Music News

Random Music News for Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Okay, people. Time to take down the Halloween decorations. Those carved pumpkins look pretty disgusting. You’ve been warned. And now, the music news for November 21.

  1. One of the reasons the Canadian music industry can stand up being next to America is because of funding from organizations like FACTOR. Here’s how much money it pumped into the system.
  2. Canadian album sales and streams this week vs. last year: Total albums, -15.9%; digital albums, -22.3%; physical albums, -11.3%; CDs -13%; vinyl +21.3%; streams, +75.9%.
  3. Oh, and Taylor Swift? Reputation sold 1.238 million physical copies in its first week in the US. That makes it the biggest-selling album of the year in America.
  4. Here’s another nice tribute to AC/DC’s Malcolm Young.
  5. Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Lee Harvey Osmond, etc.) has a new memoir.
  6. This musician is supplementing his career by opening a leather goods shop.
  7. Radio has an archive problem. This article explains the issue.
  8. Early Soviet radio was…weird.
  9. A surprising number of people watch Netflix in public bathrooms. Ew.
  10. Spotify seems to be not only interested in distributing music but making it as well.
  11. Ten years ago this week, Amazon introduced the Kindle. That was the beginning of the end for mega bookstores.
  12. A fine article on the unknowable Joni Mitchell.
  13. This new winter road sander has been named “David Plowie.” The other one will carry the name Gritsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Anti-Slip Machiney. Seriously. (Via Tom)
  14. A factory that used to make pianos for people like Beethoven has been turned into some luxury condos.
  15. Pharrell has just recorded a new single. It’ll be out in one hundred years. Yes, you read that right. (Tom again)
  16. Taylor Swift is building a giant wall.
  17. Fun: These retro gadgets were INSANELY expensive back in the day.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 39044 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

Let us know what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.