Music Biz Headlines: Festivals Struggling, a Canadian Call for TV and Film Royalties

Music Industry Seeks Budget Change so Bands and Singers Get Royalties from TV, Film

Musicians say they are missing out on millions of dollars in royalties when their music is played in films, on streaming platforms or on TV, and they want the government to adjust the copyright rules in the forthcoming budget to address this. – Marie Woolf, Globe and Mail

Why Are So Many Canadian Festivals Struggling or Cancelling?

Organizers are feeling the pinch from inflation, increased competition and pandemic recovery. – Kevin Maimann, CBC News

How Allegations of Mismanagement and Toxic Behaviour are Tearing Apart the Hot Docs Film Festival

The former artistic director faced multiple allegations of “grave mismanagement,” according to documents obtained by the Star. – Joshua Chong, Toronto Star

Quebec Music Festival Cancelled After Band Makes Censorship Accusation

A music festival in northwestern Quebec has been cancelled after a local band, Guhn Twei, accused organizers of rescinding an invitation to perform because of its criticism of an arsenic-emitting copper smelter in the region. –Thomas MacDonald, Canadian Press

Music Industry Dynamo Pegi Cecconi Worked with Top Canadian Talents

Pegi Cecconi was known far and wide in the music industry as the 'Queen of Everything.' – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Classical Music: Special Multimedia Show on for One Night Only with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

VSO will offer Video Games in Concert April 17, and a full roster of movies with live symphonic accompaniments planned for the summer. – David Gordon Duke, PostMedia

Mission Folk Fest Comes to Fraser River Heritage Park in July

The annual Mission Folk Fest is returning for its 37th year this summer, with more than two dozen artists taking to the stage. Name acts include Big Little Lions, the Devin Cuddy Band, and Scandinavian sibling musicians Fränder. – VS Wells, Georgia Straight

AMS Block Party Returns to UBC with Don Toliver and Meduza

Get ready for the beat to drop. The AMS Block Party marks its 16th year on April 12, bringing music, food, and culture to the AMS Student Nest at UBC. – Kristi Alexandra, Georgia Straight

Tom Wilson’s ‘Beautiful Scars’ Now Adapted to the Stage

Award-winning Hamilton musician, artist and author Tom Wilson’s “Beautiful Scars” takes to the stage as Hamilton's Theatre Aquarius presents the world premiere of a musical, based on his acclaimed memoir, from April 24 to May 11. – Metroland

Every Big Show Coming to Halifax (and Beyond) in 2024

An ever-updated list of concerts, comedy shows, live performance, theatre and events in Nova Scotia. –The Coast

Can’t-Miss Vancouver Concerts for April 2024

Nothing cures the blues like singing your heart out at a show—or watching some sad guitar noodlers play indecipherable shoegaze. Whatever you’re into! Here are the buzziest April Vancouver concerts coming up. – VS Wells, Georgia Straight

International

IMPALA Stands With UMG on TikTok ‘Value Gap,' Flags ‘Unintended Consequences’ With Streaming Changes

The organization states its position on how TikTok and streamers' payment models impact the indie music economy. – Kristin Robinson, Billboard

‘This is an Art Form – and We’re Losing It’: Is the Music Video Dying?

Music videos were once cultural events almost as important as the music they promoted. In an era of digestible bite-size content on TikTok, the art form is in danger of being lost for ever. – Michael Cragg, The Guardian

Warner Music Won’t Bid for Believe After All

The decision clears a path for a consortium led by founder Denis Ladegaillerie to take the French company private. – Marc Schneider, Billboard

Spotify to Hike Prices Again, Introduce New Subscription Tier

Last year, Spotify raised the price of its Premium service for the first time, ending more than a decade of static prices at the music streaming service. Now, a new report says more price hikes, and a change to its pricing model, are on the way. – MBW

Billie Eilish, Pearl Jam, Nicki Minaj Among 200 Artists Calling for Responsible AI Music Practices

In an open letter by the Artist Rights Alliance, the artists, songwriters and producers called irresponsible AI training an "assault on human creativity" that "must be stopped." - Dan Rys, Billboard

Jay-Z’s Made In America Festival Canceled for the Second Year in a Row

Jay-Z’s annual Made in America festival, held in Philadelphia over Labor Day weekend, has been canceled for the second year in a row. A specific reason was not outlined, and a representative for Made in America referred questions back to the statement. – Maria Sherman, Associated Press

Taylor Swift Joins World’s Richest Billionaires List, Along with These Wealthy Canadians

George Lucas, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerburg and Jeff Bezos were joined by 141 new billionaires this year on the Forbes list of richest people in the world, including the co-founders of SHEIN. – Manuela Vega, Toronto Star

From Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to Charlotte Day Wilson, 28 Albums to Look Forward to This Spring

Upcoming spring releases includes major rock acts like Pearl Jam and Vampire Weekend and a highly anticipated release from indie folk star Waxahatchee. – Staff,Toronto Star

Lizzo Confirms She's Not Quitting Music Following her Cryptic Instagram Post

Lizzo cleared up her recent comments about “quitting,” telling fans in an Instagram video on Tuesday that she's still going to make music but is simply going to quit “giving any negative energy attention. – NY Daily News

The Ed Sheeran Decade: How the Everyman Megastar Remade Music in his Own Image

In 2014, Sheeran became the most-streamed musician in the world. The 10 years since have seen his dominance grow, helped by relatability, a pick-and-mix approach to genre and a way with an earworm melody. But in 2024 is his influence waning? – Rachel Aroesti, The Guardian

George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Ronnie Wood: The 10 Best Songs Written About Pattie Boyd

More so than any other art form, there is immortality in song, and in that way, Pattie Boyd will live forever. – Lucy Harbron, FarOut