will gradually be discounted and sold off via their website, with a 75% discount in force from October 19 to 24.

Telephone Explosion was founded 19 years ago by Jon Schouten and Steve Sidoli, both members of local rock band Teenanger and later Uh Huh. The label issued 149 releases, many from the left field of indie rock.

The list of notable releases includes critically-acclaimed albums from such artists as Dorothea Paas, Joseph Shabason, Bernice, Badge Époque Ensemble, André Ethier, Freak Heat Waves, Pantayo, Scott Hardware and many more, including a highly sought after early vinyl release from California garage rock giant Ty Segall. Just this weekend, Jairus Sharif's Basis of Unity, issued by Telephone Explosion, won the first-ever Meridian Prize, recognizing the best album from Western and Northern Canada

Telephone Explosion also ran an a reissue label, Morning Trip Records, which released albums by artists including Laraaji, Daniel Hecht and more.

''It's impossible to accurately describe the scope of Telephone Explosion in the context of our lives," the label says. "Through it, we were able to build lifelong relationships with so many beautiful and talented people."

Shop Telephone Explosion's catalogue here.

Awards News

Held Oct. 1-4, MusicNL Week 2026 in St. John’s brought together more than 300 artists and industry professionals. Music NL reports that four days of showcases, and export development drew record attendance, connecting Newfoundland and Labrador artists with 30 international buyers, as the province's music exports head toward an estimated $28 million by 2027.

Over 40 artists showcased on stages across downtown St. John’s and the event featured more than 20 panels and workshops and over 500 curated meetings, connecting Newfoundland and Labrador’s music industry with domestic and international music markets.

On October 1, with the MusicNL Awards Gala was held at the St. John's Convention Centre. There, Irish Descendants leader Con O'Brien received the lifetime achievement award in recognition of decades spent shaping music in Newfoundland and Labrador. 39 awards were handed out on the night, with Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill the week's top winners with three awards, followed by With Violet with two.

Heather Barrett of CBC was named media person of the year, Colleen Power was recognized with the Denis Parker industry builder award and Dr. Zainab Jerrett received the unsung hero award. See the full list of award winners here.

— On Oct. 2, 51 previously announced recipients of the Order of Canada were honoured at an Investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa by Governor General Louise Arbour.

Honourees included Randy Lennox, a music executive most notable for his stints leading Universal Music Canada and Bell Media. He was also recently CEO at LOFT Entertainment, where he stepped down from the role 2026. Those awarded member status included Colin Roswell Clarke, the founder and artistic director of the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra program, and Morna Edmundson, an award-winning choral director and the co-founder of the Elektra Women’s Choir.

Other arts figures honoured include Toronto theatre director Richard Rose, magician David Ben and actor Michael J. Fox. See the full recipients list here

Industry News

On October 7, Imagiin Summit set up at the Great Hall in Toronto for an industry event featuring 600+ creatives, innovators, founders and industry leaders. The itinerary includes 40+ speakers, plus Imagiin Talks, masterclasses, mentorship, professional development, nervous system regulation, purposeful networking, a content creator meetup and more. Notable participants include acclaimed R&B singer and Billboard Canada Women In Music 2025 host Keshia Chanté, Grammy-nominated Nana Kwabena, viral content creators Dominique Baker and Unsighted Poet and more. Info and tickets here.

— CIMA's Make It Music 2026 conference is billed as Canada's independent music industry conference and it takes place at The Great Hall in Toronto, Nov. 10 and 11. Early bird tickets are on sale here until next week.

— Following two successful years raising over $200,000 for cancer research, the third annual Unbreakable concert at Toronto’s historic Massey Hall on Nov. 15 was recently announced. Net proceeds from the event go to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, supporting Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the world’s leading cancer research and treatment centres.

The lineup features Sloan's Chris Murphy, Sebastian Gaskin, Hailey Benedict, Rêve and members of Dwayne Gretzky (Nick Rose and Tyler Kyte) and The Free Label. (Joshua Tsakas).They will perform alongside event founder and renowned guitar teacher David Glabais and his students, with legendary journalist Lisa LaFlamme hosting. Previous guest performers have included Jully Black, Bif Naked, Georgia Harmer, Whitehorse, Kiesza, Aqyila, Billianne and Logan Staats. Rifflandia produces the event. Tickets are now on sale here.

— Toronto concert producer and musician Luke Jackson has made a splash on the local scene with The Songs of Nick Drake, a series of star-studded and well-attended concerts that paid tribute to English folk great Nick Drake. Jackson now turns his focus to another legendary singer-songwriter gone to soon, Jeff Buckley. He'd have turned 60 on Nov. 17, and Jackson is marking the milestone by producing two nights at Hugh's Room that celebrate Buckley's work. The lineup includes Justin Nozuka, Matthew Barber, Lily Frost, Damhnait Doyle, Kathryn Rose, Doug Tielli, Rob Szabo and Jackson, who also hosts. The house band features Davide Direnzo, Mark McIntyre, Alex Cheung and Wendy Solomon. The shows are on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18.

Another upcoming Jackson concert at Hughs Room is on Dec. 2, when local psychedelic band Strange Brood honor the 60th anniversary of Cream classic Fresh Cream by performing in its entirety alongside other Cream classics.

Artists News

American-born, Ontario-raised and educated singer/songwriter Anna Domino earned critical acclaim in the mid- and late '80s with five albums on the prestigious Belgian label Crépuscule. She never scored commercial success but her work has since achieved cult status. On Dec. 4, her 1984 debut album East And West will be reissued on noted U.K. label Domino (no relation). Originally released in 1984 as a five-track mini-album — featuring the cult classics, “Land of My Dreams” (an Aretha Franklin cover) and “Everyday, I Don’t” — the new reissue pairs the original tracks with key singles from the period alongside seven unreleased demos, newly digitized from Domino's original four-track tapes. It also includes one completely unreleased song, “Happy To Go.''