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Music Biz Headlines: Neil Young Plays Rare Hometown Solo Show, Drake Announces OVO Fest
In the news this week: Drake announces the return of OVO Fest to Toronto, the continuing fallout of the Tory Lanez shooting case, the challenge of licensing AI music and Canada’s largest four telecoms deal with long-term debt. Bublé
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This week Neil Young made headlines at home and abroad by playing a solo benefit concert in Lakefield, Ontario, an area he grew up in. Despite inclement weather, he enthralled his faithful fans.
Also this week, an in-depth look at the revival of Montreal's electronic music scene, the hockey playoffs give defunct hard rock band Triumph a boost, Michael Bublé signs with the Panthers for a good cause and Bono calls out Israeli aggression.
Find all those stories and more in this week's roundup of music business headlines.
Canadian Music Biz Headlines of the Week
At Central Cee Concert in Toronto, Drake Announces 'OVO Fest Will Be Back This Summer'
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The rapper made a surprise appearance from the balcony of the venue History on May 24 and announced the return of his star-studded hometown festival. He also performed his hit song "Nokia." – Richard Trapunski, Billboard Canada
Neil Young Performs 1983 Deep Cut ‘My Boy’ for First Time in 42 Years
The solo acoustic set held on the grounds of Ontario's Lakefield College School marked Young's first full performance of 2025. – Jessica Lynch, Billboard
Neil Young Returns Home With Solo Benefit Concert in Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes
Thomas Wolfe was wrong. You actually can go home again. At a solo acoustic concert on a soggy Friday evening on a farm in Lakefield, Ont., Neil Young journeyed deep into the past, paying particular attention to songs that reflected upon his youth. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Panthers Sign Canadian Singer Michael Bublé – For a Cancer Fund-raising Cause
Buble, a five-time Grammy-winning pop icon, has signed on to be part of the team's fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society. – Associated Press
Since Rogers Sportsnet used their song “Lay It on the Line” in a commercial during NHL playoffs, power trio Triumph has seen its fan base grow.– Perry Lefko, Toronto Star
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Justin Bieber Shares ‘Welcome Home’ Message for Chris Brown After London Arrest & Release
The R&B star was freed after his May 15 arrest over an alleged assault in 2023. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard
Telecom Giants Taking Action to Address the Debt Elephant in the Room
At the end of 2000, Canada’s largest four telecoms – Rogers Communications Inc., Bell Canada parent BCE Inc., Telus Corp. and Freedom Mobile owner Quebecor Inc. – together had about $20-billion in long-term debt, when including the long-term portion of lease costs. – Irene Gales, Globe and Mail
Billy Joel Cancels Tour, Including Toronto Date, After Being Diagnosed with Brain Disorder: ‘I’m Sincerely Sorry’
The Piano Man was expected to perform in Toronto next spring. – Richie Assaly, Toronto Star
Blasting the Blues for King Biscuit Boy
The Blues with a Feeling event in Hamilton was a tribute to the late Richard (King Biscuit Boy) Newell and featured Jack DeKeyzer. – Cheyenne Bolla, Hamilton Spectator
International Music Biz Headlines of the Week
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Lanez's attorney and a Florida congresswoman have claimed that new evidence will prove the Toronto singer/rapper's innocence. – Michael Saponara, Billboard
Bruce Springsteen Drops ‘Land of Hopes & Dreams’ EP Featuring Speech That Set Off President Trump
The recorded remarks previously led the politician to call the Boss "dumb as a rock."– Hannah Dailey, Billboard
HYBE is Selling its Entire Stake in K-Pop Rival SM Entertainment to Tencent Music for Nearly $180m
South Korean entertainment giant HYBE is selling its 9.38% stake in rival K-Pop firm SM Entertainment. The buyer is Tencent Music Entertainment, China’s largest owner of music streaming services, in a transaction worth $177m at current exchange rates. – Music Business Worldwide
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How Record Labels Came Back From the Dead and Turned Into Tech Platforms
The record label industry nearly died a few years ago. But now it's back, and like every other sector of commerce, it's consolidated. Fortunately, European regulators look set to act. – Matt Stoller, The Big Newsletter
Licensing AI Music: The Industry is Focusing on the Wrong Problem
Every Generative AI output is a reflection of everything the model has been trained on, not a direct copy of one input, but a statistical remix of all prior ingestion. Licensing one song here and there after the model is built misses the point entirely. The damage happens during training, not when an output is published. – Virginie Berger, Music :) ally
Is Music Next Up for Censorship After ‘Voice of America,’ Arts Endowments, Literature, etc?
Songwriters and music artists are the OG essential ‘voices of America’ and we expect those who remain active to awaken from their social hibernation to animate this symbolism and make themselves heard. – Stephen Craig Love, Socially Driven Music
Bono Criticizes Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas at Ivor Novello Awards
The U2 frontman called for Hamas to release the hostages and for Israel to ‘be released from the far-right fundamentalists that twist your sacred texts." – Laura Snapes, The Guardian
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Announce Inaugural Future Ruins Fest Celebrating Film Music
Mark Mothersbaugh, John Carpenter, Hildur Guðnadóttir, and Questlove among artists that will perform scores live in Los Angeles. – Daniel Kreps / Rolling Stone
Kneecap Member Charged With Terror Offence
A member of Irish language hip-hop group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence after allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah. – BBC News
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