TALENT
After 30 years as Toronto’s in-demand guitarist and producer, veteran David Baxter is finally taking his career in hand and launching his first solo CD. Day & Age is a a collection of a dozen country-tinged songs of love and loss. The alum was recorded with some of Toronto’s best and best-known acoustic musicians: Justin Rutledge (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Treasa Levasseur (accordion, piano, vocals) and Brian Kobayakawa (bass), all of whom will play with him at his launch party at the Dakota Tavern on Thur. Jan. 22.
Also on the show is Paul Reddick, the blues-based harp player and singer who’s just returned from a European tour – for which Baxter was his supporting guitarist.
Baxter has been a professional player since 1975, when he earned his first break as a member of the legendary Toronto band David Wilcox & the Teddy Bears. In the late ’70s he was a member of the seminal Toronto punk new wave band The Sharks, two members of which went on to found Blue Rodeo. In the ’80s, he shared considerable success (and a Juno Award) with his then-wife Sherry Kean and in 1990 Baxter began a collaboration with country singer Lori Yates, with whom he still plays; he also produced her latest album, Minerva.
As a touring player, he’s constantly on the road with Rutledge, Yates and Levasseur, and recently returned from a European tour as a duo with Paul Reddick. Closer to home in Toronto, his guitar is heard every week on the soundtrack to the CTV series, Degrassi: The Next Generation, and he’s played on dozens of recording sessions as a sideman.
The album is all-acoustic, which may surprise some who are familiar with Baxter’s signature electric guitar style. “It’s how I play and sing at home,†he says. “ “I set out to make a Willie Nelson record, basically, but I had to make do with the singer I had, It wasn’t easy to finally step up to the microphone as a singer, but these players are all my friends. It was a very supportive environment for a ‘new’ singer.â€
Russ (Graham) Dwarf plans to maximize the momentum his Killer Dwarfs achieved in ’08 with the release of Sacha Gervasi LA Film Festival award-winning documentary, ‘Anvil! The Story of Anvil’. Refitting the outfit and renaiming the band as Russ Dwarf & the Mongols, Graham Dwarf is also now fronting Canadian classic rock band Moxy, once dubbed as Canada’s Led Zeppelin. Add to this, a third band, described as a “supergroup” by its founder. The line-up is comprised of members of Moxy (Earl Johnson), Lee Aaron (Morgan Evans) and Santers (Rick Lazaroff). The band is heading into the studio with plans to tour this year.
Darius Rucker played an acoustic showcase Tuesday, January 6 at the Horseshoe in Toronto. If I hadn’t been so behind in handling my emails I would have known this before and not after the showcase…Black Diamond Bay which features Patrick Krief and other former members of The Dears has begun the remix on their new album. David Shiffman who has worked with Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Frank Black and others is doing the mix. The album is due to be released February 24…Said the Whale announced the departure of bass player Jeff LaForge and the arrival of new bass player Peter Carruthers on their blog…Jeff Beck has been added to the Montreal Jazz Festival line-up…
HipHop.com’s Top of the Lot for 2008
Radio Man: Chris Evans Z103.5FM
Radio Woman: Jeni McKenzie Flow 93.5FM
Female Artist: Empire Isis
Male Artist: JD Era
Breakthru Rookie Artist: The Kid Famous
YouTube Star: LindsayLovee1234
Music Reporter: Rudy Blair (680 News, Toronto)
Music Group: Point Blank
Music Television Show: (MOD) Much On Demand
Music Publicist/Media Relations: Jeniffer Correlli (Much Music)
Music Club: Circa
Music Videos: The Real by Jeff Rosenthal on ER Films
Music Magazine: Urbanology
East Coast Countdown 2008 Top 10
10. MIR – OK2GO
9. Mike Trask and MudHill – Boots for Flying
8. Jon McKiel — The Nature of Things
7. Matt Mays and El Torpedo – Terminal Romance
6. Gordie Sampson – For The Few and Far Between
5.  Christina Martin – Two Hearts
4.  Tom Fun Orchestra – You Will Land With A Thud
3.  Old Man Luedecke – Proof of Love
2.  Steven Bowers – Homing
1.  Hey Rosetta!! – Into Your Lungs
BUSINESS
The Montreal International Jazz Festival has lost its largest corporate sponsor, General Motors of Canada. The car company will continue its support of the event for the 30th anniversary edition this July, but has declined to renew its five-year sponsorship.
The Train Station Recording Studio in Windsor Junction NS. – located between Lr. Sackville and Fall River – is now open for business. The facility features a performance area, control room and guitar amp room. Introductory rates are $25/hr or $150/day.Full project package rates, call 902 860-0426.
Awesome Productions reports a bull market on the charts this past year. Awesome’s Nanci Malek spun the numbers and reports the feisty indie label scored a 9 share at top 40 radio. Great promotion, and obviously awesome A&R ears. Attributes of success on the roster: Cascada–top ten #9 on the US R&R Pop Chart , Jessica LaLonde ,Puerto Plata ,Revolucion , September and Sound Bluntz–debuting on European Billboard and Pop Charts, Awesome Music is distributed by EMI Music in Canada and claimed the rarified gold and platinum single acheivements this year with September and Cascada. The first release of 2008 will be Jessica Lalonde’s Spinning Daydreams.
Gartner Research has issued a report on the music business and in it is the suggestion that it is time the trade decommissions the CD by year end and shift its marketing focus to selling downloads exclusively. The problem is year-on-year SoundScan data clearly shows the trade continues to profit considerably from the sale of CDs in retail outlets. Digital track downloads are surging but album download sales remain puny.
After years of feuding, the music biz has won its fight with Apple‘s iTunes now falling in line with Amazon‘s lead in offering tiered download pricing, and chucking Apple’s restrictive DRM. It’s doubtful the shift will affect the market share of either download retailer, but without the proprietary DRM, Apple has lost a significant advantage as consumers can download tracks and store them on competing players, making the iPod just another media player. Meantime, Netflix has partnered with LG Electronics to provide video content that can be streamed directly to HD TV sets, a move that will challenge the already challenged DVD rental business and mainstream TV networks. Yahoo, Facebook and MySpace now have widgets available that allows members to stream content direct to new model HD TVs. Further blurring the boundaries between computers and TV, the London Free Press is now streaming live video news reports from its website, challenging local TV news shows to re-think how, what and when they report on local political and social events. The newspaper will also likely be pitching to the same local TV advertisers with a rate card that is competitively priced or significantly lower.
Live Nation is taking a pass on producing another Pemberton festival this year. A major battle is looming between the California-based global concert company and NYC-based Ticketmaster Entertainment, with AEG Live unwillingly being dragged into skirmishes as the titans jostle over acts, venues, ticket pricing and sponsorship dollars. ’08 generated record ticket revenue, but overall the number of tickets sold was down and retained earnings have been slim. Short of an economic miracle, punters and white collar workers are going to be practicing fiscal restraint this year and this means fewer big ticket spends. Add in fewer and smaller sponsorship dollars and the forecast is enough to make a kamikaze pilot nervous. A number of festivals are countering an offensive by offering ticket lay-away plans.
After six years of discoveries and substantial legal filings, Yangaroo has received allowance on its proprietary patent application for its Digital Media Delivery System (DMDS). The allowance is the final step in the complex patent approval process in the US. A final and conclusive approval of the patent is expected in the next four to six weeks. Yangaroo already has patent approval in Canada.
After failing to tilt windmills, the RIAA is taking a new approach to litigating internet piracy by dumping gumshoe MediaSentry and contracting hi-tech DtecNet to sift through online file traffic and provide evidence of extreme pilfering. As well, having racked up budget testing legal bills to accomplish very little so far, the RIAA is now selling a variation on the UK three-strikes and you’re disconnected program to the ISPs but so far the internet providers have shown little interest in playing cops and robbers for the RIAA. That indifference is likely to change and fast, however, as Obama’s Justice team is sympathetic with the much maligned industry assoc. Fast forward and some well placed insiders suggest a content levy will be tacked on to ISP subscriptions within 18 months.
APPOINTMENTS & CHANGES
The Board of Directors of The Word On The Street Canada is pleased to announce the appointments of Alex Moorshead as Executive Director, The Word On The Street Canada to succeed Colleen O’Neill, and Cindy Goldrick as Festival Director.
Sony BMG Nashville is starting the new year with an offical name change to Sony Music Nashville. As such, the label group Web site can now be found at www.sonymusicnashville.com. E-mail addresses are changing to firstname.lastname@sonymusic.com, but old addresses will remain in effect during a transition period.
Lisa Ramsey-Perkins has joined Sony Music Nashville as Senior Director, A&R, Reporting to Renee Bell, Exec. VP, A&R.
Atlant rapper-producer Jermaine Dupri is out as president of Island Records Urban Music division, a unit he ran for almost two years. His departure puts into question the fate of Tag Records, the hip-hop label partnership between Island Def Jam and P&G’s Tag brand.
Music biz veteran Jeff Aldrich, who managed the A&R of film soundtracks among other duties during his eight years at Warner Bros., has been named senior VP, A&R, RCA Music Group, reporting to RCA/Jive CEO Barry Weiss in NYC.
Scott Sylvester has been named VP/Digital and Release Planning Operations for RCA/Jive. He will provide comprehensive project management and oversight for all RCA/Jive releases, lead repertoire and content system integration efforts and provide internal strategic direction for new product formats and initiatives out of the company’s NYC headquarter.
Matt Phillips is leaving his post as director of communications at the BPI on Jan. 23 to become head of commmunications, future media and digital at the BBC. The BPI is yet to say what it will do to replace Phillips.
Cyclone Records is proud to announce that Brad Trew has assumed management duties of Russ Graham (aka Russ Dwarf) for a number of different projects. Russ is best known for quirky stage antics as lead singer of the Killer Dwarfs.
Some big changes occurred at Corus AC station CFQR (Q92)/Montreal over the holiday, including the departure of Chris Kennedy as PD. “I completed my mission as change agent, evolving and setting up the station for PPM — which had very solid results in the target demos and overall,” he says. “New lineup, freshened playlist and imaging, snazzy new promotions, got a Station of the Year nomination — a station first — and increased charity work, raising more than $700,000 in new dollars this past year. I wish Q92 only the best in success … they’re an incredible group of people who really came through as a team. Time for the next project … and assessing the options!” Chris can be reached by phone at 514-826-9250 or kennedycs@yahoo.com.
Meantime, Leo Da Estrela has been promoted from MD to interim PD a Q92, and Neil Kushnir comes in as MD. Kushnir, a former CHOM staffer, was last the Canadian rep for Mediabase.
TV & RADIO
Bravo! Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. ET, “Molly Johnson at the Concert Hall” includes material from Johnson’s quaret of solo albums, including m her recently released Lucky collection of standards. Between sets, the Radio 2 host chats with host Erica Ehm about growing up in a vibrant, creative Toronto household and her relationship with theatre legend Ed Mirvish, who asked a young Johnson to appear in his shows, igniting a lifelong passion for the arts.
Bravo! sexes up string instruments with Bowfire live in concert airing Saturday, Feb. 7 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT and Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. / 5 p.m. PT
Bravo! launches a 13 week, Thursday 9 pm ET DocFest beginning Feb. 5. Check Bravo’s website for the full complement of offerings, but a few that we thought you might like to know about include:
“Metal: A Headbangers Journey” – Feb. 12, follows Canadian anthropologist and lifelong metal-head Sam Dunn as he examines the music, history, and sex of heavy metal. Metal uncovers the myths about heavy metal music, and features interviews with Rush, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Rage Against the Machine, and Twisted Sister.
“Glenn Gould Hereafter”- Feb. 19, explores the remarkable life of the gifted pianist using archival footage and interviews with Gould’s fans. Paris-based concert violinist, writer, and filmmaker Bruno Monsaingeon directs this illuminating tribute to the piano prodigy.
“The Last Mogul: Lew Wasserman” – Feb. 26. Few in Hollywood have climbed as high as Lew Wasserman, the “undisputed king of Hollywood.†Director Barry Avrich exposes the man behind the legend in an in-depth documentary chronicling the Tinseltown titan’s six-decade career.
“Arturo Toscanini: An Absolute Heart” – March 5. Based on tapes secretly recorded by Toscanini’s son, the world-famous conductor speaks his mind about the music, politics, and amorous exploits that made him one of the most fascinating and important artists of the 20th century. Produced in association with Bravo!
“Show Business: The Road to Broadway” – March 12. Filmmaker Dori Berinstein goes behind the curtain to capture the most controversial, passionate, and high-profile Broadway season in decades. A must-see for any arts lover, this documentary features the making of Avenue Q, Wicked, Taboo, and Caroline or Change. The doc looks at what it takes to make a massive hit or a spectacular flop.
“McLuhan’s Wake” – April 23. The medium is the message. This documentary blends animation, vintage footage, and computer effects to examine the life and philosophy of great scholar Marshall McLuhan.
“Tales Of the Rat Fink” – April 30. Ron Mann‘s inventive documentary profiles Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, the instrumental animator of the hot rod movement. Roth’s most famous character, Rat Fink, created as an assault on Mickey Mouse, became a symbol for the culture. The film features the voices of John Goodman, Jay Leno, and Matt Groening.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UK firm Consolidated Independent has launched a digital asset banking service that offers labels and distributors a repository for their digital assets. The move, in response to the turbulence in the physical music market and the growing importance of maintaining a master digital archive, will see CI’s Digital Archive Service offer labels and distributors security, reliability and flexibility in storing digitial catalogue assets and metadata so that it always remains under their independent control and ownership, Music Week reports. Fees for the service are set at £1.00/track/year which includes return of client assets on request.
The Recording Artists’ Coalition (RAC) announced today an alliance with The Recording Academy that will allow it to continue its mission of advocacy for recording artists as a program of The Recording Academy. RAC will intergrate with The Academy’s GRAMMYs on the Hill initiative, which advances the rights of music creators. The announcement was made jointly by Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow and RAC board member Irving Azoff. RAC was founded in 2000 by Don Henley and Sheryl Crow to address legislative issues that affect the recording artist community. On behalf of its membership of more than 150 recording artists, RAC has addressed issues such as artist contract reform, media consolidation and artist compensation
Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc., the world’s largest ticketing company, expects the recession to reduce prices for live entertainment in 2009, Chief Executive Officer Sean Moriarty tells Bloomberg. “You would expect there to be some adjustment of pricing for an economy where people have less money in their pocket,†Moriarty, 38, said in an interview. The slowdown comes as Ticketmaster begins to compete with Live Nation Inc., once its largest customer. Live Nation, which stages more than 16,000 concerts a year and has exclusive deals with Madonna and U2, has begun using its own ticket system. The promoter accounted for 17% of Ticketmaster’s sales last year.
BROADCASTING
National radio sales fell 1.2% in Q1, Sept.-Nov., according to information supplied by Canadian Broadcast Sales (CBS). The company represents over 60% of all private Canadian radio national revenues and provides the broadest single measure of national radio sales. The top five categories for share of total spend in Q1 were: retail 18.7%, automotive 12.7%, financial services & insurance 11.1%, government 7.4% and telecommunications 7%.
Astral Media converted Mix 96 (95.9 FM) to the Virgin Radio brand on Monday, Jan. 12, completing the transition of three Hot AC formatted stations across the country in Vancouver (formerly 95 Crave), and Toronto (formerly Mix 99) and a rock station in Ottawa (formerly The Bear). Re-branding the Ottawa rock station as a Virgin Radio rocker last week included adding an unlikely feature to the programming mix in the form of a 30 sec. jingle. Jingles are commonly used by Talk Radio and AC stations, but rock formats have largely ignored using music-based positioning tag emphasizers. Astral Media owns 82 radio stations
Sirius XM Radio has announced the pending release of an inter operable receiver capable of receiving both SIRIUS and XM signals. The new “Mirge” receiver, to be priced at A$249.99, will allow listeners to switch between Sirius and XM at a touch of a button. The receiver will also allow pausing, rewinding, and replaying up to 60 minutes of programming. A new Sirius Everything Plus XM Everything” package will cost $19.99 for all channels from both services.
Acoustic Research follows Sanyo with an internet radio console, but AR’s model allows listeners to time-shift programming, with a 10 hour stream-capture feature, has an AM/FM receiver, an alarm clock feature, and rings in at $135 at Future Shop. For an additional $100 the unit comes with an iPod dock. Meantime, Ford is going whole hog with hi-tech features that give car owners an ever widening range of interoperable internet features.The goodies bag includes internet radio and that pokes another big hole in satellite radio’s already wonky business model.
Critics have opined that CTV vastly overpaid for broadcast rights to the 2010 Winter Olympics, but even in the face of a soft advertising sales market the network isn’t blinking. In fact, partnering with Rogers, the two media colossuses have developed a brilliantly symmetrical multi-platform delivery model that offers advertisers an enticing a la carte menu to fit any budget. The on-air line-up sparkles with cred and knowledge as well.
The CRTC’s ability to render definitive decisions is severely tarnished after a cabinet order forced the regulator to rescind two newly granted English language licenses to Astral Media and Frank Torres in the Ottawa marketplace. The public regulator opens public hearings in Gatineau, Quebec, to review the availability and quality of broadcasting services offered to minority French-and English-language communities starting Tuesday, Jan. 13.
