Singer-songwriter Safia Nolin announced Thursday evening her decision to withdraw her music from QUB musique, the streaming platform owned by Quebecor.
Posted at 3:45 p.m.
Her decision is motivated, she says, by negative opinions formulated in a “gratuitous and repeated” way about her by columnists Richard Martineau and Sophie Durocher, of the Quebecor family.
While specifying that QUB musique was created in 2020 to promote “local music”, the singer-songwriter writes that “the QUB ecosystem also hosts the opinions of columnists who have held, for free and repeated, negative remarks about [s]to no one.
On February 24, on its social networks, the Bonsound label, which represents Safia Nolin, called on the chroniclers of Montreal Journal Sophie Durocher and Richard Martineau, as well as their employer, to show restraint towards the singer. The latter would receive, for almost two years, death threats “at an alarming frequency”, in addition to being the subject of hateful graffiti and “odious” comments on social networks.
“You continue despite everything to publish chronicles in which you intimidate her at the slightest comment that she emits, by placing you under the cover of the opinion piece,” continued Bonsound in his post.
In an “update” published last week, Sophie Durocher defended her right to chronicle Safia Nolin’s public positions. The latter had in particular criticized the decision of Star Academy to invite Patrick Bruel on his set, because of the allegations of sexual misconduct against him; these gave rise to criminal investigations, which were finally dismissed.
Safia Nolin had also sported the ACAB logo (“All Cops Are Bastards”) on promotional photos of a performance broadcast on ICI Musique, which Mme Durocher had denounced.
For his part, Richard Martineau replied, on his social networks, that Safia Nolin was “unable to take the slightest criticism”.
At Bonsound, we had no comment to make on the choice of Safia Nolin, except to specify that we support the singer in her decision.
Invited to comment on this decision, QUB musique wrote to us: “We have been informed of Safia Nolin’s decision to withdraw her catalog from QUB musique. QUB musique is a platform that offers an exceptional showcase for local music and artists. For this reason, we hope to be able to continue highlighting his work in the future. »