WEEKND READING
The New York Times Magazine's cover story on The Weeknd is a fascinating read, tracing the breakout star's trajectory from his aimless, druggy, impoverished teen years in Toronto to the top of the charts. It all comes just before the release of what author Jon Caramanica calls "one of the most sonically ambitious pop albums of the year," Beauty Behind the Mask (XO/Republic).
Among the biz folk cited are Republic chief Monte Lipman, A&R exec Wendy Goldstein and SONGS Music prexy Ron Perry; the latter appears in an anecdote about a key track on the album, about which he exclaimed, "It's Billie Jean! It's Billie [expletive] Jean!"
Interestingly, the story leaves out A&R SVP Nate Albert, who signed The Weeknd and was instrumental in nurturing his career.
