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Industry News (298)

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Canadian Music Week to release comprehensive Canadian music industry guide

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Canadian Music Week (CMW) and C.A.A.M.A. (Canadian Association for the Advancement of Music & the Arts) have announced they will be creating the CMW Music Industry Market Report & Directory, transcribed by Canadian music writer Martin Melhuish.

The report was derived from CMW international delegates responses hoping for a Canadian market report to help with exporting artists. The CMW Music Industry Market Report & Directory will analyze all parts of the Canadian music industry, which includes hundreds of verified market facts and contacts within venues, live event services, promoters, publishers, recording services, studios, associations, organizations, festivals, events, media, consultants and more.

“After more than a decade of hosting international buyers and working closely on export development, we are finally bridging the gap across all music sectors to deliver a market report and directory that focuses on Canada,” said Canadian Music Week President Neill Dixon in a release. “CMW has held numerous Spotlights and Focuses, as well as an annual International Market place, to help narrow in on important international markets that should do business with Canadians. Now we can give everyone what they’ve been asking for… a guide that will support internationals executing business in Canada with up to date resources and contacts.”

Martin Melhuish, better known to many as Canada’s Literary Music Man, will be a key contributor to the CMW Music Industry Market Report & Directory. Melhuish has written several books about Canadian music over his 40 year writing career, including a history of Canadian country music, a definitive biography of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and the JUNO Awards series, Oh What A Feeling: A Vital History Of Canadian Music.

More updates are excepted leading up to CMW’s 36th year, happening May 7-13, 2018 in Toronto, ON.

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Music Canada launches ‘Gold In Canada’ playlists

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Music Canada is excited to reveal our new ‘Gold In Canada’ playlist, available now through Spotify and Google Play Music. The playlist features fifty of the latest tracks of all genres and eras certified as a Gold Single in Canada, and will be updated every Thursday to keep the rotation fresh with the latest certifications.

Music Canada’s current Gold/Platinum Single Award, which includes on-demand streams towards certifications for the first time in the program’s history, was introduced September 12, 2016. Since the update, Music Canada has seen over a 60% increase in Gold track certifications from the previous year, with many domestic and international artists receiving the first Canadian Gold certifications of their careers.

Spotify users can follow the playlist by visit the embedded player below, and Google Play Music users can click here to subscribe to the playlist. Music fans are encouraged to follow and share the playlist when they see their favourite artists added to the rotation using the hashtag #GoldInCanada.

Licensed music services interested in featuring the Gold In Canada playlist on their platform can contact goldplat@musiccanada.com.

Categories: Gold/Platinum, Industry News
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Polaris Music Prize reveals 2017 Short List

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The 2017 Polaris Music Prize Short List was revealed today via live stream through CBC Music’s website and Facebook page, broadcast from CBC’s Toronto headquarters.

The 2017 Polaris Music Prize Short List is:

  • A Tribe Called Red – We Are The Halluci Nation
  • BADBADNOTGOOD – IV
  • Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
  • Gord Downie – Secret Path
  • Feist – Pleasure
  • Lisa LeBlanc – Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen?
  • Lido Pimienta – La Papessa
  • Tanya Tagaq – Retribution
  • Leif Vollebekk – Twin Solitude
  • Weaves – Weaves

The annual Polaris Music Prize recognizes excellence in Canadian music based solely on artistic merit, judged by a panel of music critics, with no regard for sales, popularity, or genre. This year’s winning album will be announced at the Polaris Gala at The Carlu in Toronto on September 18, and will also be live streamed by CBC Music.

Congratulations to all of the artists who made the Short List!

You can watch the Short List reveal below:

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Canadian Country Music Association reveals 2017 CCMA Awards nominees

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The Canadian Country Music Association has revealed the full list of nominees today for the 2017 CCMA Awards Show. The show will broadcast live from the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, SK, on Sunday, September 10 at 8pm on CBC. Thirty-four CCMA Award categories were revealed, with eight of the categories scheduled to be presented during the broadcast.

Brett Kissel, Dean Brody, and first time nominees James Barker Band lead the list of nominees with five nominations. Dallas Smith earned four nominations, while High Valley and Meghan Patrick earned three nominations.

Gord Bamford, Dean Brody, Chad Brownlee, High Valley, and Dallas Smith were also announced as the nominees for the 2017 Apple Music Fans’ Choice Award, which was revealed Tuesday night on Entertainment Tonight Canada. Fans can vote for the award by clicking their favourite act at fanvote.ccma.org, listening to their favourite song on Apple Music, and taking to social media to hashtag their pick.

Tickets for the 2017 CCMA Awards show, featuring performances by Brett Kissel, Dean Brody, Jess Moskaluke, and more to be announced, are on sale now.

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Music Heals launches Covers For The Cause campaign and performance contest

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Music Heals, a Vancouver-based charity that raises money and awareness for music therapy programs across Canada, has launched a unique new fundraising campaign for artists and their fans. With the Covers For The Cause campaign, artists are taking requests from their fans to perform covers of songs in exchange for a donation to the charity.

“We’ve listened to artists who have told us that they are looking for creative ways to give back,” Music Heals executive director Chris Brandt told The Georgia Straight. “Music Heals supporters are, first and foremost, music fans. This puts the musician and the fan in direct contact, for the purpose of supporting music therapy for kids, seniors, palliative care, dementia, and more.”

In partnership with BrandLIVE, Music Heals will also give the opportunity for the musician or group that raises the most money before July 17 to perform on stage in Vancouver. The performance will take place on August 2 during the Honda Celebration Of Light.

So far, the campaign has raised over $3,500. Artists looking to participate in Covers For The Cause can still register, and set their minimum donation amounts and request amounts.

Categories: Advocacy, Industry News
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Celebrate Canada Day 2017 with free live music across the country

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Photo Credit: City of Calgary

As Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary of confederation, free and family-friendly celebrations featuring exciting musical performances are taking place all over the country.  From Deadmau5 in Halifax to Bruce Cockburn in Yellowknife, there is something for everyone this Canada Day weekend.

Toronto’s Queen’s Park Canada Day celebrations have been a tradition since 1967, and this year will feature artists like Ginger Ale and the Monowhales on top of fun activities, workshops, and meet and greets.  Exciting performances from the Barenaked Ladies, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and many more will be featured at Nathan Phillips Square.  Mel Lastman Square, Humber Bay Park West, and the Scarborough Civic Centre will also host amazing performances by local, national and international artists.

Canadian music legend Gordon Lightfoot will be joined by rising Canadian superstar Alessia Cara and many more for performances at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.  Meanwhile, Canadian acts like Ruth B will be playing at Major’s Hill Park and The Lost Fingers will be featured at the Canadian Museum of History.

To be followed by a fireworks celebration, the Old Port of Montreal will feature fun activities for families and musical acts like Charles Papasoff.  At another historic site, The Forks in Winnipeg, there will be fun and free programming taking place on five stages. Musical acts include the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and headlining duo Whitehorse.  Meanwhile, Sam Roberts Band will be one of many musical acts featured at Canada Place in Vancouver.

On Riverfront Avenue, in Calgary, Tegan and Sara are returning to their hometown to join a lineup including a Multicultural Orchestra and Inuit throat singers.  Alberta Legislature in Edmonton will feature artists at both a Diversity stage, showcasing the richness of Alberta’s cultural landscape, and a Discovered Stage, featuring performances from exciting musicians including another Edmonton native, Alyssa Reid.

Categories: Industry News, Music Tourism
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YYZ Live performance series launches at Toronto Pearson International Airport

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Toronto Mayor John Tory was on hand Tuesday morning for the launch of YYZ Live, a new daily concert series greeting international arrivals at Pearson International Airport’s Terminal 1. In celebration of Canada 150, the event will run from June 26 to September 15, with 150 performances by 75 emerging artists from Toronto’s music scene.

“The first exposure a lot of people have to Toronto and Canada is in this building,” said Mayor John Tory, echoing earlier remarks by Greater Toronto Airports Authority CEO Howard Eng. “I’m proud that, thanks to this program, the first exposure people have to our culture is through music played by Toronto artists.”

Pearson is Canada’s largest airport, seeing more than 44 million passengers travel through the airport in 2016. As identified in Music Canada’s The Mastering Of A Music City report, airports in cities like Austin, Melbourne, and Seattle have already successfully hosted music performances. In Seattle, the trial program generated USD$259,000 for the artists from wages, tips and merchandise. The program’s success guaranteed its continuation for another three years, and helped permit the opening of a Sub Pop record store in the airport.

“As an independent musician, I’ve traveled over 50,000 miles sharing my music with audiences from Nashville to the Netherlands, because as many Toronto musicians know, it’s often easier to build a fan base abroad and online than it is in a city as big and as diverse as ours,” said acclaimed indie soul artist AHI in a release, who concluded today’s launch event with a performance. “I appreciate that the City of Toronto is working to develop creative opportunities for live music to become an accessible part of the community, and I’ve been privileged to participate in several events where I can share my music and build my audience right here at home.”

Mayor Tory concluded his remarks by reinstating his commitment to the future success of music in Toronto, noting the success of its artists and the arts sector help the “soul of the city” and attract more talented people to Toronto. Mayor Tory and Councillor Josh Colle, Chair of the Toronto Music Advisory Council, also acknowledged the efforts of Councillor John Filion, who was absent from Tuesday’s announcement, but instrumental in making YYZ Live a reality.

There will be two opportunities daily to catch the performances, with a 7pm show at the YYZ Live Stage (Terminal 1, International Arrivals), and an 8pm show at the YYZ Live Acoustic Stage (Terminal Link train platform). For artists interested in performing, applications are still being accepted by submitting this application to perform@toronto.ca.

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Polaris Music Prize reveals 2017 Long List in Ottawa

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The Long List for the 2017 Polaris Music Prize was revealed Tuesday during a press conference at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. The announcement, hosted by Polaris founder and Executive Director Steve Jordan, was livestreamed on Facebook Live.

The announcement capped off an exciting week for Jordan, who was also presented with the Unsung Hero Award Monday evening at the Canadian Independent Music Association’s third annual Celebration & Awards Gala in Toronto.

The 10 album Short List will be revealed on July 13, while the winning album will be announced at the Polaris Gala at The Carlu in Toronto on September 18. Both events will be streamed by CBC Music.

The 2017 Polaris Music Prize Long List is:

  • A Tribe Called Red – We Are The Halluci Nation
  • Alaclair Ensemble – Les Frères Cueilleurs
  • Anciients – Voice of the Void
  • Arkells – Morning Report
  • Philippe B – La grande nuit vidéo
  • BADBADNOTGOOD – IV
  • Louise Burns – Young Mopes
  • Chocolat – Rencontrer Looloo
  • Clairmont The Second – Quest For Milk and Honey
  • Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
  • Antoine Corriveau – Cette chose qui cognait au creux de sa poitrine sans vouloir s’arrêter
  • Le Couleur – P.O.P.
  • Marie Davidson – Adieux Au Dancefloor
  • Mac Demarco – This Old Dog
  • Gord Downie – Secret Path
  • Drake – More Life
  • Feist – Pleasure
  • Figure Walking – The Big Other
  • Fiver – Audible Songs From Rockwood
  • Geoffroy – Coastline
  • Hannah Georgas – For Evelyn
  • Japandroids – Near To The Wild Heart Of Life
  • Carly Rae Jepsen – E.MO.TION Side B
  • B.A. Johnston – Gremlins III
  • Lisa LeBlanc – Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen?
  • The New Pornographers – Whiteout Conditions
  • Klô Pelgag – L’Étoile thoracique
  • Peter Peter – Noir Éden
  • Lido Pimienta – La Papessa
  • Jessie Reyez – Kiddo
  • Daniel Romano – Modern Pressure
  • The Sadies – Northern Passages
  • John K. Samson – Winter Wheat
  • Tanya Tagaq – Retribution
  • The Tragically Hip – Man Machine Poem
  • TUNS – TUNS
  • Leif Vollebekk – Twin Solitude
  • Weaves – Weaves
  • The Weeknd – Starboy
  • Charlotte Day Wilson – CDW
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Constructive dialogue emerges at June meeting of Toronto Music Industry Advisory Council

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The Toronto Music Industry Advisory Council’s (TMAC) June 5 meeting was dominated by a positive and constructive atmosphere that resulted in decisions on key issues facing the sector, and an important dialogue with members of the local music community.

The meeting provided a forum for members of the local music community to raise new ideas.   Deputations addressed such topics as the use of alternative spaces for live music performances and DIY-music spaces (for instance, public libraries and empty storefronts), the challenges posed to affordability of housing and music hubs, commercial rent caps, the integration of diverse voices and the importance of prohibiting anonymous complaints. The tone of discussion was helpful and constructive.

TMAC Co-Chair, Councillor Josh Colle, encouraged members of the public to consider participating in TMAC sub-committees, which, as discussed at the meeting are going to be realigned in order to develop a leaner and more effective sub-committee structure.

TMAC also passed several resolutions at the meeting which constitute advisory motions to the Economic Development Committee which would then need to consider and refer to City Council:

A recommendation that City Council request the economic development department partner with Music Canada Live which is planning to gather data about the impact of live music venues in Toronto, from an economic, social, and cultural perspective; That the city’s economic development department provide marketing support for the “Toronto Music Passport,” a new industry-led event series that was floated by Mayor John Tory at Music Canada’s and Canadian Music Week’s “The Mastering of a Music City Summit.”

A recommendation that the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, advise the Director, Affordable Housing Office and local councillors considering ‘shovel-ready’ affordable housing projects, to include those with music hubs, in partnership with local music community stakeholders and non-profit organizations.

Monday’s meeting was also the last for Andreas Kalogiannides as Co-Chair, who resigned his executive position—a position he had held since June 2015. Andreas has been a tireless advocate for Toronto’s music industry, continuously touting the value of the sector and TMAC to City Council and the music community.

TMAC was established by City Council to provide recommendations and advice to enhance the attractiveness, competitiveness, and growth of Toronto’s music industry; be a forum for the music industry and provide coherent advice to City Council on issues and opportunities for the sector; and to promote Toronto’s music industry and monitor and advise on marketing strategies to strengthen the viability of the music sector.

You can view the minutes of the meeting on the City of Toronto’s website.

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Ontario Arts Council study confirms support for arts in Ontario

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A new Ontario Arts Council (OAC) study conducted by Nanos Research has found that the arts maintain a high level of support among Ontarians. According to the report, Ontario residents recognize the important contribution of the arts—music included—to vibrant, liveable communities. This report is a follow up to OAC’s 2010 provincial survey, and offers an important perspective on arts in the public eye.

The survey, based on a random sample of 1,004 individuals, found that a majority of Ontarians recognize the positive impact that the arts have on quality of life, community well-being, identity and belonging, and government investment.

“The results of the Quality of Life report confirm what we heard as we developed the province’s first Culture Strategy, and show that Ontarians intuitively understand that culture is a fundamentally important part of our lives and communities,” said Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “I’m proud that our government is taking steps to strengthen the arts and culture sector as we implement the initiatives outlined in the Culture Strategy, and the Ontario Arts Council is an important part of that work.”

“This study clearly demonstrates that people across Ontario believe that the arts make an important contribution to their quality of life and social well-being and that arts activities are key factors in increasing the attractiveness of their communities as places to live and work,” said Rita Davies, Chair, Ontario Arts Council.

Highlights of the survey are as follows:

Arts and quality of life

  • 93% of Ontarians agree that arts activities help enrich the quality of our lives.
  • 90% of Ontarians say that the arts are important to improving the quality of life in their communities.
  • 85% say that the arts are important to improving the quality of their own lives.

Arts and identity and belonging

  • 91% of Ontarians agree that the arts help us to understand other cultures better.
  • 88% agree that participating in arts activities builds a shared sense of community identity.

Arts and community well-being

  • 90% agree that an active local arts scene helps make a community a better place to live.
  • 97% agree that engaging children in the arts is important to their overall development.
  • 80% of Ontarians agree that an active local arts scene helps communities attract businesses.

Government investment in the arts

  • 82% of Ontarians agree that helping make the arts available to people in Ontario is an important government investment.
  • 79% agree that government should spend public dollars to invest in the arts.

You can read the report’s executive summary on the OAC website.

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