Also this week: Bell Media launches digital archive on YouTube, The Kid LAROI salutes Justin Bieber, Britney gets probation for her DUI charge and more.
This week, news came out of the stars that will be coming to Toronto for the FIFA World Cup: Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé and Alessia Cara, while Jessie Reyez will join Elyanna for a special performance of their new FIFA anthem.
Elsewhere, rising stars Chxrry and Sorisa announce important signings, a look behind the scenes of the new The Tragically Hip musical and disappointment for Pussycat Dolls and Dolly Parton.
Read more music music biz headlines of the week from Canada and beyond.
Fusing global music sounds, the Canadian R&B singer and Palestinian-Chilean artist have crafted the latest track to celebrate the worldwide sports event — joining releases from Shakira, Burna Boy, Daddy Yankee, Shenseea and more. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
The trio of Canadian acts will take the stage at the country’s first match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, on June 12 in Toronto. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
While t. A.T.u’s early-2000s hit “All The Things She Said” now feels synonymous with “Heated Rivalry,” creator Jacob Tierney says he initially “resisted” including it in the hit Crave series. “That song is shady,” Tierney said during a panel discussion at Toronto’s Departure Festival. – Canadian Press
Starting this year, the broadcasting company will create an online database of content from MuchMusic, Etalk, W5 and more. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Chxrry is on the cusp of her first headlining hometown show, but the Scarborough-raised artist has her sights set far beyond the city. The alt-R&B singer born Lydia Habtemariam lays out those goals with casual confidence. – Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
Recently, Angine de Poitrine had to get new heads. The alien-looking rock duo were not in fact born with the monochrome polka-dotted complexions. – Laura Snapes, The Guardian
After being named one of Billboard Canada's 2026 Artists to Watch, the 17-year-old rising star from Toronto is now represented by one of the biggest booking agencies in Canada. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
The Globe goes behind the scenes of It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken, the new jukebox musical featuring songs by the Tragically Hip. – Aisling Murphy, Globe & Mail
More than two decades after Broken Social Scene founders Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning started making music together in a Toronto basement — eventually mutating their two-man project into an unwieldy, ever-shifting indie rock collective — the band is still intact. Alex Nino, Gheciu, CP
System of a Down blew past Rogers Stadium’s 11 p.m. noise exemption permit during a concert on Sept. 5, 2025. Live Nation says the show was postponed due to dangerous weather conditions. – David Friend, Toronto Star
The annual list is led by Executives of the Year Tim Putnam and Zena White of Partisan Records and celebrates the most influential labels, distributors and associations in the independent space today. – Dan Rys, Billboard
Paris-headquartered royalty collection society Sacem distributed EUR €1.502 billion ($1.69 billion) to artists and publishers in 2025, a 9% increase from 2024. Sacem paid royalties to 663,000 artists and publishers globally last year, according to its results published May 6. – Music Business Worldwide
The pop trio, comprising Ashley Roberts, Nicole Scherzinger, and Kimberly Wyatt, will now perform only one North American show at the WeHo Pride event in Los Angeles on 6 June. – Casey Cooper-Fiske, The Independent
Dolly Parton has cancelled her forthcoming Las Vegas residency as she undergoes treatment for health issues. In a statement posted on her social media accounts, the 80-year-old country music star said she has been "responding really well to meds and treatments" and "improving every day," citing a longtime struggle with kidney stones.– BBC News
Due to many obstacles – from security to air fares – local fans lose out as African artists tour overseas instead. But as western corporations invest, there are more worries besides. – Mary Chiney, The Guardian
Tencent Music Entertainment, China's largest music streaming service provider, says it also reviewed over 600,000 cases involving "high-risk copyright content" across its platforms last year. – MBW
The seven-week period that Kneecap spent recording their second album, “Fenian,” was eventful to say the least, as the Irish hip-hop outfit were fighting a legal battle at the same time as they were working in the studio. – AP
