THE LEBLANC NEWSLETTER - ISSUE #14 (FEB. 7 , 2007) (EXCERPTS)

In this issue:

* David Foster will join Paul Anka at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala.
* CTV Brands The Junos.
* Dugg Simpson exits Vancouver Folk Music Festival.
* Vito Luprano exits Sony BMG.

QUICK TAKES

++ Celine Dion will make her mainland China debut on April 13 at Beijing's 70,000-capacity Workers Stadium kicking off the start of official celebrations for the 2008 summer Olympics.

++ Feist will perform at 50th Grammy Awards on Feb. 10 along with Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Beyonce, Foo Fighters, Carrie Underwood, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, and the Clark Sisters.

++ The casts of the film "Across the Universe" and "The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil" will both participate in a Beatles’ segment.

++ Montreal singer Giorgia Fumanti performs on the “2008 Chinese New Year All Star Show” being televised on Feb. 5th, 9th and 10th in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau by the Shanghai Media Group. The show will also be broadcast in the U.S. on Feb. 10 by Fairchild TV, and by Talentvision on Feb. 17. The concert also features Chinese superstar Wei Wei.

++ The North American Folk Alliance has announced nominees for its awards taking place Feb. 20 in Memphis. The awards will be hosted by Folk Alliance Board president Dan Navarro with appearances by Janet Reno, Kathy Mattea, Tom Russell, Eilen Jewell, Anthony DaCosta and Canada’s Twilight Hotel. Canadian nominees include: Loreena McKennitt (World Music Recording); John Wort Hannam (Traditional Artist); Twilight Hotel (Emerging Artist); Mike Regenstreif (Broadcaster); Edmonton Folk Festival and Ottawa Folk Festival (Folk Festival); and Toronto’s Hugh's Room (Small Folk Venue).

++ Canadian songwriter David Foster will join Paul Anka in performance at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame 5th Annual Gala on March 1. Both Anka and Claude Dubois, who will also perform, are being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The evening will also feature performances by siblings Martha and Rufus Wainwright, jazz vocalist Dione Taylor, pianist Oliver Jones, singer Suzie McNeil, The Faith Chorale, and Quebec acts Les Respectables, Boom Desjardins, and Toulouse. Montreal-based singer/TV personality Gregory Charles will host. On March 3, CBC Radio will air the show, and CBC Television will feature a one-hour special.

++ Toronto-based music publisher ole has secured a worldwide administration deal with Peace Arch Entertainment Group to handle the music rights for Peace Arch’s film and television properties, including the TV series "The Tudors." Ole has also completed a deal with recently-launched Five K Entertainment Group, headed by Victor Murgatroyd.

++ Canadian children’s artist Raffi will release two new compilations, “Songs of our World” and “Animal Songs” on March 11. Each compilation has its own theme, and are packaged in digipacks printed with soy inks on chlorine-free paper.

++ Montreal based singer/songwriter Chantal Chamandy will premiere her PBS special, “Chantal Live at the Pyramids” at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan on Feb, 9. The show will air on Detroit Public Television beginning March 14.

++The Burlington Historical Society launched “Brant Inn Memories,” a book by former Hamilton Spectator scribe Stewart Brown on Feb 3. Among the acts that performed at the internationally renowned Brant Inn nightclub, operated by John Murray Anderson, were Vic Damone, Eydie Gorme Nat King Cole, and Frankie Lane. Hamilton radio station CHML, CBC Radio and others did numerous remotes from the venue. American bandleader Stan Kenton recorded the album “At the Brant Inn” in 1963.

++ City Showcase, the annual festival for new music in London, England is seeking emerging acts in all genres for the June 2-6 event. Send a web link (if you have one), a biography, a photo and a CD demo to City Showcase, PO Box 2212, Pulborough, RH20 2XJ, UK. Deadline for applications is March 31 2008. Mark your envelope as a City Showcase application.

++ Submissions are now being accepted from bands, solo artists, and DJs to showcase at RedGorilla Music Fest in Austin, Texas March 12-15. Check: http://www.redgorillamusic.com

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

++ Michael Cohl has been elected chairman of Live Nation's board of directors.

++ Duff Roman has been named acting head of radio for CTVglobemedia.

++ Richard Klosa has been appointed Chief Technology Officer at Yangaroo, the Toronto-based digital media distribution company. Wojtek Hoch, VP technology, has left the company.

++Dale Kotyk has been named VP marketing, Warner Music Canada. A 19-year veteran of Warner, Kotyk had been the company’s marketing dir.

++ Katie Thornton has been named Manager of Digital Content, Associated Label Group, EMI Music Canada. She has been with EMI for 9 years, including recently being with its publicity and promotion department. In other EMI Music Canada news, legal eagle Lisa Wynot has left the company.

++ Vince Ditrich has joined Vancouver-based Frontside Promotions Group as artist manager. Joining Ditrich is his management roster of Spirit Of The West, Quinzy and House of Doc.

++ Crush Editorial in Santa Monica, California has hired Toronto’s Richard Cooperman as editor. Crush is a post production editorial company specializing in TV commercials, motion picture trailers, and promotional content for videogames.

++ Vito Luprano has stepped down as senior VP, A & R (Quebec), Sony BMG Entertainment Canada. He joined Sony in 1980 and worked with Celine Dion, Garou and Mario Pelchat.

++ The Vancouver Folk Music Festival has not renewed the contract of its longtime artistic director Dugg Simpson. He was artistic director of the festival for over a decade.

++ Alistair Mitchell has stepped down as CEO Puretracks Inc, the Toronto-based digital music service. Andrea Ziegler has become CEO. She had been the firm’s chief marketing officer.

++ After 12 years, and more than 500 events, Gerry Stoll has retired as booking and entertainment manager at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta.

++ DJ/TV host Terry David Mulligan is suing CTVglobemedia for wrongful dismissal. He worked for CHUM Ltd. for 24 years. In a 9-page statement of claim filed Jan. 11 in British Columbia Supreme Court, Mulligan claims he was fired without cause, given inadequate notice, and discriminated against on the basis of his age.

POTENTIAL MOVERS AND SHAKERS++ Roadrunner Records Canada is looking to fill in an A&R Position for its office in Toronto. The candidate should have experience in the music industry; a knowledge of music trends; and strong relationships with bands, clubs, other labels. If interested, send a resume to: slanic@roadrunnerrecords.com

++ Koch Entertainment, Toronto is seeking a junior video marketing manager to be responsible for marketing and promotional initiatives for its group of labels. Minimum one year marketing experience, preferably in the entertainment industry. College degree or related educational background is preferred.Fax resumes can be sent to Jennifer Nicholson at 416-292-0354 or e-mail jennifer@kochcan.com.

RANDOM CHUCKLE

++ Question: In which country is there a John Lennon Peace Forest?Answer: Israel. Where the Beatles nor its members have ever performed.

Over 44 years after being barred from Israel, Beatle members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were recently asked by the country to participate in a concert celebrating its 60th birthday. However, Israel has yet to apologize for its refusal to let the Beatles perform in the country in 1964. In 1964, Israeli promoter Yacov Ori, knowing that the Beatles had a Jewish manager, discovered Brian Epstein had relatives in Israel. He persuaded Epstein to bring the Beatles to Israel. But Israel, being short of foreign currency, had a restrictions on any currency leaving the country. A governmental committee ruled that the band didn't stand on a high enough cultural or artistic level to let them perform. It was also feared that the British band was a bad influence on Israeli youth. Since then, no Beatle member has ever performed in Israel. In 1979, Sir Paul McCartney’s band Wings accepted an invitation for several concerts but the dates were canceled due to scheduling problems.

"Israel missed a chance to learn from the most influential musicians of the decade, and the Beatles missed an opportunity to reach out to one of the most passionate audiences in the world", Israeli ambassador Ron Prosor said in a letter addressed to McCartney. "On our 60th anniversary, we would like to take the opportunity to offer you a second chance to play in Israel."

Meanwhile, Starr will be returning to Canada in June to rehearse for his latest All-Starr tour in support of his recently released album, “Liverpool 8.” In further Beatle-related news Josh Ruskin’s Bravo! FACT-funded short film “I Met the Walrus” is nominated in the Best Animated Short Film category of the 80th Annual Academy Awards.

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The LeBlanc Newsletter is exclusively carried and archived by Canadian Music Week in Canada at: http://www.cmw.net/cmw2008. It is available in the U.S. at Encore Celebrity Access: http://encore.celebrityaccess.com.


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