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Music Canada Statement on The Next Steps for the Canadian Music Industry

Posted June 18, 2020 by Erica Meekes

Music Canada and its members, Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada, have heard the calls for change within the music industry. We recognize that there is a need for improvement and are committed to sustained action in support of the values of equity, diversity and inclusion. With the support of our members, Music Canada will build upon efforts with greater urgency to create meaningful change for the Black community. To do so, Music Canada will continue to invest in and empower our Advisory Council to help shape a fairer future through education and accountability.

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Erica Meekes
Music Canada
emeekes@musiccanada.com
(416) 462-1485

About Music Canada
Music Canada is a non-profit trade organization that represents the major record companies in Canada: Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada. Music Canada also works with some of the leading independent record labels and distributors, recording studios, live music venues, concert promoters, managers and artists in the promotion and development of the music cluster.

Categories: News Release

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Music Canada Announces Departure of Chief Executive Officer

Posted May 28, 2020 by Erica Meekes

May 28, 2020, Toronto: The Music Canada Board of Directors and Graham Henderson, President and Chief Executive Officer, announced this afternoon Graham will be stepping down after serving more than 15 years.

“I have been given the great honour and privilege of serving the members of Music Canada and the wider music community for 15 thrilling and rewarding years. And throughout this entire time I have had the unalloyed joy of working with the most incredibly dedicated, effective team of music lovers in the world: my staff!” Mr. Henderson said. “I have absolutely every confidence that the staff, the Board and everyone at Sony, Universal and Warner will go forward from strength to strength. I hope that my experience and insight may be of some value down the road.”

On behalf of the Board, Chairperson Jennifer M. Sloan said, “We thank Graham for guiding Music Canada through a period of phenomenal growth and transition, including his dogged domestic and international championing of copyright reform and protection. Graham has led Music Canada’s transformation, strengthening our executive team and developing a clear strategic path forward as the trusted voice of the music industry in Canada and a recognized global partner.”

Graham added, “As for me? Well, my passion for the cause will never abate. In the meantime, I have one of the best darn poetry websites in the world and you are all welcome to join me as I explore the life and times of the revolutionary writer, Percy Bysshe Shelley! He reflects my mood best in these lines: “The world’s great age begins anew, The golden years return, The earth doth like a snake renew…A brighter Hellas rears its mountains…Another Athens shall arise.”

Graham will continue to serve as CEO until June 17, 2020. The Board wishes to thank Graham for all his years of dedicated service to the organization and to the advocacy work it does.

The Board will initiate a search to identify a new CEO and has appointed Jackie Dean, Chief Operating Officer, and Patrick Rogers, Vice President Corporate Affairs, to serve as interim co-Chief Executive Officers, effective June 18, 2020.

Erica Meekes
Music Canada
emeekes@musiccanada.com
(416) 462-1485

Categories: News Release
Tags: Graham Henderson

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Public Research Findings: Live Music Industry Faces Triple Threat During Recovery

Posted May 14, 2020 by Erica Meekes

May 14, 2020, Toronto: Music Canada commissioned Abacus Data to conduct public opinion research to determine how Canadians’ feelings around music have changed during the pandemic. The national public opinion survey gauged the comfort Canadians have for returning to live music as restrictions lift, and the results are startling.

“As governments across Canada and the world increasingly shift their focus to recovery, this data from Abacus underscores the precarious position of the live music ecosystem – an ecosystem upon which artists rely for a significant, and in some cases predominant, portion of their livelihood,” said Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada. “The music industry faces a triple threat. First – the very real medical concerns of Canadians about the virus. Second – that government restrictions will remain on large gatherings well into recovery. And third – that even after government restrictions have lifted and economies begin to reopen – Canadian confidence in returning to these live events will continue to be low.”

The findings show that even of the self identified “live music lovers” – for many, it will be at least 6 months after government restrictions are lifted, before they feel comfortable going to: bars / pubs (28%); small venue concerts (35%); large venue concerts (42%); festivals (41%); community event with live music (31%).

The research also demonstrated how important music is in helping Canadians to get through the pandemic. Nearly two thirds (58%) of respondents reported feeling worse about the pandemic because of the cancellation of live music events. Half of those identified as “live music lovers” also reported listening to more music during the pandemic, and that for the vast majority (86%), listening to music is a way to relieve stress.

“As an artist, what I’m finding I miss the most is the collaboration and connection I have onstage with my fellow musicians and that powerful, ephemeral experience that is created between artists and a live audience,” said Miranda Mulholland, Artist and Chair of Music Canada’s Advisory Council. “What I find most heartening is that 84% of Music Lovers state that digital will never replace the live experience. Also, more than a third of respondents increased their music listening during this pandemic. These stats show that people clearly recognize the value and importance of music in their lives, perhaps more than they ever have.”

“Unfortunately, it’s clear that the pandemic will cause serious and possibly irreparable harm to Canada’s artists, the majority of whom were already living in a precarious state. We must continue to think about how we can help them through this as they’ve been here for all of us in this crisis,” said Mulholland.

Not only are these findings significant for the music industry, but they are important for the travel and tourism industries as well. As the government and music industry develops plans for recovery, they must understand that those whose businesses depend on large gatherings will continue to be affected by this pandemic for a much longer time. To that end, Music Canada will continue to assess Canadian’s changing perspectives on their comfort for returning to live music so that we can deliver this important and timely information to our partners.

For more information on the findings released from Abacus Data, please visit: https://abacusdata.ca/live-music-after-pandemic/.

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Erica Meekes
Music Canada
emeekes@musiccanada.com
(416) 462-1485

Categories: News Release
Tags: Abacus Data, COVID-19, Graham Henderson, Miranda Mulholland

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Canada’s major record companies announce support for Unison Benevolent Fund

Posted April 29, 2020 by Erica Meekes

April 29th, 2020, Toronto: In response to the impact on the lives of artists and their teams caused by COVID-19, Canada’s major record companies, Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada have announced direct financial support for the Unison Benevolent Fund, Canada’s leading music community support program. Unison is a non-profit, registered charity that provides counselling and emergency relief services to individuals working in the Canadian music community.

“This support helps Unison help the music community- and with the support of our member labels, Music Canada is proud to work even more closely with Unison to provide targeted support for the benefit of our creative industry,” said Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada.

Additionally, Music Canada has announced that it has expanded its supporting role for the organization. In response to COVID-19, Music Canada has provided Unison financial and administrative resource support, together with government relations expertise and guidance. “As one of the founding supporters of Unison, we have seen the crucial need for their services,” continued Henderson, “and we have seen the impact of their relief on those who come to Unison for help.”

“Unison is enormously grateful for the continuous support from some of the biggest players in the Canadian music industry,” said Unison Fund Executive Director, Amanda Power. “The direct and valued efforts from Canada’s major record labels ensures that we can continue to provide discreet counselling and health services in addition to immediate financial relief for the most vulnerable in our industry at this very critical time.”

Unison is an assistance program – created and administered for the music community, by the music community. It provides discreet, dignified and meaningful relief to music industry professionals in times of crisis. Unison’s COVID-19 Relief Program is making $1,000 grants available to members of the music industry. The relief fund is allocated toward housing costs, medical expenses, groceries, and other necessities for those who are eligible.

Professionals in any role within the Canadian music community are eligible and are encouraged to register at https://unisonfund.ca/index.php/register.

Erica Meekes
Director of Public Relations
Music Canada
emeekes@musiccanada.com
(416) 462-1485

About Unison Benevolent Fund
Unison Benevolent Fund is a non-profit, registered charity that provides counselling and emergency relief services to the Canadian music community. We are here to help professional music makers in times of hardship, illness or economic difficulties. Unison Benevolent Fund is an assistance program – created and administered for the music community, by the music community – designed to provide discreet relief to music industry professionals in times of crisis through financial assistance and counselling and health solutions.

Categories: Industry News, News Release
Tags: Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., Unison Benevolent Fund, Universal Music Canada, Warner Music Canada

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Music Canada applauds Government of Canada for clarifying CERB guidelines for artists and musicians

Posted April 16, 2020 by Erica Meekes

April 16, 2020, Toronto: Music Canada welcomes the recent clarification from the Federal Government on the guidelines for eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has responded to concerns around the preliminary rules that excluded people working reduced hours. These needed changes will help support artists and musicians who in some cases have been able to maintain limited hours of work, but are still facing incredible challenges.

Graham Henderson, President & CEO of Music Canada, and Miranda Mulholland, JUNO nominated artist and Chair of Music Canada’s Advisory Council, recently shared concerns about the need for expanded eligibility criteria in a meeting with Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage. Music Canada thanks the Minister who has confirmed that artists who are earning less than $1,000 a month through their sources of income can still qualify for the CERB. Additionally, the Minister clarified that royalty payments are not included as a source of income, which means that royalties can be earned without penalty or loss of eligibility for the CERB.

“Artists are often the most vulnerable in our music ecosystem as a result of the gig economy,” said Miranda Mulholland. “Minister Guilbeault and Parliamentary Secretary Julie Dabrusin have been the champions that our community needs in a time like this. They have listened to our concerns and have taken action to help.”

A recent survey distributed by Music Canada and CONNECT Music Licensing, and led by Miranda Mulholland, Chair of Music Canada’s Advisory Council, has reported financial impacts of this crisis on the artists in our music ecosystem that are widespread, and significant. When asked whether they would lose much of not all of their income due to the crisis, the answer was a nearly unanimous yes. Canada’s entire artist community is concerned about making ends meet: more than 80% of artists are in need of financial assistance. Many artists already live close to the poverty line, and now the pandemic has pulled the rug out from under them financially.

The impact on artists will ripple throughout our communities: Artists are entrepreneurs, and job creators. Respondents to the survey create an average of 3.7 jobs per artist – with artists unable to perform or create, these jobs will be lost as well.

There have been further impacts to the creative process with more than half reporting the cancellation of all songwriting sessions, and nearly two in three respondents have had studio sessions cancelled. Perhaps one of the most surprising and unsettling findings from the survey is that a form of “writer’s block” is widespread in the community. Creators are finding enormous stress in how they are living now, and it is adversely impacting the creativity and inspiration needed to generate work. This is especially true for those who are caring for children or loved ones at home.

Alarmingly, musicians reported that they have virtually no resources to fall back on apart from going deeper into debt; and this includes running up credit card debt. It’s clear that these losses are threatening the survival of entire sectors of the industry, and that the impact will be felt long after the pandemic ends.

“Music Canada has been working with Minister Guilbeault during this pandemic to ensure he has an accurate picture of how the industry, and our artists are being severely impacted,” said Graham Henderson. “Thank you for hearing our concerns and for sharing them with the government so that meaningful support reaches our artists, and the hardest hit in our community.”

Music Canada will continue to work with the government, and its partners across the industry to further support artists impacted by the pandemic. More information has been made available on its resource page which can be accessed at: https://musiccanada.com/covid-19-resources.

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Erica Meekes
Music Canada
emeekes@musiccanada.com
(416) 462-1485

Categories: News Release

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Music Canada and CONNECT Music Licensing Artist Impact Survey Release

Posted March 24, 2020 by Erica Meekes

March 24, 2020, Toronto: CONNECT Music Licensing and Music Canada are sharing an Artist Impact Survey designed to help the government and the music industry better understand the impact COVID-19 is having on artists within the community. At the heart of the entire community are the creators, and they are at this moment in time the most vulnerable. They deserve our attention and assistance.

How can you help? If you are a musician: you can complete the questionnaire. If you are anyone else: you can get this questionnaire into the hands of a creator. And everyone can share it through their social media. You can find our survey here: https://bit.ly/3ag79oH.

“COVID-19 has presented an unprecedented challenge for the music community as a whole, but for artists in particular,” said Miranda Mulholland, Chair of Music Canada’s Advisory Council. “It has been a welcome relief to see that the government has focused its initial efforts on the members of the gig economy – virtually all artists are self-employed. These people are most at risk, most under pressure and most in need in our music ecosystem. We need to provide the government with accurate and timely information on how and where to send help to those who are most in need. That is the purpose of our survey. Thank you to everyone who has already completed it. To those who have not, I urge you to complete it no later than March 27.”

The Artist Impact Survey was proposed by Miranda Mulholland, artist, label owner, festival founder and Chair of Music Canada’s Advisory Council, developed in consultation with other valued artist members of Music Canada’s Advisory Council and Deloitte Canada. The survey has been circulated by artists on social media, distributed to CONNECT’s 2,500 artist-entrepreneur members, and through direct outreach to Music Canada’s members.

The information received will be tabulated anonymously in order to respect the privacy of our respondents. It will be incorporated in an economic impact analysis that Music Canada is developing with Deloitte Canada. The results of this study will be made public to enable all who care about our artists to make informed choices about how to help them.

“Music Canada and CONNECT are pleased to have been able to lend their resources to this very important undertaking. We share Miranda’s belief that our first concern in these trying times must be to build a bridge to the future. We need to do this by protecting the most vulnerable now and with urgent haste. But we must also safeguard the infrastructure of our business so that when we do reach the other side – careers can be rebuilt,” said Graham Henderson, President & CEO of Music Canada. “There is a role for all of us to play as we look for solutions that allow all industry players to survive this crisis – this survey will help us find them.”

If you are an artist, we encourage you to fill out the survey which is available here: https://bit.ly/3ag79oH, and share it on your social media.

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Erica Meekes
Director of Public Relations
Music Canada
emeekes@musiccanada.com
(416) 462-1485

About CONNECT Music Licensing
CONNECT Music Licensing administers licences in Canada for the reproduction of sound recordings, and the reproduction and broadcast of music videos, on behalf of the copyright owners. CONNECT’s members, which include all of the major record labels, many independent labels, and thousands of independent artists and producers, own or control the copyright in the vast majority of all the sound recordings and music videos produced or distributed in Canada. CONNECT Music Licensing represents its members at Re:Sound for the communication, public performance and private copying of their eligible sound recordings.

Categories: News Release
Tags: Connect Music Licensing, Miranda Mulholland, Music Canada, Music Canada Advisory Council

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Music Canada statement regarding JUNO Week 2020 Cancellation

Posted March 12, 2020 by Quentin Burgess

The JUNOS are a nationwide celebration of Canadian music. But they are far more than what Canadians see on a Sunday evening telecast once a year. JUNO Week provides opportunities for artists and the rest of the music community from every corner of the country to gather and connect, to perform, and to be honoured for their achievements.

“We at Music Canada fully support the action taken by our partners at the JUNOS. We understand how difficult this decision must have been but how necessary and prudent it was due to the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada. “We extend our heartfelt sympathy to everyone who has been affected by the cancellation. In particular our thoughts are with the artist community. They exist in an often precarious state and are at the heart of our industry. And we must not forget that the music community at large will feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for a considerable period of time. We need to work together and take care of each other.”

“We at Music Canada affirm our commitment to the spirit of the JUNOS and we pledge to work hand in hand with our partners at CARAS to find a way forward,” added Henderson. “We can and will honour the 2020 JUNO Award nominees and Special Award Recipients.”

Categories: Industry News, News Release

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Music Canada Congratulates Ontario Chamber of Commerce OBAA 2019 Winners

Posted November 15, 2019 by Quentin Burgess

November 15, 2019, Toronto: Music Canada was honoured to attend the 2019 Ontario Chamber of Commerce gala as a finalist for the Ontario Business Achievement Award (OBAA) for Diversity and Inclusion. This award recognizes business excellence in supporting the creation of diverse and inclusive workplaces.

“Music Canada is honoured to receive recognition as a finalist for the Diversity and Inclusion award from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce,” said Graham Henderson, Music Canada President and CEO. “As a leading voice in the music industry, we believe it’s important to take concrete actions to show our commitment to the principles that define us, and those principles include diversity and inclusivity. We also want to recognize the exceptional work of the award winner Danby Appliances, and all of the incredible OBAA nominees who are each helping to move the needle forward and enrich each of our workplaces, businesses and communities.”

Music Canada brings together the voices of its major record label members, Universal, Sony and Warner, to build a healthier and more robust music ecosystem throughout Canada. A thought-leader within the music ecosystem, Music Canada has taken concrete actions aimed at improving diversity and inclusivity within its governance and initiatives.

Recent accomplishments by Music Canada include amending its bylaws to allow for two additional seats on its Board, which were filled by independent directors. A Board Diversity Policy was also instituted, which aims for Board composition of at least 40% women. And in 2019, Music Canada created an Advisory Council, comprised of 15 exceptional and passionate individuals from a diverse cross-section of music industry stakeholders with a variety of skills and experience. The Council and Music Canada’s consulting artist advocates continue to provide candid perspectives and insights which shape the organization and its activities.

In addition, Music Canada seeks opportunities to work with other organizations to promote inclusivity in the music ecosystem. As a partner in the “Allies in Action” event at the 2019 JUNOS Awards, Music Canada showcased initiatives and programs within the music industry that make positive change in relation to diversity, inclusion and safe workplaces.

“Canada is home to some of the best music in the world. It’s truly a privilege that we get to advocate on behalf of the musicians and businesses who create that great music,” said Henderson. “And we believe that it is important that the diversity of the music ecosystem is reflected in our organization and our initiatives. That belief, together with the support of our innovative members, Universal, Sony and Warner, and the efforts of our exceptional staff, is the heart of our success.”

“This recognition is incredibly meaningful, but our work is not done,” said Jackie Dean, Music Canada Chief Operating Officer. “We will continue to advocate for greater representation on boards of directors in our industry and to create opportunities for artists, including those from underrepresented groups, to speak to their experiences.”

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Erica Meekes
Music Canada
emeekes@musiccanada.com
(416) 462-1485

Categories: News Release
Tags: Graham Henderson, Jackie Dean, OBAA Awards, Ontario Business Achievement Awards, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

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Music Canada announces new Strategic Initiatives portfolio to support every stage of the Canadian commercial music ecosystem

Posted November 13, 2019 by Quentin Burgess

Music Canada is pleased to announce the creation of a new business unit known as Strategic Initiatives. This new division includes a portfolio of initiatives that are designed to better support the music ecosystem. The move follows a strategic restructuring of our organization designed to increase the positive and measurable impact that Music Canada can have on the entire Canadian music industry. These changes are part of Music Canada’s commitment to be an agent of change with respect to business and social issues impacting the music community today.

In recent months, Music Canada discontinued operations of its affiliate non-profit Music Canada Cares and transitioned Sarah Hashem, the organization’s former Managing Director, to establish and lead the Strategic Initiatives portfolio at Music Canada.

Through its Three R’s Music Program, Music Canada Cares improved equitable access to quality music education.The program improved the inventory of musical instruments and access to quality music education in Ontario’s publicly funded schools with the supply of refurbished and recycled music instruments.

A total of 3,120 instruments were collected at Music Canada Cares community drives across the province. The donated instruments were then refurbished and repaired, and distributed to Ontario’s publicly funded schools, prioritizing underserved communities, particularly at-risk, Indigenous and other underrepresented communities.

A total of 166 schools received refurbished instruments, or grants to repair their existing instrument inventory to fully functioning condition. Many of the repairs were conducted at local repair shops, driving economic activity within the local community. Through these community drives and local repairs, the program helped strengthen connections between the school music programs and their broader community, and helped strengthen public support for music education.

“While Music Canada Cares was successful in delivering exceptional results to students across Ontario’s public schools, we believe our greatest opportunity is to integrate our industry leadership role within the Music Canada daily operations and shift our focus from service delivery to long-term structural improvements to music education and other key issues,” says Graham Henderson, Music Canada’s President and CEO.

“We have developed a comprehensive strategy to support the Canadian music ecosystem at every stage,” says Sarah Hashem, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Music Canada. “Our initiatives will be classified in relation to 4 key pillars: Create, Develop, Elevate and Celebrate.”

Under the Create banner, Music Canada continues our commitment to music education with the sponsorship of a national music education study. The study, which is being led by the Coalition for Music Education, in partnership with Music Canada, the Canadian Music Educators’ Association, MusiCounts / CARAS, People for Education, and the Canadian Network for Arts and Learning, is projected to be released in summer 2020. The study will provide a picture of the state of music education across Canada, and help us determine our future projects in this area.

Our Develop pillar includes Music Canada’s dedicated initiative to artist-entrepreneurs, which will enable artists’ business success. This initiative includes a partnership with CONNECT Music Licensing to study artists’ business needs, which will help guide the development of our programs.

Our world-renowned Music Cities strategy work will continue under our Elevate pillar. Music Canada has been a global leader in Music Cities research and advocacy for nearly a decade. Our work in this area will move forward with an inclusion lens, and through work with partners like the Canadian Chambers of Commerce.

The Celebrate pillar includes our Gold/Platinum certification program, which celebrates milestone sales of music in Canada. With over 20,000 albums, singles, digital downloads, ringtones, and music videos certified since its launch in 1975, the Music Canada’s Gold/Platinum program provides a unique historical timeline of popular music in Canada. This pillar also captures the other ways Music Canada celebrates music’s contributions to Canada’s cultural identity, such as through partnerships with organizations such as the JUNO Awards and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

By integrating strategic initiatives in its core operations, Music Canada is creating a structure that enables it to achieve long-lasting and sustainable benefits that apply to the entire music community.

Categories: News Release
Tags: Strategic Initiatives

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Music Canada Amplifies the Music Ecosystem at 2019 Symposium

Posted October 31, 2019 by Erica Meekes

On October 23, Music Canada held its annual Symposium event, highlighting the past year of work to create the conditions for a strong and dynamic music economy in Canada. The event brought together industry champions, thought leaders, artists and advocates to share milestones and to provide a look toward the future. The format of the event aligned with Music Canada’s Strategic Plan, a formal roadmap designed to achieve our goal of creating a marketplace in Canada where artists and the businesses who support them are fairly paid when their work is commercialized.

This year’s theme, Amplifying the Music Ecosystem, set the stage to deliver the results of Music Canada’s advocacy work over the past year. CEO and President Graham Henderson opened the event by sharing the impact of the organization’s recent report Closing the Value Gap, launched to a sold-out crowd at the Economic Club of Canada this summer. Henderson outlined how policymakers have come to recognize the existence of the Value Gap and the legislative changes that are needed to fix it. He reaffirmed Music Canada’s commitment, in light of the recent federal election, to working with the government to ensure necessary reforms are considered to address the Value Gap, and to uplift artists and creators.

Henderson welcomed Farah Mohamed as an Independent Director to Music Canada’s Board. An experienced social profit entrepreneur, Mohamed also serves as the Senior Vice President to the Toronto Region Board of Trade, and has held prior roles as the CEO of the Malala Fund and founder of G(irls)20. Along with Jennifer Sloan, who was elected Chair of the Board earlier this year, these additions complement the Board with their incredible experience and insight.

“Music Canada has an important role to play in representing an industry that plays a part in most, if not all, of Canadian’s lives,” said Farah Mohamed.“As an independent Director to Music Canada’s Board, I look forward to supporting their mandate as an agent of change and a thought leader within the music community. I’m excited to be able to work to engage all players across the music industry, from the private sector to government leaders, so that artists from coast to coast to coast and the industry is strong and vibrant for decades to come.”

NYU Professor Larry S. Miller, Director of the Music Business Program, and host of the popular Musonomics podcast, delivered a keynote address that shared new and compelling information from his recent report Same Heart. New Beat. How Record Labels Amplify Talent in the Modern Music Marketplace, which illustrates how record labels have reinvented themselves to thrive in the era of streaming music. Miller took part in a fireside chat with Graham Henderson and Miranda Mulholland, musician, label owner, music festival founder, and Chair of Music Canada’s Advisory Council. Together, they illustrated how the changing relationship with technology impacts the future sustainability of the industry.

The Symposium included a rousing performance by multi-instrumentalist country singer Emily Reid. Raised in Victoria, B.C., Reid moved to Nashville to study at the prestigious Belmont University, where she immersed herself in Nashville’s Music City culture. Reid signed with Universal Music Canada in 2018, releasing her major label debut EP, Wine, this past summer. She is currently on tour opening for Kip Moore on her home turf in British Columbia, opening shows in Duncan, Victoria, and Nanaimo.

A fireside chat with Music Canada Chief Operating Officer Jackie Dean, board members Jennifer Sloan and Farah Mohamed, and Susan Marjetti, award-winning journalist and Executive Director of CBC Radio and Audio continued the conversation on the importance of diversity and inclusivity measures across the industry.

Despite distinct backgrounds and experiences, each panelist talked about the power of music to unite people in order to tackle social causes, to overcome challenges, and to promote what makes Canada special at home and abroad.

Graham Henderson presented Gil Moore with this year’s Artist Advocate Award, which recognizes musicians and songwriters for their outstanding advocacy efforts to improve the livelihoods of music creators.

“I’m very proud to receive this award today,” said Gil Moore. “But awards are not the reason I became an artist advocate – I am an advocate for music because I have seen firsthand how it can change lives. I’ve seen that in my own career as a performer, I’ve seen it with fans who are so passionate about the artists they love, and I’ve seen it with our students at Metalworks, who get into this business and invest in their careers because they love music and they are driven to succeed in this industry. I’ve also seen the way that music can empower a community, create jobs, and drive economic growth – and that is worth advocating for. Thank you to Graham and Music Canada for this recognition, and your continued efforts to grow the music sector.”

“Gil Moore has put Mississauga’s music scene on the map. We are eternally grateful for his efforts and pride he has brought to our City,” said Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Gil consistently champions the power of music for job creation and growth, and as a member of our Economic Development Advisory Board, he has been instrumental in the creation of the first full-time music industry position at City Hall focused on music sector development.”

Henderson also presented the President’s Award to Susan Marjetti to celebrate her work to support the industry and her deep passion for music that has had an enduring impact on the music ecosystem. “I’m deeply touched by this recognition. Like all of you, music has been such a big part of my life,” said Susan Marjetti. “Music has the power to connect us. To reflect us. To engage and entertain us. It matters deeply. And Canada just wouldn’t be the same without our music and the people who make it. At CBC Music, we aspire to celebrate and honour that every day.”

In a particularly poignant moment, Graham Henderson, Warner Music President Steve Kane, and Universal Music President Jeffrey Remedios held a moving tribute to the late Deane Cameron, former President of EMI Music Canada and a true changemaker who had an indelible effect on our industry. Together, they announced that Music Canada, with the support of our member labels, has created a new MusiCounts scholarship in Cameron’s honour. Reflecting Deane’s long standing support for Indigenous communities and programs, $15,000 has been pledged to ensure that two to three Indigenous youth will receive a MusiCounts Scholarship in 2020. Shane Carter, President of Sony Music Canada, would also have been part of the announcement, but was travelling and unable to attend.

“We are here to treasure the memory of our absent friend, Deane Cameron,” said Henderson, after quoting Cicero and Thoreau. Both Kane and Remedios spoke passionately about Cameron’s passion for Canadian artists, and of his influence and mentorship on their own careers.

“I can’t think of a better way to honour our friend,” said Kane. “After Deane’s passing, there were a lot of fantastic stories about how he supported and inspired Canadian artists. Equally important was his role in inspiring and in nurturing business and executive talent. And I can say as I look over my shoulder, Jeffrey and I are living, breathing examples of that tutelage and that generosity. This scholarship embodies Deane’s generosity. He was generous with his time, with his wisdom. He challenged us, he taught us. And every day, we try to live up to the bar and example that he set for us.”

“He brought so many of us up in this business. Leading and guiding, but also nurturing us. Deane was my mentor and he was my biggest champion,” said Remedios.

“He taught me about making great records, and about breaking acts. He taught me about how to speak hard truths to artists – with respect, and compassion, and with care. I miss him, but he’s never far from my thoughts. I try to live up to the lessons and values that he instilled in me and so many others every day.”

Following the tribute, Miranda Mulholland performed “Ashokan Farewell” on violin in Cameron’s memory, providing a beautiful soundtrack to a moment of reflection.

Jennifer Sloan, Chair of the Music Canada Board of Directors, closed the event with a message on the importance of an industry united, and how collaboration is integral to continue to ensure that the wide range of voices can be amplified, as we strive to continue strengthening the music ecosystem.

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For more information, please contact:

Erica Meekes
Director of Public Relations and Events
emeekes@musiccanada.com
(416) 462-1485

Categories: News Release
Tags: Deane Cameron, Farah Mohamed, Gil Moore, Graham Henderson, Jackie Dean, Jeffrey Remedios, Jenn Sloan, Larry Miller, Miranda Mulholland, Steve Kane, Susan Marjetti, Symposium 2019

Music Canada

Gold/Platinum

Music Canada

Gold/Platinum

News Release (140)