Music Biz Headlines: Green Day Spray Paints The Rogers Centre, Fans Storm Billy Talent Concert

Thousands Storm Fences at Free Weekend Billy Talent Concert in Port Colborne, Ontario

Niagara Regional Police say several thousand people pushed through the fences at a free Billy Talent concert in Port Colborne, Ont., on Saturday. – Canadian Press

Sum 41 Cancel August Farewell Dates as Deryck Whibley Recovers From Back Injury

The frontman of the Canadian pop-punk band suffered a minor back injury and is taking a physician-ordered break, causing the band to cancel six dates in Quebec and the east coast. They still have 32 dates left, leading up to their final show in Toronto in Jan. 2025. – Rosie Long Decter, Billboard Canada

Green Day Singer Spray Paints Over Oakland Athletics Logo at Rogers Centre During Toronto Visit

In an Instagram video, Billie Joe Armstrong appeared to show himself spray painting in a hallway at Rogers Centre, where his band performed Thursday. – Nathan Bawaan, Toronto Star

Rogers has Become the Top Sponsor of TIFF 2024 After Bell Parted Ways

Toronto International Film Festival’s 49th annual event will have a different top sponsor, after nearly 30 years of Bell. – Toronto Star

Welcome to the Tribute Band Era, Where the Covers are as Good as the Real Thing

As concert ticket prices climb, music fans are finding that today’s crop of uber-talented cover bands are no longer the next best thing — they’re as good as the real thing. – Ben Kaplan, Globe and Mail

Toronto Hip-Hop Scene Needs ‘Rebrand’ Amid Drake-Kendrick Beef, Some Rappers Say

Amid the ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, Toronto rapper Sean Leon finds himself conflicted over a recurring question on social media: Why haven’t more local artists stood up for the 6 God? – Alex Nino Gheciu, Canadian Press

Can’t-miss Vancouver Concerts for August 2024

All the coolest Vancouver concerts for Leo season. – Georgia Straight

Brott Music Festival’s ‘Evita’ and the Art of the Possible

“I love the substance of the show. I love its message. I love how talented the cast has to be to pull it off.”– Leonard Turnevicius, Hamilton Spectator

International

It's 'Business As Usual' at Live Nation, Despite DOJ Antitrust Lawsuit

Here are Three Other Things We Learned on the Company's Q2 Earnings Call. – Music Business Worldwide

The Record Label Recovery — Part II: Analysis

Why record labels need to move on from using data to impact the short term, to embed a culture of analysis for the long term. – Patrick Clifton, Clifton Consult

HYBE, the Home of BTS, Restructures Global Business as Part of New Strategy Called 'HYBE 2.0'

Last week, the South Korean entertainment giant announced that CEO Jiwon Park had stepped down from his role. Now the company has published a detailed explanation of HYBE 2.0, which it calls its new "strategic direction and business plan." – Music Business Worldwide

Aerosmith Retires from Touring, Citing Permanent Damage to Steven Tyler’s Voice

Aerosmith says Steven Tyler’s voice has been permanently damaged by a vocal cord injury last year and the band will no longer tour. The iconic band behind hits like Love in an Elevator and Livin’ on the Edge posted a statement Friday announcing the cancellation of remaining dates on its tour. – Associated Press

‘The Drugs were So New, They Weren't Illegal Yet’: The Debauched Rise of New York’s Wildest Bar

It was a seedy hotbed of sex, drugs, edgy music and A-list celebrities where Lou Reed and Andy Warhol partied alongside Blondie and Bowie. How did Max’s Kansas City fall apart? – Daniel Wray, The Guardian

Paris Olympics: Snoop Dogg has Exploded on the Olympics’ Global Stage. He’s Just Being Himself

Snoop Dogg steps out of a sleek black SUV, his entourage in tow, as a Parisian crowd erupts into chants of “Snoop, Snoop, Snoop!” outside the NBC set. Okay, the show can start – Snoop has arrived. Literally. – Associated Press

Chrissie Hynde Reveals why The Pretenders Don’t Play Arenas: “Clubs and Theatres are Better for the Audience and the Band”

"We could be playing bigger places... making more money... but we really don't give a shit about that stuff." – Emma Wilkes, The Guardian