stayc main image

Hitmakers on Netflix: The Songwriting Show Everyone’s Talking About

July 27, 2025

There's a new voice in music reality, and it's about creating rather than competing. Hitmakers, a six-episode documentary series that follows 12 elite composers and producers as they work together...

Read more
stayc main image

JUST DROPPED! Miley Cyrus & Spotify Team Up for Exclusive Release ‘Billions Club Live With Miley Cyrus: A Concert Film’

July 27, 2025

Miley Cyrus performs an acoustic rendition of "Flowers" in her new EP.‍Spotify just gave Miley Cyrus fans the ultimate gift. The streaming platform has released...

Read more
stayc main image

Musicians Push Back on Dwindling Payments from Streaming Services

July 27, 2025

The rise of streaming platforms has fundamentally reshaped the music industry, offering convenience and accessibility to millions of listeners. However, for many musicians, the rapid growth of...

Read more
stayc main image

Olivia Rodrigo & Gracie Abrams Speak Out Against Starvation Crisis in Gaza: "We Can’t Stay Silent"

July 27, 2025

Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams are using their massive platforms to amplify the voices of those suffering in Gaza, where children are facing severe malnutrition due to the prolonged Israel-Hamas...

Read more
stayc main image

Canadian musicians remember Ozzy Osbourne

July 23, 2025

Following the news of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing, Canadian musicians have come forward with emotional tributes to the legendary "Prince of Darkness." Known for his pioneering work with Black Sabbath...

Read more
stayc main image

Demi's Long-Awaited Comeback with New Album Giving 'Main Character High-Energy Dance’

July 23, 2025

After famously holding a "funeral" for her pop sound in 2022, Demi Lovato is officially resurrecting her mainstream roots—with a pulsating dance-pop album that promises to be her "most celebratory"...

Read more
stayc main image

(New Update) Tragedy at Tomorrowland 2025: Woman Dies After Falling!

July 23, 2025

A 35-year-old Canadian woman has died after falling ill during the opening day of Tomorrowland 2025 in Boom, Belgium. The festival, already reeling from a massive main stage fire just days before...

Read more
stayc main image

When a Band That Never Existed Hits 1 Million Spotify Streams — Is Anyone Listening?

July 23, 2025

Consider Billie Eilish as a synthetic voice rather than the genuine one. Spotify recently entered the world of Velvet Sundown, a full AI project including music, graphics, and an algorithmically...

Read more
stayc main image

Resident blocks Beatles fans from Harrison's home

July 23, 2025

In a move to regain some peace and privacy, residents of Arnold Grove in Liverpool have put up a chain across their street, blocking access to the birthplace of Beatles legend George Harrison...

Read more
stayc main image

Pink Floyd Sells Their Rights to Sony and It’s the End of an Era

July 23, 2025

The legendary band that soundtracked a generation has officially handed over the keysThere are bands that make hits, and then there are bands that change the fabric of music forever. Pink Floyd has...

Read more
stayc main image

Red Velvet in North Korea: The K-pop Performance That Crossed the Border

July 23, 2025

When five women did what decades of politics couldn’t, bring two Koreas a little closerThere’s performing for fans, then there’s performing for history.In 2018, Red Velvet, one of K-pop’s most...

Read more
stayc main image

BLACKPINK at Coachella: The Moment That Made America Blink

July 23, 2025

When four girls from South Korea turned the California desert into a global stageThere are music moments… and then there are cultural reset moments. BLACKPINK performing at Coachella? Yeah. That...

Read more

From Scarborough to Stardom: The Weeknd Receives Toronto's Highest Honor Ahead of Homecoming Concerts

stayc main image

The Weeknd’s meteoric rise from Toronto’s underground music scene to global superstardom came full circle this weekend as Mayor Olivia Chow presented the Grammy-winning artist with the Key to the City a symbolic gesture cementing his legacy as one of Toronto’s most influential cultural ambassadors.

A Hero’s Welcome!

Amid roaring cheers from fans, Abel Tesfaye (born and raised in Scarborough) accepted the honor ahead of his four sold-out After Hours ‘Til Dawn Tour shows at Rogers Centre. “I’m deeply honored,” Tesfaye said in an emotional statement. “Toronto is where I found my voice, and I’m committed to helping the next generation find theirs.”

Mayor Chow didn’t hold back praise: “From Scarborough to the global stage, he’s reshaped modern music while lifting up our communities.” She also declared July 26-27 “Weeknd Weekend” across the city, coinciding with the tour’s first two explosive performances.

More Than Music: The Weeknd’s Toronto Legacy

The ceremony highlighted Tesfaye’s philanthropic ties to his hometown:

  • $500K donation to Scarborough Health Network during COVID-19
  • Support for the University of Toronto’s Ethiopian Studies program
  • Co-founding HXOUSE, a nonprofit incubator for local creatives
  • New pledges to fund Birchmount Park Collegiate (his alma mater) and the Boys & Girls Club of West Scarborough

“He represents the best of our city,” Chow added, nodding to his blend of artistic innovation and grassroots advocacy.

The Homecoming Concerts: Night 1 Highlights

Fans at the July 27 show were treated to a career-spanning setlist, from early mixtape cuts to Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025) hits, plus nostalgic nods to Toronto landmarks. Social media erupted over:

  • A surprise appearance by Toronto rapper Pressa on “Heartless” 
  • A Scarborough-signature roti delivered to him onstage mid-performance
  • A tearful speech: “This city made me believe the impossible was possible.”

What’s Next?

With two more Toronto dates (Aug. 7-8) before the tour’s finale, Tesfaye’s homecoming celebration is far from over. As the After Hours ‘Til Dawn juggernaut supporting his three consecutive Billboard Top 10 albums rolls on, one thing’s clear: The Weeknd’s roots remain as vital as his reach.

From Scarborough to Stardom: The Weeknd Receives Toronto's Highest Honor Ahead of Homecoming Concertsfrom-scarborough-to-stardom-the-weeknd-receives-torontos-highest-honor-ahead-of-homecoming-concertsEbrunida KaradagJul 31, 2025The Weeknd’s meteoric rise from Toronto’s underground music scene to global superstardom came full circle this weekend as Mayor Olivia Chow presented the Grammy-winning artist with the Key to the...