50 years after its release, Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” was reimagined by Disturbed, and wow—what a legacy. Their haunting cover hit #1 on the Billboard charts, earned Paul Simon’s personal praise, and its music video has surpassed 1 BILLION views. Silence never sounded so powerfu
The Tragically Hip Honoured as First Recipients of Unison Fund’s Courage in Unison Award
The Unison Fund is proud to introduce the Courage in Unison Award, a prestigious new honour dedicated to recognizing individuals, groups, or organizations that inspire and drive positive change within the Canadian music community. This annual award celebrates courage, leadership, and unwavering commitment to fostering a sustainable, united, and thriving music industry through voluntary and benevolent efforts.
The Courage in Unison Award highlights those who lead by example, creating initiatives that benefit the broader community while fostering a sense of purpose and unity across Canada’s musical landscape.
The name of this award pays homage to The Tragically Hip’s iconic song “Courage (for Hugh MacLennan),” reflecting the profound spirit of authenticity, bravery, and purpose that the award embodies. Courage means staying true to oneself and speaking from the heart, and this award honours those who live and lead with such principles, inspiring others to do the same.
As an annual highlight of Unison’s beloved Holiday Schmoozefest, the Courage in Unison Award ensures that the values of compassion, courage, and community remain central to the Canadian music industry’s legacy.
“We are incredibly proud to introduce the Courage in Unison Award, a tribute to the individuals and organizations who lead with courage and compassion in our music community. This year, it’s an honour to present this award to The Tragically Hip, whose generosity and unwavering support for The Unison Fund have made a lasting impact. Their dedication to fostering a stronger, more united music industry is exactly what this award stands for. We hope the Courage in Unison Award inspires others to continue uplifting and empowering our Canadian music community.” – Amanda Power, Executive Director, The Unison Fund
This inaugural year, the Courage in Unison Award will be presented to The Tragically Hip, a band whose legacy of generosity and leadership perfectly exemplifies the award’s mission. Their unwavering support for The Unison Fund has positively impacted countless artists and music professionals, setting a benchmark for benevolent leadership within the industry.
The Tragically Hip’s tireless dedication serves as an inspiring reminder of the difference that courage and compassion can make in uniting and uplifting the music community.
“Musicians are the impetus, the reason that this business exists…managers, agents, promoters, and record companies exist for and because of the musicians. While musicians and their crew, generate content and a whole vast industry around themselves, they are perpetually vulnerable – the last to get paid, often just surviving on their earnings and pouring any rare savings into the next project. Changes in the economic landscape, such as a rise in the price of gas or insurance, a health issue, or the chaos wrought by the pandemic can have truly catastrophic consequences for those living on the slimmest of margins.” shared the members of The Tragically Hip “Unison has been there for musicians in need, and there is much need. The helping hand they provide should not go unnoticed or ever be taken for granted. The work done by the folks at Unison is of immeasurable value. We, The Hip, have been very fortunate in an all too often difficult industry, and as such, we are proud and honoured to be of service to Unison and to be the recipient of the “Courage” award.”
5 Surprising Facts About Ramones’ Debut Album
The Ramones’ 1976 self-titled debut album is one of punk rock’s most influential records, but there’s always more to the story. Did you know it cost just $6,400 to record in seven days? Here are five more fascinating facts:
1. Budget Masterpiece
The Ramones recorded their debut album in just seven days for a mere $6,400—a budget so tight it was unheard of even in the ‘70s. Despite the constraints, the album went on to change the course of punk rock forever, proving you don’t need millions to make music history.
2. Album Cover Price Tag
The now-iconic photo of the Ramones leaning against a brick wall cost only $125 to shoot. Taken by Punk magazine photographer Roberta Bayley, this gritty image perfectly encapsulated the raw energy of punk and became one of the most imitated album covers in history.
3. Fast-Paced Perfection
Clocking in at just 29 minutes with 14 blistering tracks, the album is a no-frills punk manifesto. Its longest song, “I Don’t Wanna Go Down to the Basement,” runs only 2:40. It’s proof that the Ramones didn’t need long songs to leave a lasting impact.
4. Blitzkrieg Inspiration
The famous “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!” chant in “Blitzkrieg Bop” was inspired by the Bay City Rollers’ “Saturday Night” and the Rolling Stones’ “Walking the Dog.” Ramones drummer Tommy came up with the chant while carrying groceries home—a mundane moment that sparked a punk anthem.
5. A Museum-Worthy Album
The album cover is more than iconic—it’s a piece of art. Both the sleeve and poster design are part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection. The gritty, DIY aesthetic of the cover has become synonymous with the punk ethos the Ramones helped define.
Chester Bennington’s Isolated Vocals For Linkin Park’s “Breaking The Habit”
Linkin Park’s “Breaking the Habit” was the fifth consecutive chart-topping single from Meteora, and it cemented the band’s dominance on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. A powerful anthem of personal struggle, it’s a defining moment in the history of rock music and gaming fans even got to jam to it in Rock Band 3!
Kate Bush’s Isolated Vocals For “This Woman’s Work”
Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” is more than just a song—it’s an emotional masterpiece. Written for She’s Having a Baby and later featured on The Sensual World, it captures the raw intensity of a life-altering moment during childbirth, told from a man’s perspective. Few songs can break your heart and heal it in just a few notes like this one.
Riley O’Connor To Receive The Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award At The 2025 JUNO Awards
During the JUNO Awards Gala Presented by Music Canada, Riley O’Connor will be presented with the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award. This award, in recognition of founder Walt Grealis, recognizes individuals who have contributed to the growth and development of the Canadian music industry at home and around the world.
Riley O’Connor was named Chairman of Live Nation Canada in 2007. As Chairman, O’Connor has steered the company – which now presents more than 4,000 concerts annually for domestic and international artists – to market leadership in Canada’s live entertainment industry. Arriving on the Canadian music industry scene in 1971 as a drum roadie, guitar tech, electrician, lighting designer, and high rigger, O’Connor then became a concert promoter, starting at Vancouver’s Perryscope Concert Productions and quickly moving up the ranks of concert promotion in Canada and Europe. Over the years, O’Connor has brought some of the brightest lights and greatest shows Canada has ever seen including international artists such as AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters, Elton John, Backstreet Boys, Iron Maiden, Rod Stewart, KISS, Metallica, and ABBA, to name a few. O’Connor has long been an advocate of Canadian music and artist development. He has produced and promoted incredible Canadian acts including: RUSH, Blue Rodeo, April Wine, Triumph, The Tragically Hip, Michael Bublé, Bryan Adams, The Guess Who, Streetheart, Jann Arden, Sloan, 54*40, Nickelback, Harlequin, Avril Lavigne, Our Lady Peace, Celine Dion, Chantal Kreviazuk, Corey Hart, Jane Siberry and many more.
“To be recognized as a recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award is incredibly humbling and it’s an honour to be included alongside such a distinguished group. As a promoter, my ambition was to provide opportunities for our Canadian artists and build a national marketplace where Canadian fans can celebrate live music in as many communities as possible.”
The TD pre-sale for The 2025 JUNO Awards Broadcast runs Monday, November 25 at 10 am PT until Wednesday, November 27th. Tickets to The 2025 JUNO Awards go on sale to the general public Friday, November 29th. They start at $ $70.85 (including tax plus fees) and are available at ticketmaster.ca/junos.
Sum 41 Joins The Canadian Music Hall Of Fame
The JUNO Awards are proud to announce the induction of Canadian pop punk rock icons Sum 41 into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during a special presentation and performance presented by JUNOS Premier Sponsor, TD Bank Group. Looking back at the band’s storied 28-year career, Sum 41 has firmly cemented their place in history with over 15 million records sold worldwide, multiple Billboard Charting releases and No. 1 hits, a GRAMMY® nomination, 2 JUNO Awards (7 nominations), a Kerrang! Award in 2002, multiple Alternative Press Music Awards, sold-out tours and packed venues everywhere, and countless other accolades. The Canadian leg of their farewell tour begins in January. They will play their final show in Toronto, ON on January 30th followed by an encore performance live at The JUNO Awards Broadcast in Vancouver, BC on March 30th.
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame was established by CARAS in 1978 to acknowledge artists who have made an outstanding contribution to Canadian music, both nationally and globally. Sum 41 will join the ranks of Canadian music icons spanning many genres including Deborah Cox, Alanis Morissette, Barenaked Ladies, Jann Arden, Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Leonard Cohen, Nickelback, Neil Young, Oscar Peterson, RUSH, The Guess Who, The Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan and Shania Twain. The Canadian Music Hall of Fame has a permanent home within the National Music Centre situated inside Calgary’s Studio Bell.
The TD pre-sale for The 2025 JUNO Awards Broadcast runs Monday, November 25 at 10 am PT until Wednesday, November 27th. Tickets to The 2025 JUNO Awards go on sale to the general public Friday, November 29th. They start at $ $70.85 (including tax plus fees) and are available at ticketmaster.ca/junos.
15-Time JUNO Award Winner Michael Bublé To Host The 2025 JUNO Awards to Vancouver
Today, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences unveiled several major announcements, including that multi-platinum superstar entertainer, and Vancouver native, Michael Bublé, will host and perform at The 2025 JUNO Awards Broadcast. The 15-time JUNO Award-winner returns for a third time as host of Canada’s biggest night in music, live from his hometown.
The 54th Annual JUNO Awards, produced by Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker company), will broadcast and stream live across Canada from Rogers Arena in Vancouver on March 30th at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s YouTube page. Tickets for The 2025 JUNO Awards go on sale to the general public on November 29th and start at $70.85 (including tax plus fees) and will be available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.ca/junos.
Michael Bublé has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide over the course of his extraordinary career and has enjoyed enormous success as one of the top touring artists of all time. With a career that includes 5 GRAMMYs, 15 JUNO Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame, 6 multi-platinum albums, and over 14 billion global streams, Michael has spent the past two decades deeply committed to not only keep the flames of the Great American Songbook alive and well – to not only breathe new life into them – but to bring his singular style, vocal power, and passion to timeless tunes that he loves. He released his self-titled debut album on Reprise Records in 2003, followed by a series of multi-platinum, #1 albums including Call Me Irresponsible (2007), Crazy Love (2009), To Be Loved (2013), Love (2018), and Christmas (2011). Michael’s 11th studio album HIGHER (2022) marked his 9th Top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart and 7th consecutive studio album to debut in the Top 3. His brand new greatest hits album, The Best Of Bublé, was released on September 27, 2024. Known for his world-class showmanship and spectacular concert production, he has performed sold out shows in over 30 countries. With unstoppable talent, energy and a voice that is equally at home singing standards, pop, swing, jazz, R&B, and comedy, Michael takes his audiences on a special journey every night – singing his heart out, serenading them with beautiful love songs, making them laugh, cry, and dance – to give them an evening they will never forget.
“I could not be happier bringing The JUNO Awards home to Vancouver for 2025” says Bublé. “The JUNOS are such an important part of the Canadian music industry, and being able to host for the second time in my hometown makes this night mean even more to me. I’m excited to be surrounded by all the amazing talent we have from coast-to-coast this March.”
Meet Hathaani – The AI-Powered Robotic Violinist Redefining Carnatic Music
Raghavasimhan Sankaranarayanan, a PhD student at Georgia Tech, has created Hathaani, a revolutionary AI-powered robotic violinist. Using machine learning and a Chitravina-inspired design, it not only plays Carnatic music with stunning precision but also improvises intricate gamakas, blending tradition with cutting-edge technology.
…and here Raghavasimhan explains his invention.
Wicked: The Original Motion Picture Score to Be Released on December 6
From Grammy and Oscar winning Stephen Schwartz, and Grammy and Oscar nominee John Powell, Wicked: The Original Motion Picture Score, will be available to stream at all digital platforms and vinyl for purchase on December 6 via Universal Studios / Republic Records / Verve Records.
Stephen Schwartz and John Powell have built a magical sonic world for the film’s original motion picture score. From their “Arrival at Shiz University” to “All Around Defying Gravity” the characters journey through Oz is captured by this new timeless film score. Full track listing below.
Wicked: The Original Motion Picture Score showcases the musical experience from Universal Pictures’ new cinematic event, Wicked. Based on one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on stage for the past two decades, the spectacular, generation-defining film adaptation of Wicked is destined to be the most talked-about film of the holiday season.
The original motion picture score is a companion to Wicked: The Soundtrack, out now. With music and lyrics by legendary Grammy and Oscar winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, Wicked: The Soundtrack includes songs performed by Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winning powerhouse and Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda. Listen to Wicked: The Soundtrack HERE.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 21, 2025.
One of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its journey to the big screen as a spectacular cinematic event this holiday season.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 21, 2025.
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning and Oscar-nominated powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her green skin who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman gilded by privilege who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
The film also stars Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Olivier Award winner and Emmy nominee Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots); a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as the voice of Dr. Dillamond.
Wicked is produced by Marc Platt p.g.a. (La La Land, The Little Mermaid), whose films, television shows and stage productions have earned a combined 46 Oscar nominations, 58 Emmy nominations and 36 Tony nominations, and by multiple Tony winner David Stone (Kimberly Akimbo, Next to Normal), with whom Platt produced the blockbuster Wicked stage musical. The executive producers are Stephen Schwartz, David Nicksay, Jared LeBoff, Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox.
Wicked is based on the generation-defining musical stage play with music and lyrics by legendary Grammy and Oscar winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, from the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire. The screenplay is by Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox. The film score is by John Powell & Stephen Schwartz, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.
The Broadway stage musical is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
Wicked: The Original Motion Picture Score Track Listing:
SIDE A
1 Arrival at Shiz University
2 Our Heroes Meet
3 Nessarose
4 Meet the Faculty
5 Elphaba’s Power
6 How to Loathe Your Roommate
7 History Lesson
SIDE B
1 Levitate the Coin
2 All Around Something Bad
3 Prince Fiyero of Winkie Country
4 The Book Place
5 Elphaba at Ozdust
6 Sharing Secrets
7 Look at You
8 Replacement Teacher
SIDE C
1 Cub Rescue
2 Forest Feelings
3 Ozian Invitation
4 Galinda Becomes Glinda
5 Train to Emerald City
6 Hall of Grandiosity
7 A Wizard’s Plan
SIDE D
1 The Grimmerie
2 Transformations
3 Monkey Mayhem
4 All Around Defying Gravity