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Music News

Music Biz Headlines: ​Neil Young Returns to Spotify, Immersive Audio Takes Over

Our weekly compendium of stories from Canada and beyond also features the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Maestro Fresh Wes's latest history-making accolade, TikTok, karaoke and Glastonbury.

Neil Young

Neil Young

Daryl Hannah

Neil Young Says His Music Is Returning to Spotify

The singer-songwriter previously had his music removed from the platform over what he deemed the spread of vaccine misinformation on the Joe Rogan Experience. – Chris Eggertsen, Billboard


Killer Mike announced as a Marquee Artist Presentation for the 2024 Vancouver International Jazz Festival

Fresh off his Best Rap Album win for MICHAEL at this year’s Grammy Awards, Killer Mike has been announced as one of the headliners for 2024’s VIJF. He'll perform at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on June 29. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

Music Declares Emergency Will Host a Climate Summit in Halifax Ahead of the Juno Awards

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The advocacy organization is hosting a day of conversations about climate and the music industry on Mar. 22 in Halifax, prior to the Juno Awards ceremony on Mar. 24. – Rosie Long Decter, Billboard Canada

Music Industry Flocks to Immersive Audio to Bring the Listening Experience to New Heights

Dolby first launched Atmos about a dozen years ago for movie theatres, but in the past few years, musicians and record labels have been flocking to the new format. – Josh O'Kane, Globe and Mail

How Toronto's Classical Music Institutions are Getting Fresh and Appealing to New Audiences

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Royal Conservatory of Music are finding new ways to engage audiences amid the rise of immersive experience. – Joshua Chong, Toronto Star

Pussy Riot Gets a Retrospective and Presents Punk Theatre in Vancouver

Core member of Pussy Riot talks about the new show and exhibit in Vancouver. – Stuart Derdyn, Vancouver Province

'I Enjoy Being the First': Maestro Fresh Wes Doesn't Mind Breaking Hip-Hop Barriers

Some moments in a career of "firsts" achieved by rapper Maestro Fresh Wes seem bigger than him, and this Sunday is certainly one of them. – David Friend, CP

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Organizers Seek to Add Fifth Day to Rock the Park Music Festival

What would be better than four days of Rock The Park?– London Free Press

Ensemble Obiora Orchestra Challenges Stereotypes in Classical Music

Musicians of colour don’t often see themselves represented in Canadian orchestras, but this Montreal group is proving it’s possible. – Stephanie Manning,Montreal Gazette

Rickshaw Theatre Celebrates its 15th Year With a Lovingly Curated Vancouver-focused Blowout

Known and loved as one of the greatest venues in the city, the Rickshaw Theatre is getting ready to celebrate its 15 anniversary with a four-day June blowout. Entirely appropriately, each show will spotlight Vancouver acts, most of them having graced the venue’s stage multiple times over the years. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

International

Spotify Says It Paid $1 Million to 1,250 Artists in 2023. Which Artists Might They Be?

The streaming service's fourth annual Loud & Clear report delivers some big-picture numbers, though the names of the artists who benefit most may sound familiar. – Billboard

Believe Generated Annual Revenues of €880.3 Million in 2023

That revenue figure converts to USD $952.7 million The Paris-headquartered music company’s full-year financial results (its third set of full-year results since floating on the Paris Euronext in 2021) were published on March 13. – MBW

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The Music Industry’s Over-Reliance on TikTok Shows How Lazy it has Become

Universal’s decision to remove its artists from TikTok has destabilised both companies – and lays bare how record labels have become reliant on random virality. – The Guardian

The Inventor of Karaoke Has Died, But His Legacy Is Louder Than Ever

Rob Sheffield pays tribute to Japanese engineer Shigeichi Negishi, whose invention of the "Sparko Box" in 1967 kicked off the karaoke revolution and changed the soundtrack of our lives forever. – Rolling Stone

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Dua Lipa, SZA and Shania Twain to Lead This Year’s Glastonbury Festival in June

Avril Lavigne, LCD Soundsystem, Burna Boy, Cyndi Lauper, Idles, Justice and more to perform at June 26-30 festival. – Gil Kaufman, Billboard

There’s Joy I Haven’t Felt for Years!’ How an App Fiinally Got Me Hooked on the Piano

Thirty years after failing his grade two exam, our writer is banging out Handel, Billie Eilish and Elton John - and he’s not alone. With apps to help with learning, there’s never been a better time to tinkle the ivories. – Simon Usborne, The Guardian

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Nessa Barrett at Toronto's History on Feb. 13, 2025
Yasseen Ashri

Nessa Barrett at Toronto's History on Feb. 13, 2025

Concerts

Nessa Barrett Reveals Her Favourite Canadian Artist

The viral alt-pop rising star met Billboard Canada backstage at her Toronto concert at History to talk about what she does when she comes to Canada, as well as her favourite slang terms and some surprising things we didn't know about her.

Nessa Barrett came to Toronto to play a packed History last night (Feb. 13), and she had the whole venue screaming her name.

The rising alt-pop artist has gone viral many times over on TikTok and other social media (she has over 6 million Instagram followers and over 2 billion global streams, still early in her career), and has had major co-signs from Lana Del Rey, who has brought her on stage and posted her song "Love Looks Pretty On You" on Instagram.

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