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Anna Lee
Coldplay at Toronto's Rogers Stadium on July 8, 2025.
FYI
Music Biz Headlines: Coldplay Walk Back Rogers Stadium Comments, Matthew Good Cancel U.S. Tour Dates Due to Trump
Other stories making in the news this week: Scooter Braun on Justin Bieber's Swag, Quebec legend Serge Fiori is remembered, more on Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke's indictment.
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After a long absence, Justin Bieber returns to the spotlight , via the surprise release of his seventh album. A prominent lobby group is aiming to block Bob Vylan and Kneecap from playing Canada over Israel comments. Russ caused controversy over stopping his show at Toronto's Budweiser Stage. Plus, stories about OVG and Universal Music Group are making music industry headlines internationally.
Read about those stories and more in this week's roundup of music biz headlines.
Canadian Music Biz Headlines
Scooter Braun Shares His Opinion on Justin Bieber’s ‘Swag’
Bieber's former manager weighed in on the surprise new album, terming it the pop star’s most genuine work to date. – Ashley
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Musician Matthew Good Cancels Upcoming U.S. Tour Dates Due to Trump Administration
“Every week that goes by, I have a deeper disdain for what’s going on there politically,” he said in a Facebook post. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Negative Stories About Rogers Stadium are ‘Branding Poison’ for the Sponsor, Marketers Say
As a marketing expert, Markus Giesler was aghast after hearing Coldplay frontman Chris Martin blast Toronto’s brand new Rogers Stadium onstage. – Nicole Thompson, Canadian Press
Coldplay’s Chris Martin Says He 'Never Crticized' Rogers Stadium at Third Toronto Show
‘I have never criticized this stadium," he stated. The lead singer made previous comments about the new venue’s location, calling it a “weird stadium in the middle of nowhere." – Toronto Star
Immigration Minister Lina Diab says that, due to privacy legislation, the government is unable to comment on whether the British or Irish act will be barred from performing. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Russ Addresses Onstage Incident at Toronto Concert: 'I Refuse to Be Gaslit'
The Atlanta rapper called out someone trying to get his attention from the crowd at Budweiser Stage on Saturday night. Now, he's facing backlash from some Indigenous fans for refusing a gift of a beaded medallion. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
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Quebec Bids Farewell to Singer Serge Fiori During National Funeral in Montreal
Thousands of people gathered at Montreal’s Place des Arts on Tuesday for the national funeral of legendary singer-songwriter Serge Fiori. – Canadian Press
Montreal-based progressive folk-rockers Harmonium were superstars in Quebec in the second half of the 1970s and a rare band from the province to achieve recognition in the U.S. chief songwriter and lead singer Serge Fiori refused to re-record their songs in English.– Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Shania Twain Makes History With ‘Highest-Grossing’ Show in Calgary Stampede History
The iconic Canadian singer performed to a sold-out crowd during the annual country event and also served as the marshal for the opening parade. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Paul McCartney Will Play the Opening Show at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum
The 2025 run of the British icon’s Got Back tour includes two Canadian stops in Hamilton and Montreal. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
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Vive la Hamilton: New Era for The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
Rock the Park Went Longer and Younger and it Paid Off With 40,000 Fans
Five nights, 24 musical acts, 40,000 music fans and hours of entertainment. Cleanup is underway at Harris Park after the 21st annual Rock the Park in London, Ontario, concluded Saturday night. – Brent Lale, CTV
What to Pack For a Summer Concert
A practical outfit, following venue bag policies and being prepared for weather is essential. – Cassie Gill, Edmonton Journal
International Music Biz Headlines
European Commission Will Investigate UMG’s Plan to Buy Downtown: Report
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The proposed deal, under preliminary review, will be subjected to a months-long investigation by Europe's competition regulator, according to Reuters. – Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, Billboard
Alex Warren Responds to Drake’s Diss After Beating Him for Hot 100 No. 1
The singer's "Ordinary" blocked the rapper's "What Did I Miss?" from debuting in the top spot. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard
Tim Leiweke Indictment: How the ASM/Legends Merger Led to Charges Against the OVG CEO
The case against the executive grew out of emails the Department of Justice uncovered during its 10-month regulatory review of the merger. – Dave Brooks, Billboard
ARIA Chart Positions Project a 2025 Australian Artist Chart Disgrace
ARIA’s first six months of published music charts are projecting that Australian artist chart figures for 2025 will be a disaster. All that recent fluff about changing the chart formula looks like just ‘deck chairs being rearranged on the Titanic’ based on how Australian artists have performed on the ARIA chart so far in 2025. – Noise11
Singer Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to Two Further Charges over London Nightclub Assault Case
Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown on Friday pleaded not guilty to two further charges related to the serious beating of a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub in 2023. – Associated Press
Jeff Lynne Cancels Final Live Show Over Health Concerns
Electric Light Orchestra frontman withdraws from BST Hyde Park festival owing to a ‘systemic infection.’ – Harry Taylor, The Guardian
The international superstars put their global sounds on display as Chelsea took home the trophy with a dominant 3-0 win over PSG. – Michael Saponara, Billboard
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