Music Biz Headlines: The Weeknd Talks New Album, The Junos Create Inclusivity Concerns
Also this week: Haviah Mighty in the spotlight at Billboard Canada Women In Music, K'Naan's debut film, a Taylor Swift endorsement and more.
The Weeknd
The Weeknd Talks New Album, His Connection to Brazil and Mental Health
In July, more than 420,000 people competed for tickets to The Weeknd‘s highly anticipated show in São Paulo, Brazil, scheduled for Sept. 7 and just under a year after his last visit to the country. – Isabela Pacilio, Billboard
Pulling Reggae and Gospel Awards from 2025 Junos Raises Concern on Inclusivity
Changes to several categories at the 2025 Juno Awards are raising concerns among musicians that Canada’s top music celebration is backtracking on inclusivity. – David Friend, Canadian Press
Rapper Haviah Mighty Co-Hosts Billboard Canada’s Inaugural Billboard Women in Music Gala
Last Saturday, Mighty kept her roll moving by co-hosting and performing at the first-ever Billboard Canada Women in Music award ceremony. The annual Women in Music gala has been a major date on the record industry calendar in the United States since 2007. – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail
Paul Anka Says Long-in-the-works Broadway Musical is Still on the Horizon
After well over a decade of planning to adapt his life story into a stage musical, the 83-year-old Ottawa-born musician says the concept is finally getting traction. “It’s happening,” he assured. "It’s just going to be a question of me being satisfied with a script." – David Friend, The Canadian Press
Jacob Hoggard Seeking to Appeal his Sexual Assault Conviction to the Supreme Court
The disgraced former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard is seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. He will seek bail as he waits for the high court to decide if it will hear his case. – Judy Trinh, CTV News
K’naan Got Tired of the Spotlight. So he Stepped Behind the Camera for his Debut Fillm
K’naan Warsame shot to international stardom in the late aughts with his smash hit “Wavin’ Flag.” Not long after, he waved goodbye to the limelight. – Alex Nino Gheciu, Canadian Press
Sarah McLachlan Honoured With Canada Post Commemorative Stamp
British Columbia-based singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan’s achievements are being honoured with a Canada Post commemorative stamp. – CP
New Lease Means Revue Cinema to Remain Open in Toronto's West End
Revue Film Society and building owners Danny and Letty Mullin announced 5-year lease on Tuesday - CBC News
This New Comedy Club in Downtown Halifax has Big Ambitions
Halifax Live is a venue specifically for comedy, showcasing local and national talent. – Brendyn Creamer, The Coast
Opinion: The Beatles Rocked Montreal 60 Years ago, and We Loved Them, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
I was there for the band's only appearance in this city, hired as an usher for the occasion. I can remember the scene — and the screams. – Bill Templeman, Montreal Gazette
Paula Abdul Cancels Entire Canadian Tour After a “Minor Procedure”
Paula Abdul, who once said of performing, “I’m going to keep doing this until I can’t do it anymore,” has announced the cancellation of a planned 21-date cross-country Canadian tour. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
International
Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris for President, Signs Statement As ‘Childless Cat Lady’
"I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos," Swift said in the statement. – Jessica Lynch, Billboard
Morgan Wallen Leads the 2024 Country Music Association Award Noms, Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Snubbed
He had some help: Morgan Wallen tops the 2024 Country Music Association award nominations with seven. – Maria Sherman, Associated Press
How Digital Album Sales Are Affecting the Race for No. 1 on the Charts
Following a week in which the top spot on the Billboard 200 was decided by fewer than 1,000 units, digital album sales strategies are taking center stage.– Elias Leight, Billboard
‘It’s Schmoozing – but That’s Nothing New’: How the Record Shop In-Store Gig Changed Touring
In-stores can be beneficial for bands, fans and record shops alike – but do they still hold the same magic, or have they become an obligatory part of an album promotion? – Michael Hann, The Guardian
The music publishers who sued AI developer Anthropic last year for allegedly infringing the copyright on song lyrics have asked a US federal court to reject Anthropic’s request to dismiss much of the case against it. – Music Business Worldwide
New Linkin Park Singer Emily Armstrong Responds to Criticism Over Past Support for Danny Masterson
While fans were quick to celebrate the return of the band, allegations quickly began to surface online shortly after the announcement that Armstrong had supported “That 70s Show” star Danny Masterson while he was on trial for rape. – Nathan Bawaan, Toronto Star
"The Compton kid has completely cracked the code," one fan wrote. Mitchell Peters, Billboard
Louis Theroux-Produced Series ‘Boybands Forever’ With Simon Cowell, Robbie Williams Set for BBC
BBC Two will air a new series on the boy band mania of the 1990s and 2000s featuring interviews with Take That’s Robbie Williams, Westlife’s Brian McFadden, and music mogul Simon Cowell. Boybands Forever, a three-episode series, will air later in 2024 Hollywood Reporter
English Teacher on Winning the Mercury Prize: ‘We are Proof That Arts Funding Works'
The Leeds-based band – and first non-London act to win the prize for a decade – were quick to highlight the part that regional funding played and lamented recent cuts. The Guardian
