Canada’s ban on Irish rap group Kneecap over alleged ties to Hamas and Hezbollah raises serious concerns about censorship, free speech, and the silencing of artists speaking out against Israel’s war in Gaza.
Category Archives: News
FTN’s July 26 Showcase Will Amplify Toronto’s Underground Music Scene — Not Just The Numbers
On July 26, Toronto’s music scene will shine again. It will be lit by the unapologetically raw and artist-first energy of FuckTheNumbers (FTN). FTN’s upcoming live showcase is designed to uplift creators who care more about craft than clout. It will serve as both a launchpad and a community anchor for underground talent. Their approachContinue reading “FTN’s July 26 Showcase Will Amplify Toronto’s Underground Music Scene — Not Just The Numbers”
AI Versus The Music Industry: The Anthropic AI Copyright Case & Revolutionizing the Future of Music Production
In a historic case, US District Court Judge William Alsup recently made a decision. This case has implications for the future of creative economies. Anthropic’s use of copyrighted books to train an artificial intelligence may be considered fair use. However, this is only applicable in very narrowly defined situations. The judge reaffirmed a key pointContinue reading “AI Versus The Music Industry: The Anthropic AI Copyright Case & Revolutionizing the Future of Music Production”
SOCAN vs. Quebec’s Summer Giant: Why FEQ’s Royalty Refusal Can’t Go Unchallenged
The Heart of the Conflict: Refusal of RoyaltyThe Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) is Canada’s best summer music festival. The latest edition features superstar performers like Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan, Shania Twain, Def Leppard, Slayer, and Benson Boone. The FEQ attracts over a million fans during its multi-day event. This event kicks Quebec City’s economyContinue reading “SOCAN vs. Quebec’s Summer Giant: Why FEQ’s Royalty Refusal Can’t Go Unchallenged”
Behind the Kiss Cam: Executive Affair Riles Interest Following Coldplay Concert Clip
We live in an era when private moments are bound to become public spectacles. There was a recent viral episode of a Kiss Cam at a Coldplay concert. It has caused far more than eye-rolling amusement. Instead, it has sparked an ongoing corporate scandal involving two high-ranking executives. On the show, the New York PostContinue reading “Behind the Kiss Cam: Executive Affair Riles Interest Following Coldplay Concert Clip”
SiriusXM’s High-Stakes Move to Ad-Supported Sound: Growth Play or Brand Risk?
SiriusXM, a commercially-free refuge for on-car radio listeners for decades, is fundamentally changing. Per CNBC, the company is launching a streaming subscription supported by ads. This is an effort to attract more listeners. They aim to compete against a market dominated by Spotify, YouTube, and TikTok-driven audio listening. This change represents a strategic break withContinue reading “SiriusXM’s High-Stakes Move to Ad-Supported Sound: Growth Play or Brand Risk?”
The Risks of Universal Music’s Downtown Purchase
Universal Music Group’s upcoming $775 million purchase of Downtown Music Holdings is more than just a news headline. It’s a possible tipping point for the music business as a whole. Let me explain that. This isn’t a shift that will occur for the benefit of the music world. Behind the veil of corporate cooperation, there are more nefarious issues. It is stealthy consolidation of the very basis of independent music on the planet. Artists, labels, and platforms are constructed on open, neutral foundations. For them, this structure will have chilling consequences. Downtown is not a typical label; it’s a multi- faceted service engine propelling much of global independent terrain. Downtown supports many hundreds of thousands of creators. They do notContinue reading “The Risks of Universal Music’s Downtown Purchase”
The Spotify Payout Boom Isn’t All That: Why the Royalty System Still Needs Reform
Artists face unique challenges in the current music landscape. Streaming services dominate music consumption. While growth numbers soar, the reality of earning paltry royalties remains harsh. A recent article in CBC breaks down Spotify’s self-reported success. In 2024, Canadian artists earned nearly $460 million in royalties on the platform. A whopping 92% of that amountContinue reading “The Spotify Payout Boom Isn’t All That: Why the Royalty System Still Needs Reform”
Uncovering the Best of the Underground: Toronto Honours Awards To Be Presented Tomorrow
This year has been a star-studded one for the Toronto underground scene. As of late, we’ve had many prominent local artists grace our stages and even historic events taking place. With QuotedTO’s back to back events at Lee’s Palace this past April and “No Status” presented by Urbain Media Productions, Wintr Skyes and Calvin MoonContinue reading “Uncovering the Best of the Underground: Toronto Honours Awards To Be Presented Tomorrow”
Kanye West Rumored To be Releasing Merch Inspired By You Guessed-It, Nazi Symbolism
Multi-Platinum rapper Kanye West has recently come under fire for statements he made on the Alex Jones show InfoWars praising Adolf Hitler. This has lead to a rumour that the artist has now decided to monetize this controversy, with a photo of alleged merchandise promoting his planned 2024 run for American President closely resembling naziContinue reading “Kanye West Rumored To be Releasing Merch Inspired By You Guessed-It, Nazi Symbolism”
Sonus Magazine 