MUSIC NEWS: FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015
MUSIC-CDN-COUNTRY-MUSIC-AWARDS
The Canadian Country Music Awards returns to Saskatoon in 2017, five years after they were last year there. Don Green, president of the Canadian Country Music Association, says Saskatoon was the best option. He says it has everything they need in terms of the venues, the community support and the volunteers.
Green says they ``had such a great time here in 2012, it was an easy choice to come back here in 2017.'' Saskatchewan's own Codie Prevost has been nominated for four C-C-M-A awards in his career, and says it would be amazing to win an award in his home province.
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JUSTIN BIEBER-USHER LAWSUIT
Looks like Justin Bieber and Usher are back on the hook legally in a copyright lawsuit. An appeals court in Virginia has reinstated a suit against the singers filed by two songwriters. The writers claim The Beeb and his former mentor ripped off parts of the song ``Somebody to Love.'' Last year, a judge in Norfolk, Virginia dismissed the claim by Devin Copeland and Maerio Overton, saying the songs didn't sound the same to him. But the appeals court says that should be up to a jury to decide.
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NEIL YOUNG-DONALD TRUMP
Neil Young says he makes music for people - not political candidates. It's the Canadian rock artist's latest salvo in the battle over the use of his song ``Rockin' in the Free World'' by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump. Trump pulled the song after Young objected. In a statement released by his label, Young provided a rather long-winded explanation for his decision -- though not as rambling as the speech Trump gave at his kickoff event the other day. Young notes his Canadian citizenship prevents him from voting for a candidate. But he also says he doesn't care for the way politics is conducted here in the U.S. -- or other parts of the world.
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TOBY KEITH SPEAKS ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA CHURCH SHOOTING
Toby Keith has something to say about the church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina on Wednesday night. The country star says he isn't sure how to prevent such tragedies. He notes: ``it if can happen in church, it can happen anywhere.'' Keith also says he doesn't approve of stricter gun laws. He says there are many other countries that have strict gun laws -- and there are still shootings there.
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OZZY OSBOURNE TO PLAY VOODOO FEST
Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Florence and the Machine and the Zac Brown Band will be in New Orleans for the this year's Voodoo Music Festival. Organizers have announced the headliners for the alternative music festival this fall. Other performers include Modest Mouse, Jane's Addiction and Third Eye Blind. The event is set for Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at City Park in the Big Easy.
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SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME
Lady Gaga turned up in a black bra and dark panties before switching to a zebra-striped suit. Tony Bennett stuck to old-fashioned blue, while Stephen Colbert looked at home in denim and a cowboy hat.
Bennett, Colbert, Lady Gaga and Van Morrison were among the featured singers and speakers Thursday night at the 46th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony, a 3-hour journey through the vast and unpredictable range of American music.
New inductees included country stars Toby Keith and Bobby Braddock, the late Chicago bluesman Willie Dixon, the Grateful Dead songwriting team of Robert Hunter and the late Jerry Garcia, pop and stage star Cyndi Lauper and rock composer and performer Linda Perry.
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The Canadian Press/The Associated Press