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1 week ago | 
ca.billboard.com | Kerry Doole
Jill Sobule, the acclaimed U.S. folk-pop singer and human rights activist, died in a house fire on May 1. She was 66 years old. A Billboard obituary notes that "The groundbreaking artist, who identified as bisexual, began her career with her 1990 debut album Things Here Are Different.
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1 week ago | 
billboard.com | Richard Trapunski |Kerry Doole |Rosie Long Decter
Billboard Canada is getting ready to spotlight some of the most vital players in the music industry: music managers. Managers to Watch — Billboard’s spotlight on the teams behind music’s biggest breakout artists — will expand to Canada for the first time at this year’s NXNE festival. A special invite-only Managers to Watch reception will take place on June 11, directly before Billboard Canada Power Players.
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2 weeks ago | 
ca.billboard.com | Kerry Doole
Mark Kieswetter, an in-demand Toronto jazz pianist, arranger, music director and composer, died on April 21, at age 71, after a long battle with stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer. The U.S.-born Kieswetter earned a degree in classical piano from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music before discovering his affinity for jazz and relocating to Toledo. A JAZZ.FM obituary reported that "he left a lasting impact on the jazz scene in Toledo before immigrating to Canada in 2004.
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2 weeks ago | 
billboard.com | Rosie Long Decter |Kerry Doole
Music Canada has applied to intervene in a key Canadian music policy battle. The organization, which advocates for the major labels in Canada, is seeking leave to intervene in the legal challenge over the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC’s) 2024 decision that major streaming services must pay into Canadian content funds as part of the implementation of the Online Streaming Act.
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2 weeks ago | 
ca.billboard.com | Kerry Doole
LU KALA continues her rise with a new EP this week. No Tears On This Ride is the keenly anticipated new offering from the Congolese-Canadian pop dynamo. The big-voiced vocalist was honoured with the Rising Star award at last year's Billboard Canada Women in Music, and performances at the 2024 SOCAN Awards and opening for Cyndi Lauper further boosted her profile.
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3 weeks ago | 
ca.billboard.com | Kerry Doole
There's a new music company bridging Canada and Africa. Hi-Way 89 Entertainment is a new Canadian music company headquartered between Toronto and Calgary. It is founded by two Nigerian-Canadian music executives, Ikenna Nwagboso and Camillo Doregos, both with deep experience of breaking African artists on the international stage. The new company will focus on providing artist development and label services, concentrating on artists from both Canada and Africa.
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3 weeks ago | 
billboard.com | Rosie Long Decter |Kerry Doole
Canadian musicians and music organizations are speaking out ahead of the federal election on April 28. Indie folk artist The Weather Station took to Instagram on April 15 to make an impassioned plea to Canadians not to check out of this election. She had just returned from a tour in the U.S., supporting her new album Humanhood, and told followers that now is the time to prevent Canada from following in America’s footsteps.
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4 weeks ago | 
ca.billboard.com | Rosie Long Decter |Kerry Doole
Canadian musicians and music organizations are speaking out ahead of the federal election on April 28. Indie folk artist The Weather Station took to Instagram on April 15 to make an impassioned plea to Canadians not to check out of this election. She had just returned from a tour in the U.S., supporting her new album Humanhood, and told followers that now is the time to prevent Canada from following in America's footsteps.
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1 month ago | 
ca.billboard.com | Rosie Long Decter |Kerry Doole
The Beaches threw a party with G Flip at their Coachella debut. The Toronto quartet brought out the rising Australian star for a performance of their new single, "Last Girls At The Party." G Flip helped write and produce the track, and brought some high energy to the live version at Coachella on Sunday (April 13) in the Gobi tent. The single — which also debuts on this week's Billboard Canada Modern Rock airplay chart at No. 35 — is a celebration of rowdy late nights.
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1 month ago | 
ca.billboard.com | Kerry Doole |Billboard Canada FYI
George Olliver, a Toronto soul singer and keyboardist best known for his work in the Mandala and Gangbuster, died on April 6, after a stroke, at age 79. Born and raised in Toronto, Olliver sang in an Anglican church choir and studied classical piano. As a Globe & Mail obituary by Nicholas Jennings noted, "He then fell for the rock ‘n’ roll sound of Bill Haley & His Comets.
