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Hitting the Town for Music Therapy: A Night Out For Music Heals

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The following is a guest blog by Zoe Peled, Community Outreach Specialist of Vancouver-based charity Music Heals:

It’s a familiar practice for most of us: the end of the Monday-to-Friday stretch arrives. We shift into weekend mode, and head to our favourite haunts for food, beverages, music, and general merriment. It is not uncommon that gatherings progress to bars, concerts, clubs, or venues. What happens when we incorporate a non-profit component into this social ritual? Enter: A Night Out For Music Heals.

A Night Out For Music Heals, the first major initiative of the year for Canadian charity Music Heals, invites bars, venues, nightclubs, pubs, breweries, and more to come together on one night to support the organization. Participating businesses support #NightOut4MH by donating $1 per patron from their cover charge, offering a flat donation, or highlighting a feature drink or menu item (and donating partial proceeds from sales).

Music Heals works to raise awareness about music therapy, and funds programs across Canada. The Music Heals Charitable Foundation supports a wide range of music therapy services to communities in BC and across Canada. Funding is directed to increased access to music therapy for patients in children’ hospitals, seniors’ centres, palliative care, AIDS & HIV programs, at-risk youth, rehabilitation, bereavement support, and more.

A Night Out For Music Heals 2017 will take place on Saturday, March 4, and kicks off a month of activations for Music Therapy Awareness Month. Music Heals is aiming to work with more than 100 businesses across Canada, and are still waiting for participants to come on board from arts and culture hubs Toronto and Montreal.

Money raised in each province stays in that province, giving participants the opportunity to engage with local initiatives and programs. A unique fundraising event model, #NightOut4MH encourages cross- Canada business relations, is formatted to permit businesses of all sizes and scales to participate, and simultaneously celebrates several components of the diverse Canadian music industry.

For more information, visit www.musicheals.ca, email the organization via nightout@musicheals.ca, or follow via social: musicheals_ca. 

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London, Ontario, completes first ever music census

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The London Music Census is a first-of-its-kind study of London, Ontario’s music industry. The census originated with the London Music Office, and seeks to further the city’s understanding of the assets that make up the city’s music sector. The census has identified both barriers to prosperity and potential areas for future growth of London’s music sector.

The census was successful in shaping a deeper understanding of the state of London’s live music sector. The results revealed that the city’s music industry is concentrated in the realm of popular music, that there exists a wide variety of music businesses in the city, and that, interestingly, few music businesses are applying for government grants. Several key statistics emerged from the London Music Census, including:

  • London is a hub for emerging talent with 875 students studying music at post-secondary institutions;
  • The live music sector is growing with 4,620 music events held in 2015 and new festivals introduced in 2016;
  • London has a diverse mix of venues which includes 52 live music venues, with total seating capacity of 57,000;
  • Nearly half (44.7%) of musicians surveyed are strictly performing original music; and,
  • Over $ 7 million dollars earned in royalties by 1,203 music writers and publishers in London (2015)

London has made serious efforts in the past few years to support its local music community. This particular initiative is part of the London Music Strategy, which was released in August 2014, and also supports the city council’s 2015-19 Strategic Plan, which includes strong language calling for the strengthening of economic growth in the city’s cultural sector, the support of cultural programming, and celebrating and promoting culture.

“The London Music Strategy is a key part of growing our economy and promoting culture in London through our Strategic Plan,” said Mayor Matt Brown. “The results from the London Music Census will give us a detailed look at how we can cultivate and support London’s already eclectic and thriving music scene.”

The census, which obtained over 1,500 responses, took place over the summer of 2016. The survey, which was posted on the music office’s website, was broken up into five categories: Musicians, Venues, Festival/Event Organizations, Music Industry, and Music Fans.

“The London Music Census provided an opportunity to understand our advantages, issues, and gaps faced by the growing local music industry in London,” said Cory Crossman, London’s Music Industry Development Officer. “Through community and industry support we collected a database of assets and baseline figures for future analysis and measurement.”

To read more about the London Music Census, see the article on the London Music Office website.

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Bell Media’s MuchFACT hits $100 million milestone in funding for Canadian music videos and projects

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With the announcement of February’s funding recipients, Bell Media also revealed that its MuchFACT (A Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent) program has surpassed $100 million in contributions to projects by Canadian artists.

Since MuchFACT’s launch in 1984, funding for nearly 9,000 projects has helped propel the careers of some of Canada’s most successful artists. MuchFACT’s press release lists Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” Arcade Fire’s “Sprawl II,” and “Lovers In A Dangerous Time” by Barenaked Ladies as some of the most prominent videos to receive funding. In addition to developing Canadian music artists, MuchFACT has also been an important resource for Canadian directors, many of whom MuchFACT says have gone on to direct feature films, documentaries and award-winning music videos. The program is exclusively funded by Much & M3, divisions of Bell Media Inc.

20 new project funding recipients were confirmed from MuchFACT’s February music committee meeting. Those recipients are:

Music Content Package

Whitehorse – “Boys Like You” and “Pink Kimono”
Jessie Reyez – “Gatekeeper”

Music Videos

Sam Patch – “St. Sebastian”
Dragonette – “Body 2 Body”
HONORS – “Over”
Dzeko – “Never Gonna Love”
Smalltown DJs – “Erased the Night” (f. Lisa Lobsinger)
Daniel Caesar – “We Found Love”
The New Pornographers – “Whiteout Conditions”
Saya – “Cold Fire”
Cadence Weapon – “My Crew (Woooo)”
Harrison Brome – “Body Heat”
Jacques Greene – “True” (f. How To Dress Well)

Online Music Video / Project

Hoodies at Night – “4 Weeks” (f. KROY)
Chewii – “PuNoni”
TOPS – “Further”
Royal Canoe – “Living A Lie”
Yoko Gold  – “Just a Fling”

Digital Tools

Doldrums – “We Come In Pieces”
BADBADNOTGOOD – “In Your Eyes” (f. Charlotte Day Wilson)

Applications for MuchFACT funding can be submitted though the MuchFACT website. The next upcoming deadline is Thursday, March 9, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

MuchFACT returns this year as a sponsor of the Video of the Year category at the 46th annual JUNO Awards, happening April 2, 2017, in Ottawa.

Below is a showcase of videos that MuchFACT has helped support through the years.

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Government of Canada to provide $8.3 million in funding towards Massey Hall revitalization

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Left to right: The Honourable Melanie Joly, Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet (Whitehorse), Jim Cuddy, Deane Cameron, Adam Vaughan

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, was in Toronto Friday to announce The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall as a recipient of the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. The Government of Canada will provide $8,330,000 to assist with the revitalization of the legendary Massey Hall, which will improve its accessibility, technical infrastructure and presentation environment.

“We are thrilled that the Government of Canada is investing in Massey Hall’s future through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund,” said Deane Cameron, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Corporation of Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall. “This funding will help set the stage for the completion of the Massey Hall Revitalization Project to ensure that Massey Hall remains a home to showcase and cultivate our future leaders in arts, culture and beyond.”

A rendering of the completed Massey Hall exterior revitalization (photo: Cicada Design for Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects)

The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund launched in 2001 and receives an average of 137 applications each year. As of March 31, 2016, the fund has invested approximately $410 million in 1,381 projects in every province and territory.

“Investing in Canada’s cultural sector helps create jobs for the middle class, strengthens the economy, and ensures that Canada’s unique perspective is shared with the world,” said Minister Joly.

Also in attendance at the announcement was Spadina-Fort York MP Adam Vaughan, and musician Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, who spoke to his experiences playing the infamous stage and the impact the venue has had on the City of Toronto. Joly also spoke to the venue’s presence in Toronto during her address, deeming it a “right of passage” for musicians from all over the world who grace its stage. Toronto-based duo Whitehorse closed out the event with a captivating performance.

Massey Hall opened in 1894, and the last major renovation occurred in occurred in 1948. Phase 2 planning of the revitalization is underway, and construction is set to complete in 2021.

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Drake named IFPI’s Global Recording Artist of the Year as fellow Canadians Justin Bieber and The Weeknd reach the Top 10

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Today, the IFPI announced that Toronto hip hop artist Drake is the recipient of the IFPI 2016 Global Artist of the Year Award, which recognizes an artist’s worldwide success across physical and digital formats, including downloads and steams. Drake is the first Canadian to receive the award, and the fourth recipient since its launch in 2013.

Joining Drake in the Top 10 chart are fellow Ontarians Justin Bieber and The Weeknd, who reached #5 and #10, respectively. All three artists also appeared in the 2015 Global Top 10 chart.

“I’m delighted to be able to honour Drake as the IFPI Global Recording Artist 2016,” says IFPI chief executive Frances Moore in a release. “Drake’s phenomenal success reflects how deeply his unique sound appeals to an enormous global audience. The Global Top 10 list features a number of amazing artists, and the variety and vibrancy of their art speaks volumes about the exciting state of music today.”

Drake’s 2016 Double Platinum album Views became the first album to reach one billion streams on Apple Music, while the album’s single and summer smash “One Dance” became the first song to be played one billion times on Spotify. In 2015, Drake appeared at number nine on the list.

Justin Bieber, whose 2015 album Purpose contained multi-Platinum singles like “Sorry,” “Love Yourself,” and “What Do You Mean?” lands in the fifth position, allowing for two Canadian artists to appear in the top five. This is the second consecutive year the Stratford, Ontario native has appeared on the list, after reaching the number four spot in 2015.

Multi-Platinum R&B sensation and Scarborough, Ontario native The Weeknd, who released his Platinum-certified album Starboy in late 2016, was announced as the number ten artist, matching his 2015 position on the chart. While his album JUNO Award winning album Beauty Behind The Madness was released in 2015, The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, continued to see success through the start of 2016 with the album’s singles “Can’t Feel My Face,” “In The Night,” and “The Hills.”

One Direction were the first group to be named Top Artist by IFPI when the list began in 2013, which also included Canadian Michael Bublé in the ninth spot. Taylor Swift earned the award in 2014, and in 2015, IFPI named Adele as the top global recording artist, who appears at number four in 2016.

Click here more for information on IFPI’s results, and view the full list below.

Top 10 Global Recording Artists of 2016

  1. Drake
  2. David Bowie
  3. Coldplay
  4. Adele
  5. Justin Bieber
  6. Twenty One Pilots
  7. Beyoncé
  8. Rihanna
  9. Prince
  10. The Weeknd
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Music Canada Proud to Support 46th Annual JUNO Awards

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Music Canada is proud to return as sponsor of the Album of the Year Award at the 46th Annual JUNO Awards.

“As the Canadian music industry comes together in Ottawa in 2017, coinciding with Canada’s 150th anniversary, we are reminded of the impact that music has had in building our country’s identity. From past Album of the Year winners like Anne Murray, Bryan Adams, and the Tragically Hip, to this year’s nominees, music has always been a defining part of our cultural identity,” says Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada. “In addition to its intrinsic values, the music sector supports thousands of jobs across the country, which is why we are proud to advocate for policies and programs that benefit the music ecosystem and support a creative middle class.”

The Album of the Year Award will be presented at the 2017 JUNO Awards Broadcast at the Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday, April 2nd, 2017 in Kanata, ON.

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East Coast Music Awards reveals 2017 nominees and performers

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Nominees were revealed yesterday for the 2017 East Coast Music Awards, which returns to Saint John, NB for the first time in 15 years on April 27, 2017.

Multi-Platinum hip hop artist Classified leads the nominees this year with nine nominations, followed by Platinum singer/songwriter Ria Mae with seven nominations. Both artists will perform at the awards show, along with David Myles, Paper Lions, Reeny Smith, Lisa LeBlanc, Jason Benoit, Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire, Caroline Savoie, REPARTEE, Tomato/Tomato, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys, Còig, the Motorleague, and Adam Baldwin.

From April 26-30, the ECMAs will showcase hundreds of East Coast artists across multiple stages, including ECMA Big Ticket headliner Matt Anderson on April 29. Artists will also have the chance to connect with industry professionals from across the world at the 16th ECMA Industry Conference and Export Buyers Program.

2017 will also see the return of the SOCAN Song House, a two-day interactive songwriting workshop led by Ralph Murphy (renowned songwriter, producer, and author of Murphy’s Law of Songwriting). Applications for the workshop are now open, closing on Monday, March 6, 2017 at 5:00PM AST.

With over 13,000 people expected to take in the events, the ECMAs are expecting to have an approximate $3.1 million economic impact on the Saint John region.

Regular and VIP passes are available now. including wristbands for 2017 ECMA stages at bars and clubs, and evening stages at Saint John Trade & Convention Centre. Voting is also now open to the public for the Fans’ Choice Entertainer and Video Of The Year awards, sponsored by The Telegraph Journal. Fans can vote once a day for each award before the deadline on March 15, 2017 at 5PM AST.

 

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Buffy Sainte-Marie announced as 2017 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award recipient

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The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has announced iconic singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, social activist, educator, philanthropist and visual artist Buffy Sainte-Marie as the recipient of the 2017 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, presented by Bell Media. The award, which began in 2006 with recipient Bruce Cockburn, recognizes an outstanding Canadian artist whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada and/or whose impact can be felt worldwide.

“It’s our privilege to present the legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie with the 2017 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award,” said Randy Lennox, President, Broadcasting and Content, Bell Media. “Her dedication to improving the lives of Indigenous people is truly humbling. We look forward to celebrating this iconic artist and her inspiring philanthropic work at this year’s JUNO Awards.”

Born on the Piapot Plains Cree First Nation Reserve in the Qu’Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan, Sainte-Marie is celebrated for her thought provoking lyrics and her passion for supporting Aboriginal people. In 1964, she became well known for her anti-war peace anthem “Universal Soldier,” and was one of the first people to merge pop and Aboriginal music with her 1976 hit “Starwalker.” Sainte-Marie’s 2015 album Power in the Blood won the 2016 JUNO Awards for Aboriginal Album of the Year sponsored by Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, as well as the Polaris Music Prize.

“I’ve had some great partners in mobilizing my ideas in art, education and technology, especially the W.K. Kellogg Foundation who taught me that there’s a difference between an administrator and a visionary. Both are important but visionaries are seldom pushy in that business way that administrators learn; and visionaries don’t think in corporate pecking order terms so often get squashed out in normal business systems,” said Sainte-Marie. “I’ve been lucky enough to work in both worlds, and although my timing has sometimes been off and gotten my big mouth into trouble, other times, with the help of other people, I’ve been effective beyond my expectations. So I thank all my colleagues in and out of the music business for helping put my songs to work.”

This year’s award will be presented at the JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards presented by SOCAN on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.

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Music Monday to celebrate Canada’s 150th Anniversary with new anthem in support of music education

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On Monday, May 1, 2017, the Coalition for Music Education will celebrate Music Monday with a cross-country sing-along to raise awareness for music education. The annual event celebrates the unifying power of music as thousands of Canadians join in singing and performing the Music Monday anthem at their schools and other community centres.

This year, inspired by Canada’s 150th anniversary, the Music Monday sing-along will be led by a live-streamed showcase from the nation’s capital. In recognition of the sesquicentennial year, the 2017 Music Monday anthem will celebrate Canada’s musical heritage in its lyrics and instrumentation. The anthem, titled Sing It Together, focuses on the power of voices, and “asks us to sing for joy, for truth, for healing, and for freedom,” explains the event press release. The recording features Inuit throat singing, Métis fiddling, Indigenous drumming, and children’s choirs in celebration of Canadian musical heritages.

Sing It Together was co-written by JUNO Award winners Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas, and was recorded at Canterbury Music in Toronto, with additional layers recorded at Ottawa’s Audio Valley Recording Studio, and Hamilton’s St. James Anglican Church.

“Music is the landscape of Canada,” said Marc Jordan. “We hope it will be a song that illuminates the mosaic of music and cultures that thrive in every corner of the country.”

To join the Canada-wide chorus of students and community groups in singing and performing the song on Music Monday, visit the Get Involved section of the Music Monday website.  Arrangements, audio-visual learning tools, and lyrics in several languages will be made available on the website ahead of the event.

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Nominations are open for the 2nd annual Live Music Industry Awards

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Music Canada Live and Canadian Music Week (CMW) have announced the second annual Live Music Industry Awards, presented by El Mocambo, will be taking place Wednesday, April 19, 2017, from 4-6pm at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. The Awards will be held during CMW 2017 and will recognize and celebrate the best of the live music business sector.

Nominations are now open until January 27, 2017. Live Music Industry Awards are presented in the following categories:

Festival

  • Family Program of the Year
  • Small Festival of the Year (6,000 and under)
  • Medium Festival of the Year (6,001 – 15,000)
  • Major Festival of the Year (15,001+)
  • Not-For-Profit Festival of the Year
  • Green Operations Festival of the Year

Venues

  • Best Teamwork in an Arena
  • Best Teamwork in a Soft Seat Theatre / Performing Arts Centre
  • Best Teamwork in a Major Club (1,000+ Capacity)
  • Best Teamwork in a Medium Club (300 to 999 Capacity)
  • Best Teamwork in a Small Club (less than 300 Capacity)

General Live Music Awards

  • Agent of the Year (Canada)
  • Agent of the Year (International)
  • Manager of the Year
  • Road Warrior of the Year (Tour Manager)
  • Production Manager of the Year (Festival/Concert)
  • Concert/Club Talent Buyer of the Year
  • Festival Buyer of the Year
  • A/V Production Company of the Year
  • Brand/Music Program of the Year
  • Sponsorship Activation of the Year
  • New Touring Artist of the Year
  • Legends of Live

Music Cities

  • Music City of the Year Canadian

“Last year the first-ever LMIA’s proved beyond a doubt that we have much to celebrate, by acknowledging lives’ incredible contributions to the industry.  This year, we continue to shine a spotlight on this passionate and dedicated community – one that works tirelessly to put artists and fans together. This effort is at the heart of what Music Canada Live is about, and we are thrilled to co-present the second annual LMIA’s in 2017 with CMW on behalf of our members and Canada’s live music industry,” said Erin Benjamin, Executive Director of Music Canada Live.

In addition to the Live Music Industry Awards, Canada’s live sector will be in greater focus during CMW 2017 with an expanded, 2-day Live Music Summit, running from April 19-20.

Visit the Live Music Industry Awards website for more information, including criteria and previous winners, or to submit nominations for 2017’s awards.

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