Artist Felix Semper has created an incredible bust commemorating the late, great The Notorious B.I.G entitled “Big Poppa“, made from layers of glued paper. And what did YOU accomplish today?
CIMA Announces Recipients and Nominees for Third Annual Celebration & Awards Gala
Today, the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), is proud to announce the recipients of and nominees for the third annual CIMA Celebration & Awards Gala, taking place on Monday, June 12, 2017 at Toronto’s Glass Factory. This year’s recipients will be recognized for their incredible contributions to independent music. Performers for the 2017 CIMA Celebration & Awards Gala will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We are thrilled to return for our third year to celebrate those who create, support and strengthen Canadian independent music,” said Stuart Johnston, President, CIMA. “We are pleased to recognize this year’s recipients for their impressive contributions to the Canadian music industry.”
2017 Award Recipients
Builder Award: Donald K. Tarlton (DKD) – Presented by Slaight Music
Brian Chater Leadership Award: Sheri Jones (Jones & Co.)
Entrepreneur Award: Rob Lanni & Eric Lawrence (Coalition Music) – Presented by Gowling WLG
Unsung Hero Award: Steve Jordan (Polaris Music Prize) – Presented by MuchFACT
2017 Marketing Award Nominees
Arts & Crafts for Gord Downie’s Secret Path
Dine Alone Records for Monster Truck’s Sittin’ Heavy
Six Shooter Records for Tanya Tagaq’s Retribution
The Marketing Award recipient will be announced at the 2017 CIMA Celebration & Awards Gala on June 12. Tickets will be on sale May 10, 2017.
5-Time JUNO Award Winner Exco Levi Talks With SOCAN
In an interview with SOCAN, Exco Levi – a five-time JUNO Award winner for Reggae Recording of the Year (in 2017, for Siren) – discusses writing the song “Siren,” the importance of keeping his music positive, winning a JUNO for the fifth year in a row, what he’s doing for the rest of 2017, and how reggae doesn’t have to appeal only to a niche market.
Mark Hamill Pranks Star Wars Fans with Epic Surprise for Force For Change
Mark Hamill channels Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader to surprise Star Wars fans and announce that he’s offering a bonus experience: attend a pre-screening of The Last Jedi and get lunch with him in LA! For your chance to win the bonus prize, plus three epic Star Wars experiences, enter here: http://strw.rs/6001859HN
ABBA’s Multi-Platinum Gold: Greatest Hits Gets Gold-Coloured Vinyl Reissue June 30
Twenty-five years after its original release, ABBA’s career-defining compilation, Gold: Greatest Hits, will receive a limited-edition reissue on suitably gold-coloured vinyl June 30. The 2LP set will be pressed on heavyweight 180g vinyl and will also include a card for MP3 download, ensuring that your favourite ABBA songs can be heard both as originally intended and on the move.
First released on 21 September 1992, ABBA’s chart-topping Gold has gone on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide, being certified Diamond in Canada and France, and selling Platinum many times over elsewhere – notably the UK, where it remains the second best-selling album of all time. Containing 19 of the group’s biggest hits, Gold proves exactly why Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid have been hailed as The Beatles of the ’70s, and continues to find new generations of fans unable to resist their charms.
From ABBA’s first global chart-topper, 1974’s Waterloo, to iconic anthems Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All and Thank You For The Music, Gold: Greatest Hits charts a remarkable decade in which ABBA revolutionised pop music, becoming one of the worlds’ most-loved bands in the process.
For many of ABBA’s devoted fans, the journey starts here – but it goes on forever.
The full tracklisting is:
Side One
- Dancing Queen
- Knowing Me, Knowing You
- Take A Chance On Me
- Mamma Mia
- Lay All Your Love On Me
Side Two
- Super Trouper
- I Have A Dream
- The Winner Takes It All
- Money, Money, Money
- SOS
Side Three
- Chiquitita
- Fernando
- Voulez-Vous
- Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
Side Four
- Does Your Mother Know
- One Of Us
- The Name Of The Game
- Thank You For The Music
- Waterloo
Peter Gabriel Third Set In Series Of Half-Speed Remasters : The Soundtracks Out July 28
“I’ve always loved film music and I’ve been lucky enough create music for three very different kinds of film, that became the albums ‘Birdy’, ‘Passion’ and ‘Long Walk Home’. All the films share strong stories and memorable performances. In each case they also have musical directors in the shape of Alan Parker, Martin Scorsese and Phillip Noyce, who really care about, and feel, the music they work with. They each allowed me to create moods and atmospheres within the music that I felt could serve their narrative.
I still love all the possibilities and different disciplines involved in working for film and I’m pleased that people will have the chance to re-visit the work on these records with these vinyl re-issues.” – Peter Gabriel.
Over the last two years, Peter Gabriel’s seven studio albums have been reissued on vinyl to much critical acclaim. Continuing the series it is now the turn of his three Soundtrack albums to receive the same treatment.
Birdy, Passion, and Long Walk Home have been Half-Speed Remastered and cut to lacquers at 45RPM to deliver maximum dynamic range in the sound. Birdy and Long Walk Home are released across 2 x heavyweight LPs whilst Passion is on 3 x heavyweight LPs with music on five sides and a special etching on the sixth side. The vinyl was cut by Matt Colton at Alchemy Mastering, mastered by Tony Cousins at Metropolis and overseen by Peter’s main sound engineer Richard Chappell. This is the first time that Long Walk Home has been available on vinyl. The albums will be released on Real World.
Gatefold sleeves utilize imagery from the original LPs + additional film stills and all images are newly re-scanned. Contains a download card with a choice of digital download (Hi-Res 24bit or 16bit). Limited Editions and Numbered, now available for pre-order at petergabriel.com/vinyl.
Currently Peter Gabriel remains in the studio working on new music.
TRACKLISTINGS:
PETER GABRIEL – Birdy 2-LP / PGLPRBIRX | 884108005095
- A1 At Night
- A2 Floating Dogs
- A3 Quiet and Alone
- B1 Close Up (from Family Snapshot)
- B2 Slow Water
- B3 Dressing the Wound
- C1 Birdy’s Flight (from Not One Of Us)
- C2 Slow Marimbas
- C3 The Heat (from The Rhythm of the Heat)
- D1 Sketchpad with Trumpet and Voice
- D2 Under Lock and Key (from Wallflower)
- D3 Powerhouse at the Foot of the Mountain (from San Jacinto)
Birdy marks the first occasion that Peter worked with producer Daniel Lanois who went onto co-produce both Peter’s So and US albums. The soundtrack to the Alan Parker movie of the same it finds Peter flexing his creative muscles free of any commercial pressures and has a number of tracks built out of elements of existing tracks from Peter’s third and fourth solo albums.
PETER GABRIEL – Passion 3-LP / RWRLPR1X | 884108005132
- A1 The Feeling Begins
- A2 Gethsemane
- A3 Of These, Hope
- A4 Lazarus Raised
- A5 Of These, Hope – Reprise
- B1 In Doubt
- B2 A Different Drum
- B3 Zaar
- B4 Troubled
- C1 Open
- C2 Before Night Falls
- C3 With This Love
- C4 Sandstorm
- C5 Stigmata
- D1 Passion
- D2 With This Love – Choir
- D3 Wall of Breath
- E1 The Promise of Shadows
- E2 Disturbed
- E3 It is Accomplished
- E4 Bread and Wine
- F Etching (no music)
Passion – Music for The Last Temptation of Christ was released a year after Martin Scorsese’s controversy-laden film and tends to be regarded as a work in its own right rather than just being a movie soundtrack. It features additional music than was included in the film; this extra material was the result of Peter continuing to record and to resolve “unfinished ideas”.
PETER GABRIEL – Long Walk Home 2-LP / PGLPR10X | 884108005187
- A1 Jigalong
- A2 Stealing the Children
- A3 Unlocking the Door
- A4 The Tracker
- A5 Running to the Rain
- B1 On the Map
- B2 A Sense of Home
- B3 Go Away Mr Evans
- B4 Moodoo’s Secret
- B5 Gracie’s Recapture
- C1 Crossing the Salt Pan
- C2 The Return (Parts 1, 2 and 3)
- D1 Ngankarrparni (Sky Blue – Reprise)
- D2 The Rabbit-Proof Fence
- D3 Cloudless
Long Walk Home is an album based on the music from the film Rabbit Proof Fence. Written and produced by Peter, the album is the end result of two years work with the film’s director Phillip Noyce and brings together a multitude of different musical origins, cultures, instruments and vocalists.
The companion to Peter Gabriel’s Passion album, entitled Passion Sources, is also being re-issued on 28 July as part of a series of vinyl releases on Real World Records. The selection of classic albums includes Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Geoffrey Oryema, Ayub Ogada, Papa Wemba, and Martyn Bennett – some of which have been out of print on LP for many years and others are making their vinyl debut. Each album is a cornerstone of the Real World catalogue. More details at realworldrecords.com
The Beatles Are Getting Their Own Channel On SiriusXM
SiriusXM is pleased to announce The Beatles Channel, launching May 18 at 9:09 am ET exclusively on SiriusXM channel 18. Celebrating popular music’s most legendary and influential band, The Beatles Channel has been created by SiriusXM to present unique and exclusive programming in collaboration with and fully authorized by The Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd. The Beatles Channel will also be available online and through the SiriusXM app.
The Beatles Channel will showcase all-things-Beatles with regular and special programming spanning the history-making careers of the band and its members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The channel will explore The Beatles’ entire career including their hits and deeper tracks, live recordings, rarities, and solo albums, while also spotlighting musicians who have inspired, and have drawn inspiration from, The Beatles.
Paul McCartney said, “I still remember the thrill of when we first heard our music on the radio, but I don’t think any of us would have imagined that we’d have our very own Beatles radio channel more than 50 years later. The SiriusXM channel will have it all, 8 Days a Week.”
Ringo Starr added, “Great news, The Beatles will have their own channel on SiriusXM. Now you can listen to The Beatles, Any Time at All. Peace & Love.”
“We are so proud to announce the most popular band in history has joined us for their own SiriusXM channel,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer of SiriusXM. “We’ve worked with The Beatles and Apple Corps Ltd. to create a channel that is as vital today as when the band’s music was first recorded. The channel will be all-things-Beatles, 24/7. The soundtrack of our world, made by John, Paul, George and Ringo.”
The Beatles Channel will launch at exactly 9:09 am ET on Thursday May 18, and will be celebrated as part of SiriusXM’s free listening preview program, offering 24/7 listening on inactive SiriusXM radios from May 17 to May 30.
The Beatles Channel will present a curated mix of music tailored to a wide range of Beatles fans, along with a variety of regular shows and specials, including:
- Breakfast with The Beatles: A daily morning show hosted by musician and lifelong Beatles aficionado, Chris Carter, featuring music, stories and all things Beatles.
- A Day in the Life: A daily feature noting milestones in the lives and career of The Beatles.
- My Fab Four: A daily guest DJ session, hosted by musicians influenced by The Beatles, celebrities, and super fan listeners, each playing their four favorite Beatles songs.
- Beatle Bites: A daily “name the song” quiz featuring a short snippet of a Beatles recording.
- Dedicated Phone: # 844-999-BEATLES, for fans to make requests and share their Beatles stories.
- The Fab Fourum: A live weekly call-in roundtable show hosted by veteran broadcaster Dennis Elsas; TV producer and author, Bill Flanagan; and panelists including authors, musicians and fans.
- Peter Asher: From Me To You: He sang Beatles compositions as a member of Peter & Gordon, was part of the formation of Apple Records and went on to become a multiple Grammy-winning producer and much more. Now, his stories come to life in this exclusive weekly series.
- Magical Mini Concert: A weekly fantasy concert featuring live music from The Beatles and their solo works.
- Northern Songs with Bill Flanagan: A regular show from TV producer and author Flanagan, focusing on themes that tell the story of The Beatles, their music and the effect it had on generations of fans.
- Get Back: The Beatles in Britain: A monthly show recorded in and around London and Liverpool that offers the UK perspective of the Beatles phenomenon, hosted by Geoff Lloyd.
On June 1, The Beatles Channel will celebrate “Pepper Day” on the 50th Anniversary of the band’s acclaimed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, playing the album’s new Anniversary Edition stereo mix in its entirety. The album spotlight will be accompanied by commentary by the album’s original producer, the late George Martin, and by his son, Giles Martin, who produced the album’s new stereo and 5.1 surround mixes from The Beatles’ session tapes, guided by his father’s original, Beatles-preferred mono album mix. Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe will release ‘Sgt. Pepper’ in several Anniversary Edition configurations on May 26.
Halsey Premieres New Track, “Eyes Closed” On Apple Music Beats 1
Halsey announces her 2017 North American headline tour in support of her second full-length album, hopeless fountain kingdom out June 2 via Astralwerks. Halsey’s eight-week tour kicks off September 29, with pre-sales beginning May 8 – tickets can be purchased HERE. For every pair of online tickets purchased, fans will have access to redeem one physical copy of the new album hopeless fountain kingdom.
Zane Lowe exclusively debuted the Grammy-Award-nominated multi-platinum maverick’s new song, “Eyes Closed” co-written with The Weeknd on Apple Music’s Beats 1 as his latest “World Record,” marking another key moment of hopeless fountain kingdom.
Halsey takes the stage at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for the late-night television debut performance of the record’s first single “Now Or Never” tonight. Already, the track has clocked over 34 million Spotify streams and counting, while the Halsey-directed music video surpassed 14 million YouTube/VEVO views.
Last month, Halsey surprised fans by revealing the artwork for hopeless fountain kingdom with an innovative scavenger hunt, directly engaging her devout followers. More recently, she revealed the full album track listing with its 13-track standard edition and 16-track deluxe edition via another fan-inclusive surprise, sending sixteen fans their own copy of hopeless fountain kingdom’s newspaper, The Kingdom Times, with articles tailored to describe the conflict played out in the cinematic video for “Now Or Never.”
The album honestly exorcises moments of sorrow, pain, joy, and love through a whirlwind of poetic lyricism, cinematic production, and searing hooks. She invites a few friends such as Quavo, Lauren Jauregui (Fifth Harmony), and Cashmere Cat along for the ride, as well as producers Benny Blanco, Greg Kurstin, Ricky Reed and more.
Halsey first stormed the pop culture kingdom in 2015 and took her spot on the throne as her full-length debut BADLANDS crash-landed at #1 on the Nielsen Soundscan Alt Chart and #3 on the Overall Albums Chart and earned a Gold-Certification. She sold out arenas everywhere and garnered a 2017 GRAMMY® nomination in the category of “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for “Closer,” her seven times platinum mega-hit with The Chainsmokers. Her reign continues with hopeless fountain kingdom.
CANADIAN TOUR DATES:
10/3 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
10/4 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
11/11 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
11/14 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
11/15 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place
TRACKLISTING:
Standard:
1) The Prologue
2) 100 Letters
3) Eyes Closed
4) Alone
5) Now Or Never
6) Sorry
7) Good Mourning
8) Lie (feat. Quavo)
9) Walls Could Talk
10) Bad At Love
11) Strangers (feat. Lauren Jauregui)
12) Devil In Me
13) Hopeless (feat. Cashmere Cat)
Deluxe:
The Prologue
100 Letters
Eyes Closed
Heaven In Hiding*
Alone
Now Or Never
Sorry
Good Mourning
Lie (feat. Quavo)
Walls Could Talk
Bad At Love
Don’t Play*
Strangers (feat. Lauren Jauregui)
Angel On Fire*
Devil In Me
Hopeless (feat. Cashmere Cat)
Sci-Fi music like you’ve never heard it before
When you think of the soundtrack to major science fiction works, you will most likely think of the big set-piece orchestral compositions. The bold music from Star Wars has become entirely iconic. And it’s easy to see why. Big instruments and dramatic musical scores seem like the perfect accompaniment to ‘out of this world’ TV and movie productions. However, one show has demonstrated that it doesn’t have to be this way…
Battlestar Galactica has become a hit in so many ways. The futuristic military drama is something of a re-hash from the 1970s television series. First hitting the screens in 2003, it has since become a major hit. A Peabody Award, numerous Emmy nominations and a placement within Time Magazine’s 100 Best TV Shows of All Time sum up the critical acclaim the series has received. However, a major part of this success has been the consistently varied and outstanding soundtrack, which has spanned four seasons.
Credit must go to the composer Bear McCreary, who was tasked with putting the soundtrack together from the very beginning. What he produced was quite remarkable. The music became a real hallmark of the show. And yet, he managed to produce something quite different for pretty much every series. In fact, producers encouraged him to constantly change the score, something he has described as an “extremely exciting creative prospect”. Consequently, although full orchestral support does feature in some of his Battlestar Galactica work, McCreary’s compositions also encompass a huge variety of ethnic influences and a mixture of human and militaristic themes. The resulting sound was often produced by collaboration of just 9-10 musicians.
The soundtrack to the first series was a conscious attempt by McCreary to move away from the bold brassy feel of science fiction music. As a result, it features plenty of percussion. More importantly though, it saw the introduction of many of the musical motifs, which have come to characterise Battlestar Galactica – The familiar passages of music which define a specific character, location, relationship or mood within the plot. For fans of the show, they are the shorthand to what is about to occur on screen. They are also featured in pretty much any associated product or marketing effort. For example, on this Battlestar Galactica slot review, it is clear that these musical motifs feature heavily in an online slot game based around the show.
In this initial series, viewers are introduced to the ‘Adama family theme,’ involving the main protagonists William and Lee Adama. Musically, it is dominated by a strong Gaelic theme, featuring pipes, flutes and even Irish Gaelic lyrics. Meanwhile, series one also features the ‘Cylon’ theme for the first time, in which a much more robotic sound is created. McCreary uses drums and unconventional items such as pots and pans to create this unique sound.
Of course, as the series evolved, so did the music, with new themes constantly created and the soundtrack discs themselves becoming extremely popular in their own right. Unsurprisingly perhaps, live performances of the music in 2008 and 2009 were sell-outs and a ballet set to the score enjoyed an incredible 13-week run!
Toledo Mud Hens Pay Tribute To The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
As the landmark Beatles album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band approaches its 50-year anniversary on June 1, tributes are being planned all over. One of the strangest comes from the Toledo Mud Hens: the minor-league baseball team will wear Pepper-themed jerseys for their June 16 game against the Gwinnett Braves. No word yet if the uniforms will be onsale before or after the game.