Music Biz Headlines: Billie Eilish's Vinyl Criticism, Vice's Mad Scramble
Our weekly compendium of stories from Canada and around the globe includes Beyoncé's Black country forebears, the 25th anniversary of Shania Twain's 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman!' and an economic case for more arts funding in Canada.
Billie Eilish, "What Was I Made For?"
The Creators of Les Misérables Thought it Would Flop. Now the Unstoppable Hit is Back in Toronto
In an interview with the Star, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil reflect on their hit musical "Les Misérables," which has returned to Toronto. – Joshua Chong, Toronto Star
Shania Twain Revisits the Enduring Cultural Impact of ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman!’ Video
In a new episode of Vevo Footnotes, Twain discusses the creative decisions that went into crafting the now-iconic video. – Jessica Nicholson, Billboard
The Economic Case for More Funding for the Arts
As a country, we are still recovering. According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s most recent Economic and Fiscal Outlook, “sluggish growth” will continue to define Canada’s economy this year. The arts, culture and tourism sectors are no exception. – Tim Jennings, Globe and Mail
From Abbotsford, Drummer Jared Falk Builds a Smashing Empire in Drumeo Online Learning
Today, Drumeo supports 50,000 active students and a social media community with more than six million followers. – Stuart Derdeyn, Calgary Herald
World Ski & Snowboard Festival Releases Music Lineup
Since 1996, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival held in Whistler has been the “ultimate apres” in the form of a festival at Vancouver's Skiers Plaza — complete with drinks, DJs and headlining musical acts. This year’s festival from April 12 to 14 features Chali 2Na and Cut Chemist. – Kristi Alexandra, Georgia Straight
Local Vinyl-heads Are In It Together, All the Way Through to the Run-out Groove
Are record clubs the new book clubs? A group of Winnipeggers acknowledge how rewarding it can be to enjoy an album from start to finish, the way an artist intended their work to be heard. – David Sanderson, Winnipeg Free Press
Mission Hill Winery Reveals Outdoor Concert Series Lineup — Including Sarah McLachlan and Jewel
Also tapped in the summer concert series lineup at the Romanesque outdoor venue in West Kelowna, B.C. are Melissa Etheridge and the Barenaked Ladies. – Kristi Alexandra, Georgia Straight
Shuffle Off to Concerts Galore
A preview of an exciting range of concerts coming to Hamilton and region.– Leonard Turnevicius, Hamilton Spectator
'70s-era Rockers The Stampeders Saluting Late Bassist on Ontario Tour
An upcoming Ontario tour by 1970s-era rockers The Stampeders will be a tribute to longtime band member Ronnie King, who died recently at age 76. – Paul Morden, London Free Press
Musical Performance Series to Bring Health-care Providers and Newcomers Together
The Joe H Henry Trio will kick off a series of shows on April 13 to give thanks to healthcare professionals, and welcome new-comers to the province. – SaltWire
A Tribute to Gary Corrin, Long Time Music Librarian & Programmer
Corrin, who served as the TSO Principal Librarian for three decades, as well as Director of Programming and Chief Librarian for Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert and Bravissimo!, passed away in late 2023 of cancer. – Anya Wassenberg, Ludwig Van
International
Billie Eilish Criticises Musicians for Releasing Multiple Vinyl Variants
‘I can’t even express how wasteful it is,' says the singer known for her attempts to run her career sustainably. She likened the practice to The Hunger Games – playing a game to get fans to keep buying more. – Laura Snapes, The Guardian
Beyoncé's Game-changing Country Album is Here. Meet Four Black Women who Blazed a Path Earlier
"White artists are allowed to flourish. I'd like to see Black artists be granted the same freedom." – Vernon Ayiku, Toronto Star
Indie Artists Shift to Artist-Centric Payments on Deezer, as it Signs New Deal with Merlin
Merlin will be joining Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group (WMG) in shifting away from the traditional pro-rata payment model employed by most music streamers to one that prioritizes artists with a “consistent and engaged fan base,” as the companies described it in a statement. –Daniel Tencer, MBW
BMG Annual Revenues Hit $979m in 2023, up 4.6% YoY; EBITDA Fllat at $210m
That's according to a new set of annual fiscal results from the music company's parent, Bertelsmann, published on March 26. – MBW
Bertelsmann, Facing Setbacks, Wants to Grow its Music Unit BMG
It is looking at a merger with a rival or a "breakout investment." “BMG could potentially be an opportunity for a breakout investment and joining forces with a competitor,” Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe said. – Murray Stassen, MBW
Feds Want Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Communications, Flight Records in Sex Trafficking Probe
Federal investigators are seeking telecommunications records involving Sean "Diddy" Combs as part of an investigation into alleged sex trafficking, a source close to the investigation told The Times. –Richard Winton, LA Times
Shane Smith Scrambles to Save What’s Left of Vice
As Vice convulses in the throes of decline — Vice.com barely there, hundreds of journalists laid off — the latest plot twist seems almost scripted. – Sharon Waxman and Emily Smith, The Wrap
Jeremy Allen White in Talks to Play Bruce Springsteen in ’80s Set Biopic
White is in talks to play Bruce Springsteen in a biopic in development focused on the making of the music icon’s 1982 album Nebraska. It is based on the recent Warren Zanes book Deliver Me From Nowhere. – Margeaux Sippell, MovieMaker
