josh o'kane
@joshokane.bsky.social
"A dogged reporter with a weakness for bad jokes." Business of arts for @globeandmail. Wrote Sideways: The City Google Couldn't Buy. jokane@globeandmail.com
Reposted by josh o'kane
Ex-Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun has Lunch with the FT and in one of those instances so rare that you know he didn't sign an NDA, says exactly why as.ft.com/r/e503690d-8...
January 2, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Ex-Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun has Lunch with the FT and in one of those instances so rare that you know he didn't sign an NDA, says exactly why as.ft.com/r/e503690d-8...
Reposted by josh o'kane
hey i wrote a history of electronic music in canada from 1945-1985. it's called A Nation of Tinkerers and it's now available to pre-order through @invisibooks.bsky.social!
invisiblepublishing.com/product/a-na...
invisiblepublishing.com/product/a-na...
A Nation of Tinkerers: A History of Canadian Electronic Music from 1945–1985 · Invisible Publishing
From university labs to home-built studios, A Nation of Tinkerers charts the evolution of Canadian electronic music.
invisiblepublishing.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:08 PM
hey i wrote a history of electronic music in canada from 1945-1985. it's called A Nation of Tinkerers and it's now available to pre-order through @invisibooks.bsky.social!
invisiblepublishing.com/product/a-na...
invisiblepublishing.com/product/a-na...
Reposted by josh o'kane
So much chatter about Mamdani but once again I had to turn to actual media to get the real story: that Brampton rapper (and actor!) Babbulicious closed out the inauguration. www.thestar.com/news/gta/new...
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ends oath ceremony with performance by Toronto rapper
The Punjabi artist changed his song lyrics, originally about Brampton, to shoutout parts of New York instead.
www.thestar.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:04 PM
So much chatter about Mamdani but once again I had to turn to actual media to get the real story: that Brampton rapper (and actor!) Babbulicious closed out the inauguration. www.thestar.com/news/gta/new...
Reposted by josh o'kane
I really do love how the Prince estate basically told Netflix "Yeah kill that Ezra Edelman documentary project, we don't actually want people thinking he might have been flawed and human or anything, but we'll be happy to partner up with your autohype plans, sure!"
Now they’re asking if you caught this “Easter egg,” which appears to be a badly framed shot of merchandise at the local Target? There are still 363.5 days left in the year.
January 2, 2026 at 3:48 PM
I really do love how the Prince estate basically told Netflix "Yeah kill that Ezra Edelman documentary project, we don't actually want people thinking he might have been flawed and human or anything, but we'll be happy to partner up with your autohype plans, sure!"
Reposted by josh o'kane
So many factors involved in the decline since '08 of reported narrative nonfiction, but the rise of AI in a saner world would herald a revival, since reporting--the kind where you put your body in places with other people--is something AI can't do. Mediocre fiction? No problem. Reportage? It can't.
January 1, 2026 at 7:11 PM
So many factors involved in the decline since '08 of reported narrative nonfiction, but the rise of AI in a saner world would herald a revival, since reporting--the kind where you put your body in places with other people--is something AI can't do. Mediocre fiction? No problem. Reportage? It can't.
Reposted by josh o'kane
PREORDER CANADA ALERT 🚨
Fabulous Cover Alert 🔔
Save a bedraggled writer prompt 🎺
Thank you for sticking with me stamp ❤️
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/555536...
Fabulous Cover Alert 🔔
Save a bedraggled writer prompt 🎺
Thank you for sticking with me stamp ❤️
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/555536...
Library of Brothel by Anakana Schofield | Penguin Random House Canada
The long-anticipated, wildly inventive new novel by the Irish-Canadian writer whose previous work was shortlisted for the Giller Prize, the Ethel Wilson Prize and the Goldsmith’s Prize (UK).
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca
December 29, 2025 at 8:34 PM
PREORDER CANADA ALERT 🚨
Fabulous Cover Alert 🔔
Save a bedraggled writer prompt 🎺
Thank you for sticking with me stamp ❤️
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/555536...
Fabulous Cover Alert 🔔
Save a bedraggled writer prompt 🎺
Thank you for sticking with me stamp ❤️
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/555536...
Reposted by josh o'kane
I am honoured to announce I’ve been appointed as a member to the Order of Canada. Thank you to everyone for the support! I dedicate this to my late Mom who taught me so much about history, local independent media & research. I know that she would be, like me, screaming with joy! #orderofcanada
December 31, 2025 at 1:24 PM
I am honoured to announce I’ve been appointed as a member to the Order of Canada. Thank you to everyone for the support! I dedicate this to my late Mom who taught me so much about history, local independent media & research. I know that she would be, like me, screaming with joy! #orderofcanada
Reposted by josh o'kane
“Prominent artists have started to complain. Kaytranada, a Grammy-winning DJ, has called out stationary crowds. Tyler, the Creator, the rapper who has released four straight No. 1 albums, lamented in July that the threat of constant surveillance was killing dance for his generation.”
Suddenly Everyone Is Scared to Dance at Concerts and Clubs
More partygoers are worrying about looking goofy on camera, prompting some artists to wonder if social media is killing dance.
www.wsj.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:50 PM
“Prominent artists have started to complain. Kaytranada, a Grammy-winning DJ, has called out stationary crowds. Tyler, the Creator, the rapper who has released four straight No. 1 albums, lamented in July that the threat of constant surveillance was killing dance for his generation.”
Reposted by josh o'kane
Isiah Whitlock Jr. (1954–2025)
December 30, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Isiah Whitlock Jr. (1954–2025)
Reposted by josh o'kane
My book Live to See the Day is out one week from today. I think you should order it! www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/645965...
December 30, 2025 at 6:13 PM
My book Live to See the Day is out one week from today. I think you should order it! www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/645965...
Reposted by josh o'kane
Bumped this constantly for a year and a half..... sonic home of the original YOLO
The Strokes’ ‘First Impressions Of Earth’ was first released 20 years ago today in some European countries (though it had leaked online a month earlier) 🧃
December 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Bumped this constantly for a year and a half..... sonic home of the original YOLO
Reposted by josh o'kane
If anybody at the Globe and Mail wants to tell me What Happened, my DMs are open and I will protect your anonymity. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Globe editorial: Microwaving fish, and the lost art of office etiquette
The return to in-person work means rediscovering the finer points of peaceable corporate co-existence
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:27 AM
If anybody at the Globe and Mail wants to tell me What Happened, my DMs are open and I will protect your anonymity. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Reposted by josh o'kane
I interviewed Wolf Parade’s @spencerkrug.bsky.social about I’ll Believe in Anything going viral 20 years after its release, thanks to Heated Rivalry
We talked about Montreal lofts, old synthesizers, aging, and Not Being Hockey Guys www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/musi...
We talked about Montreal lofts, old synthesizers, aging, and Not Being Hockey Guys www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/musi...
Wolf Parade’s Spencer Krug on his music’s viral moment, courtesy of Heated Rivalry
The song plays a big role in episode five of the hit show about a pair of star-crossed hockey players
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I interviewed Wolf Parade’s @spencerkrug.bsky.social about I’ll Believe in Anything going viral 20 years after its release, thanks to Heated Rivalry
We talked about Montreal lofts, old synthesizers, aging, and Not Being Hockey Guys www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/musi...
We talked about Montreal lofts, old synthesizers, aging, and Not Being Hockey Guys www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/musi...
Reposted by josh o'kane
The Globe and Mail’s Christmas painting: Home on the Range, by William Kurelek.
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com
The Globe’s Christmas painting: Home on the Range, by William Kurelek
This Prairie snow scene by a Ukrainian-Canadian artist feels like nostalgia
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The Globe and Mail’s Christmas painting: Home on the Range, by William Kurelek.
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com
Reposted by josh o'kane
me and the boys making the Yuletide bright
December 25, 2025 at 3:25 AM
me and the boys making the Yuletide bright
Reposted by josh o'kane
We voraciously consume creative works, yet refuse to honour creators for their time, labour, and creativity. It's an unstable pathway that reduces art to a consumable product and artists as a barrier to consumption — hence more and more AI-generated music. www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/a...
Canadians now listen to three billion streams a week. It’s hitting a bittersweet note for many musicians
Canadians seem happy to pay for digital music, but that doesn’t make up for losses in a reshaped industry
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:38 PM
We voraciously consume creative works, yet refuse to honour creators for their time, labour, and creativity. It's an unstable pathway that reduces art to a consumable product and artists as a barrier to consumption — hence more and more AI-generated music. www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/a...
Reposted by josh o'kane
It’s interesting that Global TV made international news and its comms and PR team hasn’t been able to pull together a statement in two days - is so far just letting CBS speak for them. www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/film...
CBS issues takedown orders for 60 Minutes segment ‘mistakenly published’ by Global
The news report features Venezuelan men who say they were tortured in an El Salvador prison
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:25 PM
It’s interesting that Global TV made international news and its comms and PR team hasn’t been able to pull together a statement in two days - is so far just letting CBS speak for them. www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/film...
New: Faculty, grad students & alumni from Toronto’s York University are pressing the school’s leadership to reinstate Jenifer Papararo as head of the school’s Goldfarb Gallery after she was terminated several weeks ago. They're alleging a trend of interference www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
York University faculty, grad students, alumni push admin to reinstate terminated curator
Termination coincides with administration’s ‘resistance’ to artwork dedicated to student movement for Palestine, says letter from 117 signatories
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:53 PM
New: Faculty, grad students & alumni from Toronto’s York University are pressing the school’s leadership to reinstate Jenifer Papararo as head of the school’s Goldfarb Gallery after she was terminated several weeks ago. They're alleging a trend of interference www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Reposted by josh o'kane
New from me: The storied fiddler Ashley MacIsaac wanted to play a show at a Nova Scotia First Nation. It got cancelled because Google's AI search summary incorrectly called him a sex offender. Now he's worried for his safety www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Fiddler Ashley MacIsaac has show cancelled over Google AI-generated misinformation
Cape Breton musician was set to perform in Nova Scotia before a search summary incorrectly described him as a sex offender
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
New from me: The storied fiddler Ashley MacIsaac wanted to play a show at a Nova Scotia First Nation. It got cancelled because Google's AI search summary incorrectly called him a sex offender. Now he's worried for his safety www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Longtime Wolf Parade fan, but I have seen versions of this float around for days without evidence and every time I check Spotify's Global Top 50 it's all Christmas music and Taylor Swift?
December 22, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Longtime Wolf Parade fan, but I have seen versions of this float around for days without evidence and every time I check Spotify's Global Top 50 it's all Christmas music and Taylor Swift?
New: Canadians are now officially streaming 3 billion songs a week.
When I started writing about streaming economics in 2013, things were dire. Now? Despite more money flowing to music, most musicians I've talked to over 12 years don't find things better www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/a...
When I started writing about streaming economics in 2013, things were dire. Now? Despite more money flowing to music, most musicians I've talked to over 12 years don't find things better www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/a...
Canadians now listen to three billion streams a week. It’s hitting a bittersweet note for many musicians
Canadians seem happy to pay for digital music, but that doesn’t make up for losses in a reshaped industry
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:22 PM
New: Canadians are now officially streaming 3 billion songs a week.
When I started writing about streaming economics in 2013, things were dire. Now? Despite more money flowing to music, most musicians I've talked to over 12 years don't find things better www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/a...
When I started writing about streaming economics in 2013, things were dire. Now? Despite more money flowing to music, most musicians I've talked to over 12 years don't find things better www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/a...