Heart delivers electrifying renditions of both “Magic Man” and “Crazy on You” during their live performance on the iconic show ‘Midnight Special’ in the year 1977. The band’s dynamic performance captivates the audience as they flawlessly execute the two hit songs. The stage comes alive with the energy of their music, making it a truly memorable and unforgettable experience for everyone present, and now you at home.
Round Hill Music adds iconic Canadian masters catalogs to its repertoire with acquisition of Linus Entertainment
Round Hill Music LP (“Round Hill” or the “Company”), the integrated music company founded in 2010 that manages songs with a value of circa $1.2 billion, announces that it has acquired Linus Entertainment, the Canadian independent music company whose repertoire includes the music recording and publishing catalogs of Borealis Records, Mummy Dust Music Ltd, Solid Gold Records, Stony Plain Records, The Children’s Group and True North Records, as well as the distribution company Independent Digital Licensing Agency Inc (IDLA). The investment includes a catalogue of over 3,000 songs and 20,000 master recordings.
Linus Entertainment was established in 2000 by former Virgin Records A&R director and Warner Chappell Publishing Creative Director, Geoff Kulawick, and includes the exclusive rights to numerous popular rock, blues, folk, jazz and global artists’ recordings.
These include recordings from Big Wreck, the Canadian-American Rock band whose 1997 debut album reached double platinum certification; Canadian singer songwriter and Canadian Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Cockburn; Buffy Sainte-Marie, the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Academy Award winner whose songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin and Joe Cocker; Blues Rock singer songwriter Colin James, who has had several international hit singles and whose 2016 album Blue Highways spent 10 weeks at number one on the Roots Music Report’s Blues Chart; Canadian Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Gordon Lightfoot; Natalie MacMaster, the multi-time winner of Artist of the Year at the Canadian Music Awards who has had three albums reach gold certification in Canada and who has toured with Carlos Santana, the Chieftains and Faith Hill; American Blues guitarist, Ronnie Earl whose band, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, has released 26 albums over 40 years; folk musician and singer songwriter, Stan Rogers, who was a pioneer of Canada’s independent music scene; and triple Grammy award winning Blues musician Taj Mahal.
The acquisition, undertaken on behalf of Round Hill Music Royalty Fund III LP, continues the Company’s focus on recorded music investments. Earlier this year, Round Hill made several frontline investments in new recordings by artists such as The Record Company, Neon Trees, Candlebox, and Better Than Ezra which are due for release this year on Round Hill Records and Black Hill Records.
Josh Gruss, CEO at Round Hill Music LP said: “This investment includes some of the most celebrated music and performers to come out of Canada and supports our strategy of investing in and supporting the growth of iconic music. The opportunity Linus Entertainment presented to us was truly a one off and we are very excited to have these incredible Canadian artists included in the Round Hill stable.”
Geoff Kulawick, Founder of Linus Entertainment said: “Having built Linus Entertainment up over the past two decades, now is the right time for us to hand the reins over to a partner that we know will oversee it with passion and care. Round Hill has a strong reputation with an excellent team and we are confident that the business and, importantly, the music, is in good hands from here.”
Linus Entertainment was advised by Birchmount Capital Partners Inc, Sheppard Brown and Stikeman Elliott while Selverne Bradford PLLC acted on behalf of Round Hill Music.
CBC Music Announces Mattmac As Searchlight 2023 Winner
CBC today announced Winnipeg-based hip-hop recording artist and producer Mattmac as the Grand Prize winner of CBC MUSIC’S SEARCHLIGHT 2023 contest. Artists in every province and territory submitted an application including an original song for consideration and the panel of judges awarded the top spot to Mattmac. Mattmac entered his song “Rez (Remix)” featuring Okema & Dakota Bear, which is a re-imagining of Akon’s track “Ghetto” and will appear on his upcoming full-length album.
In addition, four acts in categories newly created for SEARCHLIGHT 2023 will receive prizes courtesy of Long & McQuade, Yangaroo music and more. The secondary prize winners include: winner of the Outstanding Country Artist category, husband and wife country duo Rosewood Ave from Matheson, ON; winner of the Outstanding Indigenous Artist category, classic garage rockers Miesha and The Spanks from Calgary; winner of the Songwriting Prize category pop-rockers Encore from Winnipeg; and 18-year-old singer-songwriter Luna Elle from Mississauga, ON takes the Top Teen category.
“Winning this means a lot to me,” said Mattmac. “From making beats in my bedroom in my mom’s house on the rez to playing shows on stages across Canada to winning CBC Music’s Searchlight. From everyone who has been supportive, to those who have been along for the journey, and to everyone who made this possible – thank you so much.”
Mattmac has captivated large audiences with his music, having garnered more than 10 million combined listens across music streaming platforms and half a million “likes” on TikTok, with one of his TikTok videos garnering 2.7 million views. At Indigenous Day Live, We Day Ottawa on Canada Day in 2017 and We Day Manitoba in 2019, Mattmac performed alongside Canadian singer and international superstar Nelly Furtado. Mattmac is the winner of Canada’s Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Musician Award for 2022, Hip-Hop Album Of the Year at the International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards 2023, the Rap/Electronica Album Of The Year at the Summer of Solstice Indigenous Music Awards in 2021, and the winner of the Emerging Artist Award at the Canadian Radio Awards.
As part of the Grand Prize, Mattmac will take part in the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class talent development program, receive a residency at the National Music Centre in Calgary, a Yangaroo Music DMDS music and video promotion package and $1,000 from Long & McQuade towards the purchase of music equipment. Full prizing details can be found at CBCMusic.ca/searchlight.
Westlife Announces Historic Spring 2024 North American Tour Westlife: The Hits Tour
Global pop superstars – and the UK & Ireland’s top-selling album group of the 21st century – Westlife today announce Westlife: The Hits Tour – A St Patrick’s Day Special, their first-ever North American tour dates in their incredible 20+ year career.
In a nod to their Irish roots, Westlife will perform their colossal catalog of hits-to-date – including “Swear It Again,” “Flying Without Wings,” “World Of Our Own,” “My Love,” “If I Let You Go,” and “Hello My Love” among countless others – with tour dates surrounding St. Patrick’s Day 2024.
In celebration of the news, Westlife – formed in 1998 and consisting of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily – will make their debut U.S. television performance on the No. 1 morning show Good Morning America on August 21. During the 8AM hour, they will perform their iconic 1999 debut single “Flying Without Wings,” which entered the UK charts at No. 1. They will also appear on GMA3: What You Need to Know with a performance of “Hello My Love,” the title track and lead single from their 11th studio album Hello My Love. “Hello My Love” was written specifically for Westlife by Ed Sheeran and Steve Mac.
Having heard their fans loud and clear over the years, Westlife: The Hits Tour – A St Patrick’s Day Special offers longtime North American fans the unforgettable first chance to see the band perform live closer to home. Additionally,Westlife: The Hits Tour – A St Patrick’s Day Special delivers fans of pop music an extraordinary opportunity to experience one of the world’s most successful and influential pop bands of all time.
Westlife has sold 55+ million records, earned 36 No. 1 albums, amassed 3+ billion global streams, surpassed 1 billion YouTube views and sold 5.5+ million concert tickets worldwide. The group rose to fame with their debut international self-titled studio album Westlife in 1999. They have achieved an incredible 14 UK No. 1 singles, behind only Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Westlife has received numerous accolades including one World Music Award, two Brit Awards, four MTV Awards, four Record of the Year Awards.
The global pop kings most recently launched their Wild Dreams Tour in summer 2022 performing across the UK, including a sold-out headline show at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium which was shown live in cinemas across the UK and Europe. Their most recent record, Wild Dreams, was released in November 2021 and marks the band’s 12th studio album.
Westlife: The Hits Tour – A St Patrick’s Day Special
Date City Venue
March 13, 2024 Toronto, ON Meridian Hall
March 14, 2024 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall At Fenway
March 16, 2024 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
March 18, 2024 Chicago, IL The Chicago Theatre
Exploring Love’s Dichotomy: L.A./Montreal’s Noelle Hannibal’s ‘Ain’t A Tourist’ Chronicles The Struggle Between Romance And Casualty
When searching for true love, sometimes you will come across people who just aren’t interested in it. Instead of giving you the romantic relationship you crave, they’ll try to get you to have a casual fling. The frustration of that can cause you to feel like a tourist to romantic love. Los Angeles-born, Montreal, QC-based based indie pop singer Noelle Hannibal captures this feeling well in her new single, “Ain’t A Tourist”.
The song opens with a steady drum beat that accompanies Hannibal as she firmly states that she doesn’t want a showy lover who tries to wow her. The snarl of an electric guitar kicks in as she further states her case by saying she doesn’t want to be given the same old flirty lines. By the time the chorus comes in, Hannibal is passionately singing about her desires as the electric guitar accompanies her.
“I’d rather see your side streets
Don’t wanna climb your mountains
I wanna know your secrets
Don’t need to see no fountains
I wanna hear the verses
Before I hear the chorus
If all you are is a tour guide
I ain’t a tourist”
In fact, the song was partly inspired by personal experience and a deluge of inspiration generated during the pandemic. Hannibal states, “When the pandemic hit in 2020 and we were all trapped at home, I started writing again. I realized how much I missed it. The music started to flow out of me. All my anxieties and angst, my love, my disgust…I have at least 3 albums worth of songs in my scribbly handwriting, in various notebooks, throughout my house and in my car.”
Noelle Hannibal is an award-winning actress/singer/songwriter who appeared in the film Star Trek: First Contact, she has a unique distinction of portraying the first female Vulcan on Earth. Originally from Los Angeles, Noelle made her professional theatre debut playing Crissy in Hair, then moved to Ireland to tour the country performing in both theatrical productions and concerts.
While in Dublin, she made her living as a busker which connected her with several inspirational songwriting colleagues. It was then that she began to write her own music. Noelle has recorded and performed extensively throughout both North America and Europe. She released her debut album, Somewhere in Between in 2011.
Her new EP and single, Ain’t a Tourist, produced and co-written by her dear friend Grammy Award winner, Scot Sax (Wanderlust, Bachelor Number One) and recorded in Nashville, will be released on July 28, 2023. The first single, “Changing” was released in November 2022.
From Pain to Power: Econoline Crush Makes Miraculous Comeback with Empowering Single ‘Invincible’
When you’ve been through tough times, the act of surviving and reaching a better place can feel miraculous. To experience a major hurt or loss and still find a way to move forward is a powerful feat. No one knows this more than Vancouver-based rock band Econoline Crush, who have made a triumphant return with their new single “Invincible.”
The song opens with bombastic vocals from frontman Trevor Hurst, as he sings and dares pain to come at him with everything it’s got. His vocals explode especially well in the song’s chorus, which is enhanced by the band’s bassist Troy Zak, drummer Dayvid Swart, and the late guitarist David “Ziggy” Garrison.
In fact, Ziggy was a key inspiration for this song. Hurst states, “Ziggy and I were working on songs in Los Ageles with Stephan “Flash” Sigerson almost ten years ago. Flash recorded Ziggy jamming some riffs over a rock beat one afternoon and finding some gold in the madness. Flash looped one particular riff for me to check out and see if I could vibe with it.”
Originally based in Vancouver, Econoline Crush formed in 1992 and signed with EMI Music Canada in ‘94, debuting that year with the EP, Purge. The groundbreaking band, which fused industrial music with rock at a time when “keyboards” were typically used in pop music, followed it up with the full-length Affliction in 1996, and their ultimate breakthrough, the platinum-selling The Devil You Know. 2001’s Brand New History was their final studio album for EMI.
After Trevor Hurst did a one-off EP in 2005 EP called Wanderlust, Econoline Crush returned with the new album Ignite in 2008, followed by the EP, The People Have Spoken, Vol. 1, in 2011. Both were produced independently.
When The Devil Drives is the latest album from the rock veterans, formed over 30 years ago by frontman Trevor Hurst, now the sole original member. The band’s first full-length album in over a decade, and documentary film, Flatlander, about a rocker from Brandon, Manitoba’s second career as a psychiatric nurse, will be out later this year.
Produced by one-time Miniatures frontman Ian Alexander Smith (SATE, Cassie DaSilva) and mixed by the legendary Jack Joseph Puig, two of the nine songs feature David “Ziggy” Sigmund, who played guitar in Econoline Crush from 1997-2002 and rejoined in 2010. He passed away suddenly in March 2022, just as the album was getting mixed, nothing short of “a huge personal blow” for Trevor and the music world.
The two songs they wrote together, the empowering industrial-strength rocker “Invincible” and soaring 90s Brit-pop style “Smashing Optimistic,” are the first two singles on the album. He also played bass and guitar on the tracks.
In May 2023, the band released their first single, “No Quitter”, a fiery, pulsing single that served as an ode and tribute to Garrison. It serves as the perfect lead in to “Invincible,” their follow-up single.
Toronto’s Spotkix Unleashes Lush Indie Pop Ode to Soccer: ‘The Greenest Green’ Captures the Magic of a New Season’s Beginning
Is there anything quite like the anticipation of a new season? When the air is thick with dreams, and every supporter’s heart is filled with hope and the unspoken phrase, ‘This could be our year!’ And all this is heightened by the sight of a beautiful new pitch, as smooth as a carpet—a testament to the groundskeeper’s art. Like a blank page ready for the season’s triumphs to be written.
‘The Greenest Green’, the lush indie pop ode to football (soccer) from Toronto band Spotkix is packed with raw driving guitars and polished harmonies and celebrates the feeling on the first day of a brand-new season—before a ball’s been kicked. A day when however fleetingly, everything seems possible…
Spotkix are Steve Maradona (Guitar + vocals), Georgina Best (Keyboards, guitar + vocals), Pete Rodriguez (Guitar + vocals), and Johnny Singh (Drums). After meeting at a pick-up game in Bickford Park, they discovered they were all musicians.
It didn’t take long for them to start jamming, and one thing led to another. Fast forward a year or so to the release of their debut single from the upcoming album On a Yellow, scheduled for release in November 2023.
Tracked by Toronto producer Derek Downham who’s worked with Tragically Hip, Broken Social Scene, and Serena Ryder. The tune is mixed by veteran UK producer Neil Ferguson, best known for producing Chumbawamba.
Georgina Best says, “Once the season gets underway, social is full of fans slagging off players and each other. We wanted to write a love song to the game.” Steve Maradona adds, “We wanted the song to give you the same feeling as a freshly mown pitch.”
The Greenest Green —I nspired by the beautiful game and dedicated to everyone whose heart has ever been broken by a goal in stoppage time. Cruel disappointments come with every season, but until they do…
Hope reigns supreme.
Lana Del Rey Announces Limited Run Of Shows This Fall
Famed singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has announced ten highly anticipated shows across the U.S. this September and October. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on Thursday, September 14 at FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin, TN making stops across ten cities in Austin, TX, Tampa, FL, Pittsburgh, PA and more before wrapping up in Charleston, WV at Charleston Coliseum on Thursday, October 5. Her latest tour announcement comes on the heels of a sold out Arkansas performance and her third ever visit to Mexico City with 2 shows earlier this month.
Del Rey has become a true icon of our time, captivating audiences worldwide with her unique blend of hauntingly beautiful melodies and evocative lyrics. Her highly anticipated ninth studio album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, was released in March via Interscope Records/Universal Music Canada.
The album takes fans on an introspective journey through Del Rey’s signature storytelling style while showcasing her distinctive voice, poetic prowess and emotionally charged compositions that have garnered critical acclaim. Singles include “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd,” “A&W,” “The Grants,” as well as the videoclip of “Candy Necklace” ft. Jon Batiste and the latest single: “Say Yes To Heaven,” that has amassed more than 2.5 million views on YouTube.
With multiple chart-topping albums and an extensive discography, Del Rey has established herself as one of the most influential artists of her generation. Her unique blend of alternative pop, dreamy melodies and poetic lyrics has earned her a dedicated fanbase worldwide.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available during the general onsale beginning on Friday, August 25 at 10am local time at livenation.com.
TOUR DATES:
Thu Sep 14 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
Sun Sep 17 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Tue Sep 19 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Thu Sep 21 – Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater
Sat Sep 23 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Mon Sep 25 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Wed Sep 27 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
Fri Sep 29 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Tue Oct 03 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Thu Oct 05 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum
The Smart Speaker Market to grow by USD 16.6592 Billion from 2022 to 2027
The smart speaker market is estimated to grow by USD 16,659.23 million between 2022 and 2027 accelerating at a CAGR of 18.75% during the forecast period, according to Technavio.
- Companies: 15+, Including Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Bang and Olufsen Group, Belkin International Inc., Bose Corp., Edifier International Ltd., Imagine Marketing Pvt. Ltd., Lenovo Group Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., NXP Semiconductors NV, Onkyo Corp., Portronics Digital Pvt. Ltd., Qualcomm Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sonos Inc., Sony Group Corp., Xiaomi Communications Co. Ltd., Zebronics India Pvt. Ltd., and Zound Industries International AB, among others
- Coverage: Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and company landscape; company product insights and recent developments; key companies; and market positioning of companies
- Segments: end-user (residential and commercial), distribution channel (offline and online), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa).
The growing competition in the market is compelling companies to adopt various growth strategies such as promotional activities and spending on advertisements to improve the visibility of their services. Technavio report analyzes the market’s competitive landscape and offers information on several market companies including – Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Bang and Olufsen Group, Belkin International Inc., Bose Corp., Edifier International Ltd., Imagine Marketing Pvt. Ltd., Lenovo Group Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., NXP Semiconductors NV, Onkyo Corp., Portronics Digital Pvt. Ltd., Qualcomm Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sonos Inc., Sony Group Corp., Xiaomi Communications Co. Ltd., Zebronics India Pvt. Ltd., and Zound Industries International AB
Rapidly increasing unit sales of smart speakers is a key factor driving market growth. The smart speaker market is witnessing significant growth, mainly led by major players like Amazon, Alphabet (Google), and Apple in 2022. Other significant contributors to the market are Alibaba, Baidu, and Xiaomi.
Additionally, Amazon and Google have notably dominated this market. The increase in smart speaker sales is attributed to their versatility as personal digital assistants. They offer various features like music streaming, weather updates, alarms, radio, games, smart home control, news, product search, calls, traffic updates, messaging texts and even shopping. This versatility is driving consumers to invest in smart speakers. Hence, these factors are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.
The increasing popularity of voice commerce is a major trend in the market. Voice commerce is increasingly recognized worldwide as an alternative to traditional online ordering and purchasing methods. Consumers can easily search and buy products online using voice commands from smart speakers equipped with virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
In addition, this method offers fast and convenient shopping, attracting users with hands-free operation, multitasking ability, and quick response. For example, Amazon’s Alexa-enabled smart speaker allows customers to search, order, and purchase products. Leveraging users’ shopping history, Alexa recommends relevant items and streamlines purchases with voice commands, while smart speaker enhancements simplify online shopping. Hence, the increasing popularity of voice commerce is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.
Privacy and security threats associated with smart speakers are significant challenges restricting market growth. Privacy and security concerns are prevalent among consumers around the world. For example, many people in the United States are worried about the potential threat to their privacy and personal data when using smart speakers. Manufacturers in the market have hired many people around the world to listen to voice recordings recorded by smart speakers in USers’ homes. This method aims to improve the understanding of human speech by smart speakers and improve their response to commands. Weak or default passwords for Internet-connected smart speakers can be hacked, leaving the network owned by the end user compromised. In addition, unsecured connected smart speakers can also make it easier to download malware onto the network. Hence, the increasing Privacy and security threats are expected to restrict market growth during the forecast period.
The Bluetooth speaker market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.98% between 2023 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 9,014.54 million. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by product (portable and fixed), distribution channel (offline and online), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The increasing adoption of smart speakers is notably driving market growth.
The multimedia speakers market is estimated to grow by USD 21.33 billion between 2022 and 2027 at a CAGR of 11.33%. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by distribution channel (offline and online), type (wireless multimedia speakers and wired multimedia speakers), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). The growing consumer preferences for in-home entertainment systems are notably driving market growth.
AWA NIAGARA FESTIVAL August 26 + 27, 2023 Giving Away 300 Tickets Thanks To Donor
In a heartwarming gesture of community support, African Women Acting (AWA) Niagara Festival, the acclaimed annual arts and culture festival, is spreading joy by giving away 300 tickets to eager attendees, all made possible through a generous donation.
This act of benevolence not only reflects AWA Fest’s commitment to making the event accessible to a diverse audience but also showcases the profound impact that collective contributions can have on creating meaningful experiences. The festival is now poised to touch even more lives, as its spirit of giving resonates throughout the community, fostering a sense of unity and shared appreciation for the arts presenting talented, hard-working, resilient artists, who demonstrate tremendous effort in pursuing their artistic visions and careers.
Saturday, August 26 & Sunday, August 27, 2023 from 2:00-10:00pm
116 Queenston Street, Queenston, Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON
All Free Tickets Here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/awa-niagara-festival-2023-sat-sun-august-26th-27th-tickets-669521756597
The 3rd edition of the AWA Niagara Festival 2023, presented by the African Women Acting (AWA) organization, celebrates African Cultural Heritage and special guest artists. The annual festival presents talented, hard-working, resilient artists, who demonstrate tremendous effort in pursuing their artistic visions and careers. The festival offers a full day, family-friendly program, with an action-packed schedule including professionally curated arts and crafts exhibitions, interactive African Djembe drumming workshops for all ages, dance, music, delicious authentic African and Canadian food, and vendors, all in one stunning site in celebration of the best of African and Canadian Music, artisans, and vendors.
Artists Roster – August 26th
African Drum Circle – Mohammed Diaby, Khadim Mbegue
Afrobeat Music/Dance – DJ Moussa
Alternative/Contemporary Music by J.A.S
Native Artist – Esther Jane Willow
RnB – Kyla Wheeler
RnB/Soul Music – Shake Street (Rob Leclerc)
Afrobeat – Exclusive Connection FT Tolu
African Drumming – Mohammed Diaby & Khadim
Artists Roster – August 27th
African Drumming Circle – Mohammed Diaby, Khadim Mbegue
Afrobeat Music/Dance – DJ Moussa
Native Artist – Esther J Willow
Alternative/Contemporary Music by J.A.S
Choral Music – Minuscule
Arabic Music – Tabiba
AfroJazz Music- Waleed Kush & Razab Dareer
Bollywood Music and Dance – KL Company
The AWA Festival and RiverBank Art Museum have an incredible team of staff, contractors, suppliers, and community visionaries working hard to ensure a most memorable event for the entire family. New for 2023, ALL AGES ZONE that will include drum circle activities, face painting, afrobeat dancing, and more fun activities.
To learn more, please visit: www.africanwomenacting.org and www.riverbrink.org.
Funding Support by the Government of Canada’s New Horizon for Seniors program; Community Partner: LiverBrink Art Museum