2011 a good year for music - here and elsewhere

New stars, more concerts show industry is adapting to tough financial times

OTTAWA — All not lost, music fans. Although sales of concert tickets and CDs declined in 2011, the music kept coming, a clear indication of an industry learning to adapt to the changing landscape.

The year 2011 was marked by the dominance of a new generation of pop superstars, including Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Selena Gomez, who mounted ambitious world tours and produced lavish videos, each trying to outdo the other. Electronic music also continued to worm its way into mainstream culture, thanks to the rising popularity of artists like Skrillex, Girl Talk and Deadmau5.

Amid the battle to supply instant gratification, the year's biggest story in pop evolved over a period of months. Adele, the young British singer-songwriter, released her 21 album early in the year, demonstrating a stunning voice that bore a similarity to Aretha Franklin's, with an added level of husky emotion.

It sold well, and then kept selling, achieving the No. 1 spot in most countries around the world. It's also up for a handful of Grammy Awards. There was no flashy video, blue hair or leggy outfit. What Adele represented was the power of natural talent. Her soulful music felt like an antidote to the over-produced electro pop that dominated the rest of the charts.

Signs of vitality could also be observed on the Canadian music scene. Drake and Justin Bieber maintained their status as household names around the world. Arcade Fire surprised everyone when they won the Grammy for album of the year, and fulfilled expectations when they also took home this year's Polaris Prize for the best Canadian album of the year. Acts like Mother Mother, Hey Rosetta, Dan Mangan, Elliott Brood, Sarah Slean and Ron Sexsmith, to name a few, released excellent albums, while Saskatoon's Sheepdogs made a splash by winning a contest to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, proving that rock 'n' roll is alive and well.

Canada was also a popular place to tour for almost everyone (except Adele, who cut short her touring schedule to undergo vocal cord surgery, but is planning to resurface for the Grammy Awards on Feb. 12). However, tickets proved to be a tough sell across the industry.

Attendance was lower than expected at several Scotiabank Place concerts, most notably Kings of Leon, Avril Lavigne and the Moody Blues, although the hottest stars were able to pull in the crowds. Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna and Selena Gomez all attracted more than 10,000 people to their Ottawa concerts, while the year's biggest arena show was a rock concert by Bon Jovi that attracted 18,000 fans.

In Ottawa, the music community is thriving, both in the live setting and in the studio.

There was an unprecedented number of great albums by artists like MonkeyJunk, Lynn Miles and Craig Cardiff, and plenty of concert activity, from house concerts to club gigs to theatre shows.

Both the National Arts Centre and City of Ottawa increased the number of concerts presented in their softseat venues, to the delight of aging concertgoers who no longer see themselves standing in a club all night.

The festivals continued to expand and diversify, defying the economic conditions that affected the rest of the business. It was a growth year for Capital Hoedown, Westfest and the Ottawa Folk Festival as all three events moved to spacious new locations. The Ottawa International Jazz Festival presented pop and rock acts, a move that accomplished the goal of attracting younger patrons.

The most shocking thing that happened in the Ottawa music scene this year was the July 17 collapse of the main stage at Bluesfest. It crumpled during a freak storm, while Cheap Trick was on stage. Luckily, injuries were minimal and the accident did nothing to tarnish the reputation of Ottawa's biggest music festival. By fall, organizers had inked a deal with a major new sponsor that provides millions in additional funding and puts a new name on the marquee. Next year's RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest takes place July 4-15.