Music Biz Headlines: Legendary Gordon Lightfoot 'Sundown' Guitar Auctioned, Taylor Swift Dominates The News

Hurricane Taylor still hog(town)s the headlines as her blockbuster series of shows at Toronto's Rogers Centre continues. The actual performances elicit rave reviews and her importance as a cultural phenomenon continues to spark debate.

In other news, Tate McRae announces Canadian shows, Godspeed You! Black Emperor have to pause their tour, TikTok gets active, Michael Rapino defends Live Nation and Jeff Beck's axes are auctioned. Read about it all below.

Canadian Music Biz Headlines of the Week

If You’re Ignoring Taylor Swift’s Takeover of Toronto, You’re Missing Something Special

One of the main delights of the Taylor Swift’s takeover of Toronto has been the enthusiasm of the fans. – Edward Keenan, Toronto Star

Toronto Taylor Swift Fans Post About Scoring Last-Minute Tickets on Ticketmaster

Though it's been sold out for many months, a few lucky fans say they were able to get tickets to the first two nights of Swift's Eras Tour residency in Toronto this week, without having to pay sky-high resale prices.– Rosie Long Decter, Billboard Canada

Taylor Swift Isn’t the Only Game in Town. Here’s how Other Musicians Playing Toronto Dealt With her Ubiquity

Don Toliver, Ocie Elliott, the OBGMs and Justin Nozuka all have gigs the first two nights of her Eras Tour. – Toronto Star

Tate McRae Coming to Six Canadian Cities on Miss Possessive World Tour

Jelly Roll, Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance have also added upcoming dates in Canada. – Rosie Long Decter, Billboard Canada

Gordon Lightfoot’s Sundown Guitar Sells for US$350,000 in Estate Auction

Heritage Auctions says the legendary folk singer-songwriter’s 1967 Gibson B45-12 Sunburst acoustic guitar was sold to a man sent to the Dallas-based auction on behalf of several Canadian collectors. – David Friend, Canadian Press

The Head of Google Canada on Regulating AI, a Sometimes Frightening Future and Earning Users’ Trust

After nearly a quarter century in the field, Google Canada vice-president and managing director Sabrina Geremia has had a front-row seat to all the social changes brought on by technology. –Toronto Star

Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Music Director Alexander Shelley to Lead Pacific Symphony Orchestra for 2026-27 season

Alexander Shelley will become music director of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra for the 2026-27 season following the 35-year tenure of Carl St. Clair. The 45-year-old will be just the third music director for the orchestra in its 45 year history. – Globe and Mail

Godspeed You! Black Emperor Postpone Remainder of U.S. Tour Due to Illness

Following prior cancellations in the U.S., the band will reconvene their tour with shows in Canada next week. – Tyler Jenke, Billboard

How Musicians with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Helped Rescue the Orchestra from Bankruptcy

When the players of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony were told in September, 2023, that their season would be cancelled and the organization would enter bankruptcy, they refused to let it go quietly. The musicians took the symphony’s fate into their own hands and have brought it back from the brink. – Josh O'Kane, Globe and Mail

Barney Bentall and the Cariboo Express Bids Farewell

Barney Bentall and the Cariboo Express rode into West Vancouver recently for a final performance after two decades of touring. The Express has travelled all across Canada for 20 years, raising funds for local humanitarian charities that have surpassed well over $5 million. –Tom Paille, Georgia Straight

Jann Arden Goes Back to the ‘90s, Singing TLC, Seal and Robyn on New Covers Album

Jann Arden is digging into her box of old cassette tapes for a new album of covers. Mixtape comes out Jan. 31.– David Friend, Canadian Press

All the Winners From the 2024 Music Nova Scotia Awards

From songwriters and musicians to industry professionals, these people walked away from Wolfville award winners. – Brendyn Creamer, The Coast

International Headlines

TikTok Is Busy Signing Indie Label Deals Without Merlin — Reports Suggest Monetization Shift, Too

TikTok’s existing licensing deal with indie collective Merlin ended on October 31st. Now, the social media juggernaut has been busy inking deals outside of that expired deal, apparently with monetization changes in place. Here’s what’s leaking. – Ashley King, Digital Music News

Inside the Secret Summit That Tried to Stop Deadly Rap Wars

Before the east and west coast rap beef of the 1990s boiled over with the murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG, legendary producer Quincy Jones called a secret meeting at which he appealed for an end to the violence. – BBC News

Live Nation's Job Is To 'Take the Punch for the Artist," Claims CEO Michael Rapino

In the popular narrative today, Live Nation’s Ticketmaster is a villain, squeezing every last penny out of concertgoers who just want to see a show. But that narrative is misleading, because, Rapino claims, it misunderstands what Ticketmaster, and Live Nation really are. – Daniel Tencer, MBW

Taylor Lindsey Promoted to Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Nashville

Lindsey succeeds Randy Goodman, who, as announced in September, will retire at the end of 2024 after more than 35 years in the music industry. – Music Business Worldwide

Should There be a Ban on Teenage Popstars?

After the death of Liam Payne at 31, music industry figures are debating the duty of care for artists who find fame at a young age - some have suggested an all-out ban might be the solution.– BBC News

Jeff Beck Guitars Go To Auction

A collection of 90 guitars belonging to the late guitar virtuoso are set to go up for auction in January. The former Yardbirds and Jeff Beck Group musician’s collection will be going under the hammer with the auction house Christie’s and is valued at £1 million. – Noise11