This Week's Top 11 Playlist - 22 March 2012

Here are some new tracks to get you through the first weeked of spring--such that it is in most parts of the country.  Mediazoic is the official host of this playlist, as always.

Winners at Thursday Night's CMW Industry Awards Dinner

The radio, recording and music retail industry met last night to hand out a bunch of honours.  Read about the Hall of Fame recipients here.  The award winners were as follows (Via NewCanadianMusic.ca)

ALLAN SLAIGHT HUMANITARIAN SPIRIT AWARD

SIMPLE PLAN

ROSALIE AWARD RECIPIENT

BETTY SELLIN

ALLAN WATERS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

JOHN DONABIE

MUSIC INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME

RALPH JAMES

COLIN JAMES

GRAHAM HENDERSON

Click to read more ...

Listen to the New QotSA Album! Sort of. Well, Bits of It. Tiny Bits.

If you go to QotSA.com, you'll be greeted by a fragment of a new song.  Hit the refresh button and you'll get another.  Repeat.

It's not much.  In fact, it's barely a tick above nothing.  But it's something.

The album--still untitled--will be out in June.

The Real Reason Morrissey Cancelled the Rest of His Tour

Yes, it's because he's had health issues, including double pneumonia, a stomach ulcer and a conditon known as Barrett's esophagus.  And yes, doctors advised that he take a break and rest.

But the real issue is insurance.  

When an artist of Morrissey's stature goes on the road, they require cancellation insurance so should something happen, promoters are compensated for the money they lose as a result of the cancelled gig.  Having had to blow out a bunch of shows due to the Mozzer's health issues, he's burned through all his insurance.  

While he might have been able to pull things together health-wise and finish the tour, it was just too risky to go out there again without insurance.  Understandable, no?

(Via Daily Mail)

The Challenges of Becoming a Streaming Music Service

One of the themes that keeps popping up during Canadian Music Week here in Toronto is that streaming is the future.  But the transition from possession of music to ubiquitous access is bumpy.  Music Industry Blog looks at some of the issues faced by the big players like Apple and Google.

Subscriptions are still only a small share of the music market but their time is coming. That time is long over due (I and my former Jupiter colleagues David Card and Aram Sinnreichfirst started making the case for subscriptions back in 2000) and a slew of big players are getting ready to play ball now that subscription look ready for primetime.  But they will find it far from clear sailing.

Click to read more ...