The 17th Annual COMMFFEST Film & Arts Festival Confirmed For Sept 16-18 at St. Lawrence Centre

Fri Sep 16 2022
The 17th Annual COMMFFEST Film & Arts Festival Confirmed For Sept 16-18 at St. Lawrence Centre

An evening of music celebrating Canada's shared history with the US titled "A Tribute to Blues and Jazz" starring Jay Douglas and Kollage featuring Alexis Baro.

Singer Jay Douglas’ untold musical history is played out on stage with selections from his ground-breaking new album “Confession.”  The album was inspired by his love for Blues and Rhythm & Blues then a new music in post WWII America that was coming out of Memphis and New Orleans. All this music had a big impact on Jay as a young artist growing up in Jamaica and that influence would eventually travel with him to Canada. Jay has been awarded NOW Magazine’s Best R&B Act, the Annual Toronto Reggae Awards’ Male Reggae Vocalist of the Year, and the BBPA Harry Jerome Awards’ G98.7 Entertainment Award.

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils Mark their 50th Anniversary with New Time Life Release

Fri Sep 16, 2022

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils continue their yearlong 50th anniversary celebration with a new partnership with Time Life. The new deal kicks off today with the digital reissue of two albums, “Off the Beaten Path” and “Heaven 20/20,” which includes an updated version of their signature song, “If You Wanna Get to Heaven.” Fans can now listen to both albums on all major streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music. The band will reissue additional albums via Time Life over the next few months.

The Digital Jester

Fri Sep 02 2022
Peter Åstedt

The new artist will be a stripper playing quirky songs? I’m following the different channels where artists are discovered, right now it’s mainly Tiktok. The trend now is that all the creators online are mainly forced to get their income from patrons in different forms and ways.

I was scrolling through my Tiktok and all the time it was a very beautiful model-like woman doing different videos. In several cases, they even did movies where they actually complained that to get followers and likes you had to show more skin, which they did in many creative ways.  Guess with this new trend a brilliant artist like Shane MacGowan doesn’t stand a chance.

As much as I Iike the new digital trend where the artists can use tools to get closer to their audience it is nagging me that are we just creating the digital version of a jester or even worse a digital beggar.

“Click Right Here” For The Latest Album From Ori Dagan

Fri Sep 02 2022
Ori Dagan

Toronto, ON-based Jazz impresario, Ori Dagan, invites you to Click Right Here on a brand new album of jazz tracks that’ll leave you swinging, sashaying and singing along.

Pairing with Simone Denny for the completely recreated “Video Killed The Radio Star” (originally recorded by the Buggles), Dagan is slipping a quarter into a nostalgic jukebox with this reimagined classic. With Click Right Here, Dagan slips into his songwriting shoes to provide an album stacked with originals.

Check out “Video Killed the Radio Star” on YouTube here:

Canada’s First Lady of the Guitar Liona Boyd Celebrates the Romance and Rhythm of Latin Music with L.O.V.E. Featuring New Single “Gracias”

Fri Sep 02 2022
  Canada’s First Lady of the Guitar Liona Boyd Celebrates the Romance and Rhythm of Latin Music with L.O.V.E. Featuring New Single “Gracias”

With a storied, 45-year-plus career filled with success and accolades to reflect on, Canada’s “First Lady of the Guitar” Liona Boyd has certainly earned that title and the international love she and her music have shown. There’s no resting on laurels going on here, just a lot of gratitude, love and new music to share with the world. Liona Boyd’s 29th album, L.O.V.E. has arrived, along with the new single “Gracias” – check it out on YouTube here:

When our global pandemic slowed the world down to an isolated crawl, the multi-honoured guitarist, composer, vocalist, and author was all about the forward momentum of creating new music.

“I was writing and recording extensively over the last three to four years,” the five-time JUNO winner recently told Canadian Musician.

Bara Jonson and Free is declaring that the Sky is The Limit

Fri Sep 02, 2022

They call their music Crockpop (Country/Rock/Pop).

After just having released their single ‘Bus Stop (waiting for a train)’ this dynamic duo is at it again. A new uplifting song about moving forward, never to let anyone else put you down or deter you from what you want to achieve.

With the stubbornness of a fool, with the synergy of these two and the belief that anything is possible, they now invite you to board their Crockpop train where Sky Is The Limit. This is also their title track for the upcoming album to be released this fall.

Check out Sky is the Limit on YouTube here:

Trend-Setting Celtic Punks The Mahones Release New Album October 7 – “Jameson Street"

Fri Aug 19 2022
Trend-Setting Celtic Punks The Mahones Release New Album October 7 – “Jameson Street:

Jameson Street - set for worldwide release on October 7, 2022 via True North Records, is like a guided tour down a cobblestone road in Dublin delivering a record packed with “positivity and good vibes”.

Jameson Street is meant to make you feel like you’re having a night out,” frontman Finny McConnell explains. “No politics, no religion, just good times, and everybody having fun. Unity is the underlying message.”

Listen and pre-order album here: truenorthrecords.com/themahones/

For this fun-loving group of musicians, there are few things better than loving, drinking, fighting, and a splash of hope to get them through the day. It is no surprise that these are the elements fueling the songs on Jameson Street - with shanties harking on good times and comradery – and a little bit of tin whistle and fiddle for good measure. The song “Holloway Jack” is a perfect example of what it means to be in the Mahones. The song features lyrics by the late Paddy Cuncanon, a long-time friend of the band, sending their friend off with a pint and good cheer.

Peter Foldy Releases New Summer Single. Get Ready To Have Some “FUN, FUN, FUN”

Fri Aug 19 2022
Peter Foldy

FUN FUN FUNKnown for his catchy pop melodies, Canadian singer/songwriter, Peter Foldy has enjoyed musical success on major labels such as Capitol/EMI Canada as well as Polydor and RCA in the US.

After a successful 10 year run in the music business which included two Juno Award nominations, Foldy found himself in Los Angeles where he soon began writing and eventually directing films, working with stars such as Paul Rudd, Beverly D’Angelo and Eugene Levy. But music is a tough mistress to leave behind. Realizing that there was still a fan base out there who were requesting his songs on Canadian radio, Foldy returned to the studio and recorded a ten track CD entitled Nine Lives. Released in 2015, it received favorable reviews from a number of outlets, including The Toronto Star.  

Are Online Markets Really Worth It?

Fri Aug 19 2022
Peter Åstedt

During COVID, many chose to go over to online showcases and Zoom meeting points. It was interesting to make that experiment. We had heard that online will be the future. Now afterward we are getting the answer. And it’s so clear. No online is not even close to doing what a real event is doing.

These are the usual comments on why you should do it online. The cost to be at an event is hundreds of dollars for registration and with the trend of inflation flights and hotels will cost. Expenses besides the conference itself such as meals and other things.

African Women Acting Celebrate the Best of African Music, Crafts, Food & More with 2nd Annual AWA Niagara Falls Festival September 3 & 4

Fri Aug 19 2022
AWA Niagara Falls Festival

Confirmed Artists: Lorraine Klassen, Amadou Kienou, J Nichole Noel, Roula Said, Nikki Clarke, Jean Assamoa, Waleed Adulhadim, Jabulie Diadla, Sammy Jackson, Rick Rose, JBWAI, Exclusive Connection, DJ Moussa Kante, and Isoken Ibie

AWA Niagara Falls Festival
Saturday, September 3rd & Sunday, September 4th
2:00pm - 10:00pm EST
Oakes Garden Theatre
5851 River Road, Niagara Falls

The African Women Acting organization is set to celebrate the best of African music, crafts, vendors, and more with the return of their annual AWA Niagara Falls Festival this September 3rd & 4th.

The two-day Festival features an action-packed schedule of highly-curated and award-winning music, dance, and spoken word artists alongside incredible arts and crafts exhibitions, interactive workshops, storytelling, and delicious authentic African, Caribbean, and Canadian food vendors — all under the sky at the beautiful Oakes Garden Theatre.

Cashbox Then and Now – Celebrating 80 years In the Music Business

Fri Aug 19, 2022

Cashbox, also known as Cash Box, debuted as a music industry trade magazine originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Bill Gersh created Cashbox in 1942, then George Albert came along in the late 1950's and took over.Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and now continues as Cashbox Magazine in the US as a print magazine, and here in Canada as Cashbox Canada.

Sometimes You Wonder What You Are Doing It For

Fri Aug 12 2022
Peter Åstedt

Sometimes you wonder what you are doing it for. Why are you working in the music industry? This is just a regular day. I just took a day in the week and just described what comes around in a normal workday for me.

I got into the office at 8 am. Our distribution department contacted me about a client that they having a problem with. All the things that you have to upload to our distribution are very clear on the site. To make it easy, we need a picture 3000 x 3000-pixel jpg a Wave file of the song, info around writers, and who plays what on the track. This client had gone around it and ordered a PR package and sent the info randomly through there so the system couldn’t verify that it was correct.

Juno-Award Nominees GIRL POW-R SAY ‘Let’ Go Dancing’ Where You Are

Fri Aug 12 2022
GIRL POW-R

The teenage powerhouse of Girl Pow-R is back with their club floor anthem, “Let’s Go Dancing” – check it out on YouTube here:

The JUNO-nominated collective of teenage songstresses features Emma (Hamilton), Cindy (Richmond Hill), and Carina (Markham). “Let’s Go Dancing” is the fourth single off their sophomore album. Produced by Jovan Jovanov and Ivan Jovanov IWAYO, the single combines elements of Dance, Alt Pop, and ElectroPop. The message is “a reminder to listeners and fans that they can dance their cares away and love the other people they are with, and be totally in the moment, and free!”

Barbara Frum, The Tragically Hip and Director X Join The List of 2022 Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductees

Fri Aug 12 2022
Barbara Frum, The Tragically Hip and Director X Join The List of  2022 Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductees

Canada’s Walk of Fame adds three new Inductees to the distinguished ranks, each trailblazers in their respective fields who have profoundly impacted their careers. Today’s announcement includes broadcasting legend BARBARA FRUM, iconic rock band and humanitarians THE TRAGICALLY HIP, and prolific music video mastermind, DIRECTOR X.

Mastering the Music Business One of Europe’s Most Important Festival Returns September 6-8, 2022

Fri Aug 12, 2022

6 to 8 of September is Mastering the Music Business (MMB) will once again taking place in Bucharest, Romania. This is the 7th edition of the festival; last year MMB was one of the first to manage to have their festival live post-COVID, albeit a bit smaller and with more digital content.  It was very successful, so the expectations are high this year when they return in full force.

MMB is getting more and more important among the showcase festivals in Europe. Still midsize but their network has been steadily growing, so the speakers are now really top quality.

For a full list of Speakers and Experts visit:
masteringthemusicbusiness.ro/speakers

Also, the festival has set a light on the Romanian music scene and now Romanian artists are picking up speed getting their music outside Romania. In addition, talent has been invited from various parts of the globe.

Your Fantasies Are Revealing You As An Amateur

Fri Aug 05 2022
Peter Åstedt

When you work in the music industry, you can easily spot the amateurs since it’s changing so much so quickly. If you haven’t been in the new world recently you are going to be exposed pretty fast. In my early days, I did several of these mistakes. The main error is that if you want to appear to be professional you need to tell it in a certain way.

I was managing my first band. I played myself in the band back in those days. We had rehearsed for half a year and had saved up money to get into the local studio for a weekend. When we thought we were ready to book the studio the drummer told me that we needed to line the instruments in the recording. What he meant was that we would record track by track, not all instruments at the same time as a live recording which was kind of standard back in these days to save time in the studio.

Welcome to Norrköping Music Day and Lilla By Festivalen

Fri Aug 05, 2022

Two new festivals are happening in Sweden during one weekend in August. Or they are both on their second year but are both creations from the pandemic and COVID.

25 of August is Norrköping Music Day in Norrköping, Sweden. It was invented during Covid last year and is a smaller version of Future Echoes that takes place in February 2023.  Norrköping Music Day was last year two days and had 20 acts on two stages. This year it’s one day with 4 acts and 10 speakers on 4 panels. The purpose of Norrköping Music Day which is a free event is to teach and inform how a showcase festival works. Here you can easy start a network and learn what is important to do on a showcase festival. Talent Line-up TBD.

The Most Important Life Hack For An Artist (And For Professionals)

Fri Jul 29 2022
Peter Åstedt

I have just gone through new singles for the radio station. It’s kind of strange to see how many people don’t really know what is important. Just for fun, I looked back on all the singles we added over the past six months. And these are singles from big PR agencies, Record Labels, and down to the smallest do-it-yourself artist. I checked a hundred songs. Out of that hundred, only eleven had the right metadata.

Yes, metadata is the most important thing you have when you give out music. When it comes to do-it-yourself self-artists I can understand it’s maybe not that easy, but for a PR firm or a record label, this is basic knowledge. The funny part is those eleven actually eight of them were from do-it-yourself -artists.

This problem is definitely not an amateur problem this is a big problem in the whole industry. I just want to help out so I will describe what the metadata I’m talking about and how you actually get it done.

Gordie “Crazylegs” MacKeeman Has the Whole Family Dancing “All Around The Kitchen” on New Single

Fri Jul 29 2022
Gordie MacKeeman Photo Credit Brad McCloskey

Dancing around the kitchen, especially if it’s a crazy chicken dance, can be exactly what the doctor ordered after a hard day, or just for a much-needed break. And “All Around The Kitchen,” the instructive new single – available now – from award-winning Charlottetown, PEI-based family-folk artist Gordie “Crazylegs” MacKeeman, is all that and more!

Check it out on YouTube here:

A stress-shedding little ditty with toe-tapping fiddle and an infectious rhythm, “All Around The Kitchen” is fun for the whole family with prompts for the next dance move: “Put your hands on your hips/ Let your right foot slip.” This is then followed by the pretzel-like “Stop right still/ Put your hand on your head/ Your other hand on your toe.” Of course, with the song’s looping chorus of “Cockadoodle doodle doo,” full-on chicken improvisation is strongly encouraged, if not required.

16-Time GRAMMY®-Winning Hitmaker David Foster to be Inducted to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in September

Fri Jul 29 2022
David Foster

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame is pleased to announce one of the most successful songwriters of all-time David Foster as its newest 2022 Inductee.  The BC-born music veteran has written chart-topping international hits and culture-defining soundtracks for blockbuster films like The Bodyguard, Urban Cowboy, and St. Elmo’s Fire, as well as classic holiday albums for Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Celine Dion to name a few.