Music Biz Headlines: Jagmeet Singh Apologizes to Drake, Billie Joe Armstrong Warns of Fascism
Also in this week's headlines: Oscar Peterson's 100th birthday, Rogers Stadium on track to open soon, the challenges facing music festivals and more.
Kendrick Lamar's concerts in Drake's backyard heated up the rap beef, and it showed in the headlines this week.
Elsewhere, Live Nation is spending royally on U.S. music venues, record label mogul Sir Lucian Grainge gives a revealing interview and Bengali pop superstar Arijit Singh in the spotlight.
Canadian Music Biz Headlines Of The Week
Former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh apologizes for attending Kendrick Lamar show
Jagmeet Singh is saying sorry for attending one of Kendrick Lamar's Toronto concerts last week. – David Friend, Canadian Press
Toronto Crowd Chants 'One More Time' After Kendrick Lamar Plays 'Not Like Us'
Kendrick and SZA played in Drake's hometown at Rogers Centre on June 12. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Kendrick and SZA played their second show at the Rogers Centre on Friday night (June 13), which included a rare performance of SZA's 'Drew Barrymore' to make up for her cancelled 2023 concert. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Rogers Stadium is ‘On Track' To Open This Month in Toronto,
Live Nation Canada confirms the news, after images of the concert mega-venue emerge on social media. The 50,000-seat colossus at the former Downsview Airport site plans to kick off its inaugural summer season on June 29. – Richie Assaly, Toronto Star
On the Occasion of Oscar Peterson’s Centenary, Canada Celebrates its Jazz Piano Giant
This summer will see a series of shows across North America celebrating Oscar Peterson, the great Canadian jazz pianist. – Brad Wheeler, Globe & Mail
Pianist Robi Botos on the Impact of Oscar Peterson
Growing up in Budapest, Robi Botos and his father, who was a jazz enthusiast, bonded over Oscar Peterson’s music, which he says they discovered through the contraband of the few albums that made it past the ban on jazz music under Soviet control of Hungary. – Canadian Press
Keeping it Live: Changing Habits a Challenge for City’s Music Venues
Former owners says business strategy for live music venues is “under attack.” – Cheyenne Bolla, Hamilton Spectator
All Things Go Festival Announces Expansion to Toronto in 2025
The inaugural ATG Toronto will be held at Budweiser Stage on Oct. 4 and 5, 2025, in partnership with Live Nation Women. The lineup is TBD but the festival promises “Two STACKED days of iconic artist performances." – Kerry Doole, Billboard Canada
In a World of Curated Playlists, the Eclectic Concert Lineup is Out
There are multiple reasons festivals like Field Trip and the Toronto Urban Roots Fest (and others) failed. An artistic problem was their eclectic programming. Trying to please too many people with too many genres, the festivals had no identity. – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail
International Music Biz Headlines Of The Week
Live Nation to Invest $1 Billion in US Music Venues Over Next 18 Months
Live music giant Live Nation plans to invest $1 billion in 18 new and renovated venues across the U.S. over the next 18 months, stressing the positive impact of the investment on the US economy. It says it 'invested $14bn in artists' globally in 2024. – Music Business Worldwide
The singer's comments came on the same day that President Trump held a rare military parade on the streets of D.C. and millions turned out for massive "No Kings" protests. Gil Kaufman, Billboard
Mike Love celebrates Brian Wilson and George Clinton shines at 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Beach Boys’ Mike Love was inducted into the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday night, just one day after it was announced that his inimitable bandmate Brian Wilson had died. – Maria Sherman, Associated Press
Suno, the AI music-making platform being sued by the record majors over copyright infringement, has once again unveiled upgrades to its platform’s capabilities. – Music Business Worldwide
Sir Lucian Grainge's Interview with Spotify's Alex Norstrom: 5 Things We Learned
Universal Music Group Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge CBE sat down for a fireside chat with Spotify's Alex Norström (Co-President, Chief Business Officer) at the Brilliant Minds conference in Stockholm last week. The conversation touched on everything from Grainge's approach to managing creative talent, to his views on the role of AI in music creation. – MBW
Fever Acquires Ticketing Platform Dice
The deal comes a day after Fever announced the close of a $100m funding round this week. – Ethan Millman, Hollywood Reporter
‘Once-in-a-Generation Artist’ Arijit Singh to be First Indian Musician to Headline U.K. Stadium
Bengali singer who has more Spotify followers than Taylor Swift to bring ‘sheer power’ to same London stage as Beyoncé. – Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian
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