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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In two separate announcements this month, Creative BC has detailed the allocation of $8.21 million from the BC Music Fund, which will support four new programs, as well as a funding boost for Music BC.
On December 1, Ministers Shirley Bond and Peter Fassbender, along with Creative BC CEO Prem Gill, announced $4.41 million in funding allocations, $1.41 million of which will support the expansion of Music BC’s activities in the areas of export & professional development, and touring & expanded showcase opportunities.
“As the voice of British Columbia’s music industry, we continue to provide funding to support the growth and sustainability of the province’s music community — artists, music professionals, and other creators,” said Music BC’s Executive Director, Alex Grigg in a press release. “This additional $1.41 million will allow us to provide greater support for our industry partners and expand our own network to reach more of the province’s artists and industry professionals. We applaud and thank the support from Creative BC and the Province for this opportunity and partnership.”
A further $3 million has been allocated to the Sound Recording Program. This program follows the Sound Recording Pilot Program, which distributed $500,000 for sound recording projects in its first stage. Following industry feedback from the pilot program, the expanded criteria for the Sound Recording Program allows for increased access for unincorporated studios and artists. More information on the Sound Recording Program, including eligibility guidelines and the application process, is available on Creative BC’s website.
The $3.8 million will support three brand new funding programs:
The Live Music program will receive $2.5 million in dedicated support, available to BC-based festivals, venues, live music presenters and event producers. The program is intended to increase the number of live music performances within the province.
$1 million has been earmarked for Industry Initiatives, which according to Creative BC’s release will “support industry events and export activities, including industry conferences, trade missions, and collaborative export marketing, to further grow and showcase BC’s music industry.”
The Research program devotes $300,000 to projects that inform the growth, evolution and innovation of BC’s music sector.
“British Columbia’s music sector has seen immense growth and success, thanks to the contributions of our many talented artists,” said Shirley Bond, BC’s Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour. “The funding announced today (December 15) from the BC Music Fund will serve to further support artists and live music related businesses including festivals, venues, and event producers, ensuring a strong sector for years to come.”
Below is the full video of the December 15 announcement.
Nominations are now open for Canada’s Volunteer Awards, which recognizes a not-for-profit organization, an individual, a group, or a business who is making a positive impact in their community. As Canada prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2017, it is important to acknowledge the tireless efforts volunteers put in to improve lives in our communities and country.
Awards will be presented in the following categories:
One (1) national award – Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement Award;
Five (5) regional awards – Emerging Leader, for young volunteers aged 18 to 30;
Five (5) regional awards – Community Leader, for individuals or groups of volunteers;
Five (5) regional awards – Business Leader, to recognize businesses that demonstrate social responsibility; and
Five (5) regional awards – Social Innovator, to recognize the contributions of not-for-profit organizations.
Nominees will be assessed according to six criteria: role, impact, reach, engagement, challenges, and inspiration. Award recipients will be recognized at a ceremony and will be able to choose a not-for-profit organization to receive a grant of $5,000 (regional awards) or $10,000 (national award).
Today at a press conference in Ottawa, members from the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce (Deputy Chair Joseph A. Day and Douglas Black) announced the release of their report on the operations and practices of the Copyright Board of Canada.
The press conference was live-streamed on Periscope, and an archive of the video is embedded below.
LIVE on #Periscope: Press conference on Copyright Board / Conférence de presse sur la Commission du droit d’auteur … https://t.co/EhhNXWAOFN
A selection of quotes from the event are included below.
Senator Joseph A. Day:
“Simply put: uncertain royalties mean uncertain paychecks. In our investigation, we found the Copyright Board to be slow and its practice very dated.
As the committee reviewed the Board, the most common comment from witnesses, and we heard from several witnesses, was that the board lacks timely decision making when it comes to establishing royalties. These tariffs are the bread and butter of Canadian artists who work in this community’s cultural sector, because they determine how much money businesses must pay in order to use the copyrighted material of the artist.”
“After reviewing the Board’s operations and practices, our committee’s sole recommendation is to call for a thorough, in-depth examination of the Copyright Board of Canada’s mandate, practice, and resources. And examination of the Copyright Board of Canada’s mandate, practice, and resources should take place next year as part as the statutory, mandated review of the Copyright Act, the law that governs the Board. The Act is scheduled to have its statutory, five-year review of the Board next year, 2017, which is coming real fast. That is the opportune time not only to review the Act, but to delve deeper into the problems of the board.”
“So today, we are raising awareness about what we found when we talked to people who are intimately familiar with the Board’s work, and who are directly affected by that work of the Board. The one inescapable conclusion that the Copyright Board is not serving the Canadian copyright sector to the best of its ability, nor is it helping Canadian business.”
Senator Doug Black:
“As we all can agree in this room, and those who are listening, the cultural industries in Canada are a key component, not only to quality of life, but also to economics. And it is part of our review to ensure that impediments to the economics of Canada are dealt with.
And as Senator Day has so clearly identified, it was our observation that the Copyright Board, despite its best intentions, there is no maleficence here at all, but despite best intentions, the Board is not only not assisting the cultural industries, it is a block to the cultural industries. And we are recommending, as Senator Day indicates, that this needs to have a thorough examination.
We viewed ourselves like a G.P. – the patient came in, we analyzed the patient, and we said ‘my Goodness me’ – this requires the attention of some specialists. So we will over 2017, or the Government over 2017, will have a comprehensive review to understand what needs to be done to ensure the Copyright Board is working.”
“We also learned that the majority of members are part-time – so it’s unfair to expect that the job can get done. We learned of problems with files, we learned of problems with tariffs, we learned of process problems. So what we need to do is figure out what needs to get done, make some strong recommendations to correct it, and I think we also need to look at how its dealt with in our partner countries – how they deal with copyright in the U.K., in the U.S., in Japan. And I don’t know, but we need to look at that, because there will be some best practices and some models that we can utilize, and we’re going to ask the government to do this.
It’s very straightforward – the Copyright Board today is an impediment to the cultural industries in Canada. And there is no Senators that I know – and I would know them all – there is no Senator that would stand in support of any block to cultural industries in this country – it’s important to the quality of our life, and it’s important to our economics.”
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), representing the recording industry worldwide, released a new report today, Investing in Music: The Value of Labels. The report highlights the important role that labels play in the global music industry. They are the primary investors in music; record labels discover and nurture artists, produce and promote music, and connect artists with their fans.
According to the report, labels remain the largest investor in music, maintaining tens of thousands of artists on global rosters, and investing 27 percent of their revenues—US$4.5 billion—in artists around the globe. “That’s an incredible figure that reflects their commitment to artists and the future of music,” says the report. “No other segment of the music sector invests in artists on anything like this scale.”
Jointly introducing the report, Frances Moore, Chief Executive of IFPI and Alison Wenham, CEO of WIN, said: “Investing in Music highlights not just record companies’ financial investment in artists, but also the enduring value they bring to artists’ careers. In the digital world, the nature of their work has evolved, but their core mission remains the same: discovering and breaking new artists, building their careers and bringing the best new music to fans. These are the defining qualities of record companies’ investment in music.”
Here are the key highlights of the Investing in Music report:
Music does not just happen … it requires hard work and substantial investment. Record companies are responsibly for discovering and nurturing artists, producing and promoting their music and other forms of creative output, and connecting artists with fans in new and innovative ways. According to the report, it costs somewhere between US$500,000 and US$2 million to break a new act in a major market.
Record labels are the primary investors in music. Music companies invest US$4.5 billion annually in discovering, nurturing, and promoting artists. No other segment of the music sector invests in artists on anything like this scale, and this investment has been sustained even as the music industry weathered two decades of revenue decline.
Breaking down labels’ US$4.5 billion annual investment. This significant investment is broken down into two primary areas: A&R (or artists & repertoire), which is the discovery and development of artists, and marketing campaigns which promote artists and their music.
Developing the digital market. Record companies have invested heavily in the fast-developing infrastructure of the digital market. There is a complex system of digital licensing services which requires a substantial investment from music companies to track and distribute recordings.
Unlocking new revenue streams. Record companies invest in new revenue streams, such as licensing tracks for movies and TV, giving artists that have broken through to an audience new sources of income. A record company may have as many as 200 long-term brand partnerships active on behalf of their artists at any point in time.
On November 1, Music Canada’s President and CEO, Graham Henderson, delivered a moving address to the Economic Club of Canada on the erosion of creators’ rights in the digital age, and what can be done to re-establish a fair working environment.
Canada’s cultural industries were well represented with attendees from Sony Music Canada, Warner Music Canada, Universal Music Canada, The Motion Picture Association of Canada, the Writers’ Union of Canada, SOCAN, CIMA, CMPA, The Screen Composers Guild of Canada, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Canada’s Walk of Fame, Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Re:Sound, and TD Music. Guests from Ryerson University, OCAD, Humber College, CGC Education, Colleges Ontario, and York University represented the education sector. MPPs Monte McNaughton, Lisa MacLeod, Rick Nicholls, Lisa Thompson and Steve Clark were also in attendance.
We were happy to have been joined by local musicians as well, including Miranda Mulholland, Amanda Martinez, Caroline Brooks of the Good Lovelies, Murray Foster, Alysha Brilla, Jay Douglas, Sonia Aimy, and Sally Shaar of Ginger Ale & The Monowhales.
The Economic Club of Canada’s President and CEO, Rhiannon Traill, who took on the role five and a half years ago with vision and passion, introduced Graham’s address. Rhiannon thanked Graham for the support he has shown for the Economic Club of Canada and for her as President and CEO, and praised Graham as a champion for Canadian culture.
“You’re about to hear a very important speech, and I am really, really proud to be hosting it,” she said. “Graham is an advocate, he is an innovator, he is a collaborator, a bridge builder, a visionary, and a truly great Canadian dedicated to advancing and protecting our country’s music, arts, and culture.”
Below is the full video of Graham’s speech, titled The Broken Promise of a Golden Age: How creators got squeezed out in the digital era, and what can be done to restore their rights.
Graham’s address was followed by powerful remarks by Miranda Mulholland, who shared her personal experiences to shed light on just how dire things have become for creators trying to earn a living from their work in Canada. Miranda really drove home Graham’s message – we must fight to restore the rights of our creators, who bring such livelihood, spirit and identity to our country.
Miranda is an accomplished violinist, singer, and label owner of Roaring Girl Records, which represents many JUNO and Grammy award winners. She’s a member of Great Lake Swimmers, Belle Starr, and the recently formed Harrow Fair. She has played or sung on over 75 albums, including JUNO nominated and award winning albums.
By all metrics she is an accomplished and respected musician, but in a very open manner, laid out the financial reality for creators in Canada.
“This is embarrassing, and I will level with you. I can barely afford rent in a city that I need to live in to work,” said Miranda. Musicians have had to become entrepreneurs, and experts in many fields, just to get by in the digital age. “I’ve had to get used to being a marketer, a promoter, a data entry clerk, a driver, a travel agent, a social media expert, and a paralegal, just in order to make a living as a singer-songwriter violinist. This is our new reality.”
Miranda and Graham agreed that we’ve reached a crisis point, and we cannot accept the argument that there’s nothing we can do to change current circumstances. We must fight for our creators, and we owe it to them to restore balance to the world in which they live.
"The federal govt has 4 tools to help creators get paid: legislation, policies & treaties, program funding and institutions" – @GFHendersonpic.twitter.com/JTa4DDva3B
“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.”
Nominations are now open for 
According to the report, labels remain the largest investor in music, maintaining tens of thousands of artists on global rosters, and investing 27 percent of their revenues—US$4.5 billion—in artists around the globe. “That’s an incredible figure that reflects their commitment to artists and the future of music,” says the report. “No other segment of the music sector invests in artists on anything like this scale.”
Music Canada