Also this week: A possible AI-generated hit causes concern, Karol G announces her new album in Toronto and Glen Hansard honoured by major music artists.
Two female pop superstars grab a large chunk of the headlines this week. Canadian Tate McRae triumphs with her biggest festival headlining show yet at Osheaga, while speculation mounts about her political leanings. American diva Ariana Grande plays some big dates in Montreal (her only Canadian shows), then elicits gasps by announcing a break from showbiz and withdrawal from a big Broadway show.
Read these stories and more in our weekly roundup of headlines at home and abroad.
The Calgary-born pop star headlined her first major music festival in Montreal on Saturday night (Aug. 1), closing out the massive festival's second night by launching her new era in front of her home country's fans. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Playing the second of three nights at Centre Bell just hours before her album release, the superstar celebrated the occasion by debuting a new track and performing the previously teased "Petal," while also choosing 2016's "Sometimes" as the night's surprise song. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Musicians across Atlantic Canada have been calling out the East Coast Music Association for late payments stemming from showcases during the East Coast Music Awards in Sydney this May. – Brendyn Creamer, The Coast
Now an area resident, indie rock star musician Mac DeMarco and his young band turned things up a notch, officially headlining the Island’s annual Mosaic Arts & Music Festival. – Nathan Caddell, Georgia Straight
In 1998, the Edmonton folk-rock band Captain Tractor was an established entity in Canadian indie music. when they put out a call for a new bassist, Jon Nordstrom was not the obvious first choice. Musically, his playing was melodic and laid-back, very different than the aggressive stylings of the band’s previous bassist. – Eric Volmers, Edmonton Journal
Fenix Flexin’s hit song “Rubberz” has hip-hop fans arguing over whether it was generated by AI. Some say they have proof it’s machine-made, but will anyone care? – Dexter Thomas Wired
Universal Music Group generated revenues of EUR €3.294 billion (USD $3.83bn) across all of its divisions (including recorded music, publishing, and more) in Q2 (the three months ending June 30, 2026). That’s according to UMG‘s fresh set of quarterly results, published July 30). –Murray Stassen, MBW
The music streaming giant reaches a total of300 million premium subscribers and 777 million monthly active users as of the end of its second quarter. – Lucas Manfredi, The Wrap
Modest Mouse has announced that guitarist Simon O’Connor will not join the band’s upcoming North American tour following allegations that he sent inappropriate social media messages to a minor. O’Connor will be replaced on the trek by Les Savy Fav guitarist Seth Jabour. – Billboard
An experiment with artificial intelligence at the annual Richard Wagner festival in the southeastern German town of Bayreuth drew boos from the audience after producing a staging that appeared to leave some spectators confused. – Associated Press
Singapore has banned the two core members of British band Massive Attack from reentering the country after they displayed a Palestinian flag and expressed support for the Palestinian cause during their concert in the city-state last week. – Associated Press
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