Music Biz Headlines: Celine Dion's Rumoured Live Comeback, Hipgnosis Deal is Done & More

Frank Sinatra. Michael Jackson. Drake. Even Putin. Paul Anka Looks Back on Seven Decades in Music

He wrote for Ol' Blue Eyes, talked plastic surgery with MJ and helped promote the Beatles. What's next? A podcast... partially inspired by Jason Bateman. – Rob LeDonne, Billboard

Celine Dion 'Secretly Practicing' for Vegas Comeback

'She never gave up and has been working in secret for months on her vocal strength and control.' – Mark Daniell, Postmedia

MusiquePlus Music Video Channel Returns For a One-Night-Only TV Special

Quebec’s popular music video TV channel MusiquePlus is returning to the airwaves for a one-night-only celebration. Bell Media says plans are underway to resurrect the channel for an hour-long prime-time program that reflects on its legacy while celebrating a new generation of homegrown musical talent. – David Friend, The Canadian Press

Summer Festivals Urged to Provide Drug Testing Amid Record Deaths in Manitoba

Organizers of Manitoba’s summer festivals have been asked to include drug-testing in their lineups, against the backdrop of an increase in drug-related deaths across the province last year. – Winnipeg Free Press

The Summer of Music Industry Mayhem

For most musicians, the financial picture is dire. Podcast guest, author and Polaris Award-winning artist and producer Cadence Weapon, breaks down the depressing economics of an industry governed by Ticketmaster trauma, streaming algorithms and an AI invasion. – Globe and Mail

k-os’s Breakthrough Album Joyful Rebellion Turns 20

Musician Kevin Brereton is better known as the Trinidadian-Canadian alt-hip hop icon k-os. Crabbuckit is a ridiculously hummable pop hit from his breakthrough album, Joyful Rebellion, which has a birthday later this summer. “Twenty years, man,” he says now. “That’s a person’s life.”– Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

How Does Canada Really Feel About America? These 10 songs Reveal a Range of Feelings

How do Canadians feel about the United States? This top 10 list of Canadian songs about the U.S., reveals a range of thoughts and emotions – some angry, some euphoric and many satiric. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

'A good home': Millennium Park Renamed Cowboys Park, Will Host Music Festival

The 10-year rebranding is part of a partnership between the City of Calgary and Cowboys bar and music festival. – Calgary Herald

Wu-Tang Killa Beez Performing in Halifax For a Good Cause

Affiliates involved include Dom Pachino, Killah Priest, 9th Prince and more. They play the Lighthouse Arts Centre on July 13. – Brendyn Creamer, The Coast

One Last Standing Ovation for St. Germain

Family, friends and fans remember local Metis legend. – Malak Abas, Winnipeg Free Press

International

Blackstone Wins Shareholder Support to Buy Hipgnosis Songs Fund

With 99.97% of shares voted voting for its $1.6 billion offer, Blackstone now owns 100% of the company that popularized music as an asset class. – Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, Billboard

Sony Music's Mystery Queen Catalog Co-Investor Rumored To Be Apollo

At the end of May,it was reported that Sony was negotiating a deal with Queen and that the major music company was “working with another investor” on the transaction. According to MBW’s sources, noises are getting louder that said investor is Apollo Global Management. – Murray Stassen, Music Business Worldwide

Ticketmaster says Customers' Credit Card Information Affected by Data Breach

Ticketmaster is notifying customers about a "data security incident" that may have leaked their personal information. The ticket-selling company emailed customers Monday of a breach occurring between April 2 and May 18. – CBC

Coldplay Settles Lawsuit With Ex-Manager Dave Holmes: Reports

The development concludes a legal battle that has been ongoing for several years. – Jessica Lynch, Billboard

25% of Music Producers now Using AI, But a Majority Have Strong Resistance

A majority of producers indicated they have concerns about losing control of their music. – Music Business Worldwide

French Artists, DJs and Musicians Unite to Fight Threat of Far-right Government

Front Électronique acts as ‘world of the night’ to combat rise of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally. – Henry Young, The Guardian

Lucian Grainge: Artist-friendly Leader of a Music Juggernaut

As the chairman and chief executive of the world's largest record company, Grainge, 64, is arguably the most powerful person in the music industry. – Mikael Wood, LA Times