Music Biz Headlines: Canadian Arts in Trouble, Drake Takes Down Diss Tracks

State of the Arts

Rising costs. Hesitant audiences. Shaky funding. It’s a make-or-break year for the arts sector. – Josh O'Kane, The Globe and Mail

Streaming Platforms Like Spotify Will Have to Pay Into Canadian Content Funds

As the Online Streaming Act is implemented, streaming services with over $25 million in annual revenue and no connection to a Canadian broadcaster will have to pay 5% of those revenues as base contributions, generating an estimated $200 million in funding for "areas of immediate need," according to the CRTC. – Rosie Long Decter, Billboard Canada

Michael Bublé to Join The Voice

Michael Bublé must be “feeling good,” because he was just announced as a coach for the upcoming 26th season of The Voice—making him the first Canadian ever to land the role. –Vicki Duong, Georgia Straight

Honourary Vancouverite Neko Case Announces New Memoir

Singer-songwriter Neko Case — who launched her critically-acclaimed solo career while living in Vancouver — has announced a memoir, which will be released this coming January. Titled The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, the book will focus on Case’s journey from a challenging upbringing in the Pacific Northwest to her rise in the indie music ranks. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

Drake Takes Down Kendrick Lamar Diss Tracks on Instagram

Drake is pulling back on his beef with Kendrick Lamar. Toronto’s biggest rap star quietly removed three tracks from his social media that had stoked the flames of conflict. – David Friend, Canadian Press

The NDP’s ‘Punk-Rock Politician,’ Charlie Angus, is Leaving Parliament Soon to Focus on his Music

As Angus serves until the next federal election, his Canadiana outfit Grievous Angels will continue to be one of his passions. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

Céline Dion Says Illness has Caused Muscle Spasms That Broke Her Ribs

Singer describes symptoms of stiff person syndrome, the rare illness she was diagnosed with in 2022, including a feeling of strangulation. – Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian

Cadence Weapon Updates His 'Connor McDavid' Oilers Anthem for Stanley Cup Finals

As the Edmonton Oilers look to bring hockey glory to their city, the Canadian rapper has updated his 2017 ode to the star player. – Rosie Long Decter, Billboard Canada

Metis Music Icon Honoured by Newly Renamed St. Vital Street

Red River Métis music legend and Canadian icon Ray St. Germain was celebrated Friday with the renaming of a St. Vital road in his honour. It was renamed Big Sky Country Way after his national network television show. – Glen Dawkins, Calgary Herald

International

Sony, Universal, Warner and Merlin Strike Licensing Deals With Twitch

Amazon-owned livestream platform Twitch has struck what it calls “first-of-its-kind” deals with multiple rightsholders, including three major labels, to allow DJs to legally play music in their livestreams on the platform. – Murray Stassen, Music Business Worldwide

Catalog Hits Were Soaring on the Charts. Why Have They Fallen Off in 2024?

With so much new music from superstars coming out in recent months, older songs aren't climbing to the top of the Hot 100 like "Die for You' did for The Weeknd last year. – Elias Leight, Billboard

TuneCore Has Paid Out Over $4 billion to Self-Releasing Artists to Date

The Believe-owned DIY distribution platform TuneCore, a prominent player in the global DIY music distribution space, revealed on June 10 that self-releasing artists have earned more than $4B via its platform since it was founded in 2006. – Music Business Worldwide

Music Producer The-Dream Sued Over Allegations of Sex Trafficking, Battery and Rape

Producer The-Dream has been accused of sex trafficking, sexual battery and rape in a new lawsuit brought by the same firm that represented Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in her now-settled case against the hip-hop mogul. – Nadine Saad, Los Angeles Times

Questlove on Hoarding, Capturing Hip-hop History and the Kendrick-Drake Beef

The drummer, DJ and Oscar-winning director is a key custodian of Black culture, with 200,000 records to prove it. So why does he think he’s getting too old for rap music? – Alexis Petridis, The Guardian

‘I’m a Fan of Chaos’: Blondie’s Chris Stein on Bowie, Debbie Harry and 50 Years in Rock ’n’ roll

In his candid new memoir, the guitarist talks about the glory period of Parallel Lines and how addiction and loss altered his life. – Tim Lewis, The Observer