Music Biz Headlines, Dec. 21, 2023: Digging Roots Boost Indigenous Music, Year-End Lists & More

Indigenous Music Is More Visible in Canada: Digging Roots Is Part Of That

The duo of ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache are sharing their experiences and stirring things up through their music. - Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

---

The 10 Best Albums of 2023

Great albums serve as statements about a time and place while beckoning toward the future. Across pop, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, rock, postclassical and metal, here are 10 of the best albums from 2023 that do it. - Josh O'Kane, Globe and Mail

Homecoming to PEC With Justin Rutledge

I feel that Justin, though Toronto-born, has experienced some of life’s most meaningful markers on Prince Edward County soil. - Lonelle Selbo, Watershed

Elastic Stars Goes a Fascinatingly Retro Route With the Video for "Falls Back"

Here’s something fun can you can do with the video for “Falls Back” by Elastic Stars: turn the sound off for the first viewing and imagine you’ve gone into things cold. - Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

My Top 10 of Calgary Albums Released In 2023

Calgarians and Calgary expats released some incredible music this year, whether it be industry veterans or relative newcomers. Here are some of my favourites. - Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald

Fresh Sounds Canada: Karan Aujla Gets Remixed By Tiësto

This week's must-hear music also includes the long-awaited album from Tate McRae, Isabella Lovestory and more. - Billboard Canada

Fresh Tracks: Edmonton Musicians Release Their Own Spins on Christmas

If you can't catch The Prairies States playing Alberta Winter Wonderland dates, stay cozy at home with their holiday tune and more from Hailey Benedict, John Hewitt and The McDades. - Chad Huculak, Edmonton Journal

The Menzingers Made Me Believe That Some Of It Was True

For the 75 minutes the Menzingers were on the stage last Friday night, they were bringing that heat to a very cold Harbour Event & Convention Centre. Despite the setting, the Menzingers delivered. - Raynee Novak, Georgia Straight

10 Weird, Wild and Wonderful Pop Culture Moments Defining 2023

From Gwyneth’s “I wish you well” to the year’s most unlikely celebrity couple. - Sarah Laing, Toronto Star

Tate McRae: Think Later Review – Pop’s Newest Superstar Blandly Ticks The Boxes

McRae’s music is wildly successful, well-made but rote, and she lacks a USP to match peers such as Billie Eilish or Olivia Rodrigo. - Alexis Petridis, The Guardian

International

Spotify Is Chasing Annual Profitability. Soundcloud Is Already There

SoundCloud is experiencing something new, a full 16 years after it was founded: annual profitability. According to company data shared with MBW, SoundCloud is currently on course to post a slim – but positive – EBITDA for calendar/fiscal 2023. - Tim Ingham, MBW

Universal Launches Beat Galaxy Music Hub On Roblox

UMG and virtual world developer Supersocial have launched Beat Galaxy, a new music hub on gaming and metaverse platform Roblox. It features 'one of the largest song catalogs of any experience' on the gaming platform. - Murray Stassen, MBWWhy Spotify’s New Payment Model Falls Short For Emerging Artists: Guest Column

The streaming giant released a comprehensive breakdown last month. Emerging artists have been completely left out of the discussion. And this change not only does very little to support emerging artists, it ignores the real issues hurting these artists at the core of Spotify’s platform. - Ari Herstand, Variety

Immediate Family Recalls Roles In Rock History

For liner-note readers like us, a particular group of musicians—guitarist Danny ”Kooch” Kortchmar, Bassist Leland Sklar, drummer Russ Kunkel and guitarist Waddy Wachtel—were as legendary as the musicians they accompanied. - Karen Gordon, Original Cin

‘I Just Loved To Sing!": Brenda Lee on Inspiring Elvis, Lennon and Taylor Swift – and Topping the Chart at 78

She has just become the oldest person ever to top the US chart, with the classic she recorded at 13 – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. She recalls touring with Jerry Lee Lewis, forming a bond with the king of rock’n’roll and what she learned from Judy Garland. - Dave Simpson, The Guardian

Barbra Streisand to Receive SAG Lifetime Achievement Award

The EGOT winner will become the 59th recipient of the honor. - The Wrap

Kanye West Feels Social Media's Wrath After Wearing KKK-style Hood

Rapper Kanye West is being ripped for wearing a black hood resembling that worn by members of the Ku Klux Klan during an album listening party.- Postmedia

Nile Rodgers Says No Modern Record Label Would Sign David Bowie in Cut-throat Streaming Climate

“Those days are truly over,” he states. "You would have thought with the advent of all the new technologies, people like me would have a much better life and that's not the case." - Alex Rigott, NME