Also this week: Charlotte Cardin wins a prestigious French music award, Britney Spears sells her catalogue and terrorism charges are laid in a plot against Taylor Swift.
A Canadian institution is closing its doors, as Steve's Music shuts its Queeen West Toronto location after decades. Meanwhile, music is intersecting with global politics and the Olympics, simultaneously.
Read these stories and more in this week's roundup of music biz headlines of the week from Canada and beyond.
The store that lured in rock stars, hobbyists and everything in between is closing its doors soon, prompting a flood of memories for music lovers. – David Friend, Toronto Star
The Quebec-born, Paris-based singer won female artist of the year at the 2026 Victoires de la Musique, the first Quebecer to win the award since 2003. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Amber Glenn used CLANN’s “The Return” during a free skate period, but the Montreal native claimed it was not cleared for use. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
The music Nathan Micay writes for Industry acts as the show’s nervous system. “My job is to listen. Then I try to turn all that noise into something worthwhile." – Noel Ransome, Globe & Mail
Omar Niaz Muhammad, who is also known as a rapper as lil OT, was shot in the parking lot outside a Kelsey’s restaurant at Burlington Centre. – Hamilton Spectator
The beloved Canadian singer-songwriter performed five songs from her discography, including “Building A Mystery,” “Reminds Me” and “Angel.” – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
The Scarborough native scores his 31st entry with “Party Monster,” while Bieber’s collaboration with Chance the Rapper, “Confident,” arrives at the club. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
This revolution will be heard in concert halls. On Saturday, Alexander Shelley paid his final visit to Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall as the music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra. – Brad Wheeler, Globe & Mail
HCM chatted with singer and guitarist Ian Thornley about the making of the band’s eighth studio album The Rest of the Story, and embarking on a tour with LIVE and Econoline Crush. It hits Hamilton’s TD Coliseum on March. – Dylan Hudecki, Hamilton City Magazine
The collection, released on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18) is accompanied by the reboot of U2's 'Propaganda' 'Zine, as well as a short doc for song featuring Ed Sheeran. – Gil Kaufman, Billboard
Austrian public prosecutors filed terrorism-related charges Monday against a 21-year-old defendant who they say planned to carry out an attack on one of superstar singer Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna in August 2024. – Associated Press
Primary Wave will now take over Spears’ ownership share of her hit songs, including “… Baby One More Time,” “Oops! … I Did It Again,” and “Lucky,” for a reported $200 million figure. – Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone
The Smashing Pumpkins will mark 35 years of their debut album Gish with new vinyl editions, revisiting the record that introduced The Smashing Pumpkins as a formidable force in alternative rock. – Noise11
My group, Swim Deep, plays to crowds of hundreds across the UK – but in China, we play to tens of thousands. And we’re not the only ones. – James Balmont, The Guardian
