Grammy winner Allison Russell was recently at the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) Awards, where she paid tribute to Joni Mitchell, who was honoured with the Cultural Impact Award.

She also shared some wisdom on what she thinks people can accomplish in these difficult times.

Speaking after the swift public outcry at Jimmy Kimmel's recent suspension (and reinstatement), Russell said the upswell has given her hope that people will continue to fight for free speech.

“We have a great deal of collective power," she said.

Asked whether she's concerned about facing consequences for being outspoken about politics, particularly in the U.S., Russell said it didn't faze her.

"In these times when there is fear about speaking truth, we have to speak truth even more consistently, intentionally and loudly…. I don't feel scared. I feel galvanized."
 

Do you know the name of Feist’s wild alter ego?

In the early 2000s, before she became an indie icon, Feist lived in a downtown Toronto apartment with Peaches. While working on her own music, she sometimes joined Peaches onstage — and that’s when her wild stage persona was born.

Justin Bieber's 10 best songs, ranked

Justin Bieber has remained one of Canada's greatest cultural exports since his 2010 breakout hit, Baby. He was the first artist to have five No. 1 albums by the age of 18; he was one of the handful of Canadians listed on Billboard's greatest artists of the 21st century so far; and he has two Grammys and eight Juno Awards. His accolades are plentiful, as is his talent.

To celebrate the return of Justin Bieber this year with his two surprise albums, Swag and Swag II, CBC Music’s producers spent hours listening to more than 15 years of his catalogue to choose a definitive list of the Canadian pop star’s 10 best songs.

What are Keshia Chanté, Lights, Tanika Charles and Chxrry loving lately?

We caught up with the Canadian artists on the Billboard Canada Women in Music red carpet, and asked for their recent faves. (Hint: a certain B.C. singer is featured.)

Nearly 500 musicians and labels join campaign to geoblock Israel on Spotify

Over the course of two weeks, the number of musicians and labels who are geo-blocking their music from Spotify has grown to nearly 500, including a number of Canadians. Electronic musician Caribou (pictured), is the latest to join the campaign that describes itself as a "new cultural boycott initiative asking artists and rights-holders to remove their music from streaming platforms in Israel in response to its genocide in Gaza.”

Where you think you're goin', baby?

Carly Rae Jepsen’s mega hit Call Me Maybe turned 14 recently, so to celebrate we dipped into the archives for this 2012 clip of Jepsen talking about what was next for her.

Lean into those fall feels with Saturday Night Jazz

It's all in the family on Saturday Night Jazz with cuts from Papa John DeFrancesco and Brother Jack McDuff. You'll also get all the fall feels with Autumn Serenade, Autumn Leaves and more tunes from Diana Krall (pictured), James Fernando and Jim Doxas Trio.

Great Lake Swimmers pass AP Dhillon to take No.1 on the Top 20

Voting matters! Powered by a gale force of fan voting, Wainfleet, Ontario’s Great Lake Swimmers have surged into the No. 1 spot with their rootsy hit One More Dance Around the Sun (a cut that seems tailor-made for birthday reels forevermore). Punjabi pop anthem Thodi Si Daaru, by Victoria's AP Dhillon, slides to No. 2 after one record-breaking week at No. 1 as the first-ever Punjabi-language song to top our chart. Entering the Top 20 this week is the new French-language earworm by Montreal's Charlotte Cardin, as well as international cuts by Tame Impala and Alabama Shakes. 

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