Music Canada

Gold/Platinum

Join Mailing List

Music Canada

Gold/Platinum

 Music Canada

News Release (148)

view

Music Canada welcomes Farah Mohamed to its Board of Directors

Music Canada is proud to announce that Farah Mohamed has been elected an independent Director to the organization’s Board, effective immediately. Mohamed, who also serves as the Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Policy & Public Affairs of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, brings a wealth of experience and insight to our organization. 

A social profit entrepreneur, Farah has worked tirelessly to engage the private sector, and government leaders, in a way that makes economic sense, to better address some of the most pressing issues facing our generation. 

In her prior role as the CEO of the Malala Fund, Farah advocated for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education, investing in developing country educators and activists, and amplifying the voices of girls fighting for change. The fund invests in the future of girls and women with more than $8.6 million towards girls’ education programmes.

And as the founder of G(irls)20, Farah structured the globally active social enterprise in a manner similar to the G20, putting girls and women at the very heart of the organization and its advocacy.  G(irls)20 cultivates a new generation of female leaders through education, entrepreneurship and global experiences. It and its young female delegates provide advice to G20 Leaders on how to increase female labour force participation and how to economically engage girls and women to reach growth targets and through a new program, Canadian girls are trained, mentored, matched and place on a not for profit board.

As well, Farah was recruited by Canadian businesswoman and former MP Belinda Stronach to establish The Belinda Stronach Foundation (TBSF). Under Farah’s leadership, TBSF created and launched the Foundation’s flagship programs, including One Laptop Per Child for Aboriginal youth. She also oversaw the Foundation’s work in Liberia and a $1M humanitarian relief effort in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

Of Indian heritage, Farah was born and raised in Uganda before her family was uprooted and sought refuge in Canada. Her upbringing instilled her with a strong work ethic and keen sense of curiosity, which eventually culminated in her working in politics. For 10 years, Farah worked closely with some of Canada’s most senior politicians including Paddy Torsney and Anne McLellan. Post politics, Farah served as Vice President, Public Affairs and Community Engagement for VON Canada where she was successful in building government and private sector partnerships.

“Music Canada has an important role to play in representing an industry that plays a part in most, if not all, Canadian’s lives. 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 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.” said Farah Mohamed.

“With today’s election of Farah Mohamed, the Music Canada Board gains incredible expertise in strategic partnerships, global to local government relations, and devising and executing innovative approaches to problem solving,” says Graham Henderson, President & CEO of Music Canada. “Farah’s election, together with last April’s election of independent Board Chair Jennifer Sloan, brings new insights and acumen to Music Canada’s Board – further elevating our organization.”

Comments
view

Gil Moore presented with Music Canada’s Artist Advocate Award

Music Canada is honoured to present Gil Moore, founding member of the multi-Platinum-certified band Triumph, and owner of the renowned Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, Ontario, as the recipient of the 2019 Artist Advocate Award. The award recognizes musicians and songwriters for their outstanding advocacy efforts to improve the livelihoods of music creators. The Mississauga-based musician has been active in the Canadian music industry for more than 40 years, with advocacy being a consistent theme throughout his career. 

Moore has long been a champion for policies to help support music creators and to improve the music ecosystem. He was an active voice for copyright reform as a board member of Balanced Copyright for Canada, a coalition of content creators, artists, and rights holders, and people who work in the creative industries, which advocated for copyright legislation that effectively protects artists and creators, later passed within the Copyright Modernization Act

Moore shared his passion for creators’ rights with his students at Metalworks Institute, and has invited Music Canada in to present town hall sessions on topics such as the Copyright Board. He also opened the warehouse of Metalworks Production Group for tours, allowing Music Canada to showcase the skilled workers and economic impact of the live music sector to policymakers in advocating for the Ontario Music Fund. 

“I’m very proud to receive this award today,” says 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.” 

Moore has also been active in advocacy as the Vice President of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Music & the Arts (CAAMA). He served previously as an Executive Board member of the Toronto Musician’s Association and also as a Vice President of The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). 

Gil was an inaugural inductee of the Mississauga Music Walk of Fame for his personal involvement in and contributions to the community. Over the past few years, along with the other members of Triumph, Gil has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Mississauga’s Legend’s Row, the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame and the City of Mississauga named a street in the band’s honour, Triumph Lane. His passion for Metalworks and the music industry is boundless; he devotes much of his time to researching trends in music education and technology.

“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. He possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of local music history, which he urges us all to recognize, preserve and celebrate. Because of his passion for music education and the founding of Metalworks Institute, Mississauga produces some of the world’s top musicians, sound technicians, and event experts. We are proud and lucky to have Gil in Mississauga.”

The award was presented today at Music Canada’s 2019 Symposium, taking place at the Great Hall in Toronto. Moore becomes the third recipient of the Artist Advocate Award; previous recipients include Loreena McKennitt and Miranda Mulholland

Comments
view

Music Canada welcomes Erica Meekes as Director of PR and Events

New appointment positions Music Canada to amplify its groundbreaking music sector research and advocacy among media, industry stakeholders, and other key audiences domestically and internationally

Toronto, September 16, 2019: Music Canada, who represents the world’s leading music companies, is pleased to welcome Erica Meekes as Director, Public Relations and Events. 

Music Canada’s members – Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada, and Warner Music Canada – are at the heart of Canada’s music scene, combining creativity, entrepreneurship and cutting edge digital innovation to support Canadian artists and bring great music to fans across the country and the world. Music Canada helps our members to create conditions for a strong and dynamic music economy in Canada. Collaborating with Canadian artists and our allies across the music industry, we advocate on their behalf with policy makers and elected officials at all levels of government; offering positive, innovative and achievable solutions grounded in our research.

“Music Canada consistently raises the bar with our robust policy solutions backed by world-class research,” said Graham Henderson, President & CEO of Music Canada. “With her extensive experience in public relations and event management, Erica will amplify our advocacy both here and around the world.” 

In this newly created role, Meekes will report to Patrick Rogers, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, and will work in collaboration with Quentin Burgess, Director of Communications, who will continue his strong work in the development of communications strategies and research. 

“I am excited to join the skilled and passionate team at Music Canada and to bring our message to key audiences,” says Erica Meekes. “Music Canada’s members are driven by a passion for music and their dedication to the artists who create it. I look forward to using my passion for storytelling to share Music Canada’s research and advocacy initiatives in ways that resonate with fans, industry stakeholders, and policymakers.” 

 

For more information:
Quentin Burgess, Music Canada
qburgess@musiccanada.com
+1 (647) 981-8410

 

About Music Canada
Music Canada is a non-profit trade organization that represents the major record companies in Canada: Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., Universal Music Canada Inc., and Warner Music Canada Co. 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.

Comments
view

Polaris Music Prize and Music Canada announce the return of the Polaris Community Development Program

September 10, 2019, Toronto: Polaris Music Prize and Music Canada have announced the return of the Polaris Community Development Program. Launched in 2018, the program partners with Canadian not-for-profit music organizations each year to support and develop the music community by eliminating barriers to access for engaged music creators, entrepreneurs and change makers.

The 2019 participants are made up of not-for-profit organizations that help improve equity and representation within the music community through their programming. 

Each participating organization will receive tickets to the Polaris Music Prize Gala to distribute to individuals who directly impact or participate in the organization’s music programming, courtesy of Music Canada. The program also includes opportunities for participants to take a behind-the-scenes look at the Gala production and connect with Polaris staff, media, and other community members pre-event. 

“Through our partnership with Music Canada, the Community Development Program helps ensure that the community organizations that help develop artists can attend the Gala, and build further connections within the industry,” says Steve Jordan, Founder and Executive Director of the Polaris Music Prize. “Several Polaris nominated artists have taken part in these organizations, so making sure they are represented at the Gala is important to us.”

“Music Canada is proud to support the Polaris Community Development Program, which helps build connections between artist entrepreneurs and other change makers in the creative sphere,” says Sarah Hashem, Music Canada’s Vice President, Strategic Initiatives. “Inviting community not-for-profit organizations to attend and meet industry peers in a welcoming environment is part of our commitment to improving equitable practices within the music sector.”

Participating organizations in the 2019 Community Development Program include: 

  • Honey Jam
  • The Indigenous Music Alliance
  • The Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance
  • Lula World
  • Manifesto
  • Native Women in the Arts
  • The Remix Project
  • SoundCheck Youth
  • U for Change
  • Urban Arts

The 2019 Polaris Music Prize Gala takes place on Monday, September 16th at The Carlu in Toronto. Canadian non-profits interested in participating in the 2020 Community Development Program are encouraged to contact Claire Dagenais at claire.dagenais@polarismusicprize.ca.

– 30 –

 

For more information:

Quentin Burgess, Music Canada
qburgess@musiccanada.com
+1 (647) 981-8410

 

 

About Polaris Music Prize
Polaris Music Prize Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that annually honours and rewards artists who produce Canadian music albums of distinction. A select panel of music critics then judge and award the Prize without regard to musical genre or commercial popularity. For more on the Polaris Music Prize, please visit www.polarismusicprize.ca.

 

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. For more on Music Canada, please visit www.musiccanada.com.

 

*******

Le Prix de musique Polaris et Music Canada annoncent le retour du Programme de développement de la communauté

10 septembre 2019, Toronto : Le Prix de musique Polaris et Music Canada annoncent le retour du Programme de développement de la communauté Polaris. Lancé en 2018, ce programme s’associe chaque année avec des organismes musicaux canadiens sans but lucratif pour appuyer et favoriser le développement de la communauté musicale en éliminant les obstacles auxquels font face les créateurs de musique engagés, les entrepreneurs et les artisans du changement.

Les participants de 2019 sont tous des organismes sans but lucratif qui contribuent à l’amélioration de l’équité et de la représentation au sein de la communauté musicale par le biais de la programmation.

Chaque organisation participante recevra des billets offerts par Music Canada pour le Gala du Prix de musique Polaris qu’elle distribuera à des personnes qui ont un impact direct ou participent activement à la programmation musicale de leur organisation. Le programme comporte également la possibilité, pour les participants, de découvrir les coulisses de la production du Gala et de rencontrer le personnel du Prix de musique Polaris ainsi que des représentants des médias et d’autres membres de la communauté avant l’événement.

« Grâce à notre partenariat avec Music Canada, le Programme de développement de la communauté aide à faire en sorte que les organisations communautaires qui participent au développement d’artistes puissent assister au Gala et établir de nouveaux liens à l’intérieur de l’industrie », souligne Steve Jordan, fondateur et directeur exécutif du Prix de musique Polaris. « Plusieurs finalistes du Prix Polaris ont participé aux travaux de ces organisations, donc il est important pour nous de nous assurer qu’ils soient représentés au Gala. »

« Music Canada est fière d’appuyer le Programme de développement de la communauté Polaris, qui aide à établir des liens entre les artistes-entrepreneurs et d’autres artisans du changement dans la sphère créative », ajoute Sarah Hashem, vice-présidente, initiatives stratégiques, à Music Canada. « Le fait d’inviter les organisations sans but lucratif de la communauté à assister au Gala et à rencontrer leurs pairs de l’industrie dans un environnement accueillant s’inscrit dans notre engagement envers l’amélioration des pratiques équitables au sein du secteur de la musique. » 

Les organisations qui participeront au Programme de développement de la communauté 2019 sont notamment :

  • Honey Jam
  • The Indigenous Music Alliance
  • The Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance
  • Lula World
  • Manifesto
  • Native Women in the Arts
  • The Remix Project
  • SoundCheck Youth
  • U for Change
  • Urban Arts

 

Le Gala du Prix de musique Polaris se déroulera le lundi 16 septembre 2019 au Carlu, à Toronto. Les organisations canadiennes sans but lucratif intéressées à participer au Programme de développement de la communauté 2020 sont invitées à communiquer avec Claire Dagenais au claire.dagenais@polarismusicprize.ca.

– 30 –

Pour de plus amples renseignements :

Quentin Burgess, Music Canada
qburgess@musiccanada.com
+1 (647) 981-8410

 

Au sujet du Prix de musique Polaris
Le Prix de musique Polaris est une organisation à but non lucratif qui honore et récompense annuellement les artistes ayant créé des albums de musique canadiens de renom. Un groupe sélectionné de critiques musicaux jugent et décernent le Prix sans considération pour le genre musical ou la popularité commerciale. Pour plus d’information sur le Prix de Musique Polaris, veuillez vous rendre sur www.prixdemusiquepolaris.ca.

Au sujet de Music Canada

Music Canada est une organisation sans but lucratif qui représente les grandes maisons de disques au Canada : Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada et Warner Music Canada. Music Canada collabore également à la promotion et au développement de la musique canadienne indépendante en collaboration avec certains des principaux acteurs de l’industrie de la musique au Canada : étiquettes, distributeurs, studios d’enregistrement, lieux de spectacles, promoteurs de concerts, gérants et artistes. Pour plus d’information sur Music Canada, veuillez vous rendre sur www.musiccanada.com.

Comments
view

Music Canada calls on Government of Canada to Fix Safe Harbours to Close the Value Gap and Save the Creative Middle Class

June 26, 2019, Toronto: In a new report, Music Canada is calling for the Government of Canada to rebalance the music marketplace and restore fairness to the creators of music. The report, titled Closing the Value Gap: How to Fix Safe Harbours and Save the Creative Middle Class, was released by Music Canada President and CEO Graham Henderson today at a sold-out address before the Economic Club of Canada. 

The report builds on Music Canada’s previous findings from the 2017 report, The Value Gap: Its Origins, Impacts and a Made-in-Canada Approach, which first identified the existence of a gap in value of creative content and the revenues returned to the artists who create it. A broken copyright framework, ill-adapted to the challenges of the digital age, is now generally recognized as the cause of the Value Gap.

“The origins of the Value Gap can be found more than 20 years ago. It was the dawning of the digital marketplace, and countries around the world struggled to reinterpret copyright laws that were designed for an analog age,” says Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada. “They wanted to protect creators, but they also wanted to give a boost to young technological start-ups. Inevitably, perhaps understandably, mistakes were made.”

New economic evidence confirms that the Value Gap in Canada continues to grow, with staggering figures that show the discrepancy between what artists make and what they create:

  •     $19.3 billion: the cumulative Canadian recorded music industry Value Gap over 20 years since 1997.
  •     $1.6 billion: the music industry Value Gap in Canada in 2017 alone.
  •     $82 million: the average annual increase in the music industry Value Gap in Canada between 1997 and 2017.

Supported by the data and the experiences of hardships that musicians currently face, Music Canada joins Parliament’s Heritage Committee in proposing solutions to improve Canada’s copyright framework to better ensure that creators are paid when their work is commercialized by others. From clarifying safe harbours, to addressing the responsibilities of user-upload services, to eliminating the commercial radio royalty exemption and clarifying the definition of “sound recordings”, to creating a temporary fund for private copying, these recommendations would ensure fair compensation for artists and reduce the Value Gap.

“Canadian artists deserve a sustainable and working marketplace for their work,” says artist and record label owner Miranda Mulholland, who also serves as Chair of Music Canada’s Advisory Council. “Artists have been speaking up about the need to close the Value Gap, and our industry speaks in a unified voice on this issue. We need to end broad safe harbours and stop subsidizing billionaires who are commercializing the work of others without fair compensation. This report lays out the steps to fix our broken copyright framework and restore fairness to the creators of music.”

Closing the Value Gap definitively sets out the economic evidence surrounding the size and growth of the Value Gap and provides clear, achievable recommendations to fix it,” Henderson adds. “The report draws focus to the main cause of the Value Gap in Canada: broad safe harbour laws in the Copyright Act. Two Parliamentary Committees in Canada have recommended reviewing Canada’s safe harbour laws. Now is the time to rebalance the ledger and restore fairness to the marketplace for creators.”

Download Report

Corey Poole, Music Canada
cpoole@musiccanada.com
+1 (647) 808-7359

 

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.

Comments
view

Music Canada statement on the release of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology Report

Yesterday, the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology tabled its report, entitled Statutory Review of the Copyright Act, which now concludes the review of the Copyright Act undertaken by that Committee and the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Yesterday’s report from the Industry Committee includes important recommendations to narrow the radio royalty exemption, review safe harbour provisions, extend the term of copyright for musical works and review the private copying regime.

These recommendations, together with the recommendations made in the report from the Heritage Committee on artist and creative sector remuneration, have set the stage for legislative change which will help restore Canada’s middle class of artists and close the Value Gap for the broader cultural industries.

“It is unfortunate that the Industry Committee chose not to take into account the May 15th report from the Heritage Committee or the testimony from creators that contributed to the Heritage Report,” says Music Canada President and CEO Graham Henderson.“If they had, they would have found the Heritage Committee’s Shifting Paradigms report provides clear answers to their outstanding questions.”

“We look forward to working with the Government to reform the Copyright Act as soon as possible to ensure the framework allows creators to be fairly remunerated for their work when it’s commercialized by others.”

Comments
view

Music Canada Celebrates Ground-Breaking Parliamentary Report on Copyright Act Reform

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has released its report on the Copyright Act, making important and timely recommendations to address the growing Value Gap in Canada’s creative industries. The report, titled Shifting Paradigms, is now available on Parliament’s website.

The report, based on testimony from dozens of creators and representatives from Canada’s creative industries as well as broadcasters, digital services, and other key commercial users and distributors, tackles numerous weaknesses in Canada’s Copyright Act, identifying elements which have failed to keep pace with technology and the digital marketplace for music. Among its key recommendations which will bolster a functioning marketplace for creative works, the report recommended addressing Canada’s broad safe harbour laws, eliminating or narrowing exemptions from the Act that prevent creators from being fairly compensated, combating modern forms of piracy (like stream ripping) and strengthening the enforcement of Canada’s copyright laws.

“I applaud the Members of the Committee for listening to the voices of artists and the businesses who support music and for taking these critical first steps toward addressing the Value Gap in Canada,” said Music Canada President and CEO Graham Henderson.

“The Committee’s report provides a series of thoughtful and concrete recommendations to address the underlying causes of the Value Gap. Many of the recommendations will significantly and immediately improve the lives of artists and our industry.”

The report’s recommendations on music specifically call for ending what amounts to a subsidy paid by Canadian artists and labels to Canada’s largest broadcasters. It recommends limiting the Radio Royalty Exemption to only community and/or independent stations.  

The report also calls for amending the definition of “sound recording” in the Copyright Act so that recordings used in television programs and films would be eligible for public performance remuneration.

Miranda Mulholland, a professional musician, record label owner, and Chair of Music Canada’s Advisory Council, spoke to the Committee about how addressing the Radio Royalty Exemption and amending the definition of “sound recording” to end these subsidies paid by artists would make an immediate improvement in the livelihood of creators.

“The changes recommended by the Heritage Committee in this report are the first step in ensuring artists receive fair remuneration for their work,” said Mulholland. “The changes would end the unfair subsidies that artists have been paying large broadcasting corporations, and mean more creators can earn a sustainable living from their music. I thank the members of the Committee for hearing the concerns of artists, and making strong recommendations to close the Value Gap in Canada.”

“As a working musician, I am glad to see the Heritage Committee has given such careful consideration to improving the copyright framework supporting the music industry in Canada. The recommendations in this report would go a long way in restoring the musician’s middle class,” said Eon Sinclair, a JUNO Award-winning bassist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and a founding member of the Canadian band Bedouin Soundclash. Sinclair is also a member of the Music Canada Advisory Council.

“Today’s report moves Canada into a leadership role in the international effort to close the Value Gap and address the harm being done to creators everywhere by overly broad safe harbour laws,” added Henderson.

“In order for these recommendations to make an impact on the music community, they must become law,” continued Henderson. “Music Canada looks forward to working with the Government to reform the Copyright Act as soon as possible to reflect the Committee’s recommendations.”

– 30 –

For more information:
Corey Poole, Music Canada
cpoole@musiccanada.com
+1 (647) 808-7359

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.

Comments
view

Music Canada welcomes 2019 Federal Budget, looks forward to concluding Copyright Act review to address the Value Gap

March 19, 2019, Toronto: Today in the House of Commons Minister of Finance Bill Morneau tabled the 2019 Federal Budget. Titled Investing in the Middle Class, the Budget is focused on improving affordability and employment opportunities through various measures including skills training and affordable housing initiatives.

“Music Canada welcomes the Government of Canada’s increased funding to the Canada Music Fund and Canada Arts Presentation Fund as part of today’s budget announcement, but there remains much work to be done to address the Value Gap hurting the music sector,” says Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada. “For labels and artists to be competitive and financially successful, they need a sustainable business framework.”

“Recently the United States and the European Union have taken steps to address the Value Gap. Canada has an opportunity to join the community of nations in protecting and fostering the careers of creators. During the Copyright Act review, the creative community was virtually unanimous in urging the government to repeal decades-old subsidies through which individual creators enrich billion dollar technology and broadcasting platforms,” Henderson stresses. “We sincerely look forward to working with the government to seize this opportunity while concluding the review of the Copyright Act.”

Musician, label owner, and music festival founder Miranda Mulholland emphasized the economic impact of the arts, and the need for urgent action to protect the careers of creators.

“As the government focuses on equipping Canadians with the skills to match today’s job market, the huge positive economic impact of the arts should never be underestimated,” says Mulholland. “Therefore we must also protect professions in music and the arts as viable career paths. The Copyright Act review provides a means to help Canadian music creators thrive in the modern marketplace, and I’m committed to working with the government to make that happen.”

The full Investing in the Middle Class Budget Plan 2019 is available on the Government of Canada website.

-30-

For more information:
Corey Poole, Music Canada
cpoole@musiccanada.com
+1 (647) 808-7359


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.

Comments
view

Release: Music Canada announces new Board Chair and Advisory Council at 2019 JUNO Awards Chair’s Reception

The appointment of independent board Chair Jennifer M. Sloan and new 15-member Advisory Council reflect the findings of a comprehensive organizational review

Newly appointed Chair of the Music Canada Board of Directors Jennifer M. Sloan unveils Music Canada’s new Advisory Council at the 2019 JUNO Awards Chair’s Reception (Photo Credit: Ryan Bolton)

March 15, 2019, London, ON: At the 2019 JUNO Awards Chair’s Reception in London, Ontario, Music Canada announced key actions resulting from a comprehensive organizational review. Focusing on Board diversity and governance practices, the extensive review was commissioned to provide recommendations on ways Music Canada could demonstrate leadership in inclusion and good governance.

The first action stemming from the review was the addition of two new independent member positions to Music Canada’s Board of Directors, increasing the representation of women on the Board to 40 percent.

At the Chair’s Reception, Music Canada President and CEO Graham Henderson announced another important step: the appointment of Jennifer M. Sloan as the new independent Chair of the association’s Board. As Vice President, Public Policy at Mastercard Canada, Sloan brings outstanding expertise in corporate governance, finance and accountability, and government relations.

“I’m pleased to be joining Music Canada at this pivotal time, as the organization heads down a new and exciting path,” says Sloan. “We’re working to ensure a balance of skills, experience, knowledge and perspectives are represented in our governance and activities. The changes announced today will strengthen Music Canada in promoting the interests of our members and their partners, the artists, and to realize our vision for all Canadians to appreciate the power and value of music.”

In her first public remarks as Music Canada’s new Board Chair, Sloan unveiled another outcome of the association’s organizational review, the new Music Canada Advisory Council.

Reporting directly to the President and CEO, the Advisory Council is comprised of 15 exceptional and passionate individuals representing diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds, sexual identities, and geographic regions – reflecting Canada’s vibrant and diverse music community. The Council will evaluate Music Canada’s progress against the stated goals and objectives in the association’s strategic plan. The Council will also advise Music Canada on its programs, activities and research to support the organization in its mandate as an agent of change and thought leader in the music community.

The Music Canada Advisory Council members are:

  • Heather Bambrick
  • Steve Bellamy
  • Josh Colle
  • Nick Davis
  • ShoShona Kish
  • Amanda Martinez
  • Miranda Mulholland
  • Errol Nazareth
  • Alicia Rose
  • Mike Schroeder
  • Alka Sharma
  • Eon Sinclair
  • Darlene Tonelli
  • Chris Topping
  • Charlie Wall-Andrews

“The changes announced today are designed to ensure our leadership is guided by a broad spectrum of voices representing the exquisite mosaic that is our music community,” says Henderson. “I’m excited to welcome Jennifer Sloan and our new Advisory Council members to Music Canada to help us build a more robust music ecosystem. With the support of our members, Sony, Universal, and Warner, we are committed to reflecting the communities in which we live and work, and to fostering an environment in which music businesses can thrive, and artists can prosper.”

-30-

For more information:
Corey Poole, Music Canada
cpoole@musiccanada.com
+1 (647) 808-7359

 

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.

 

Comments
view

Music Canada Applauds Government of Canada as Copyright Board Reform Receives Royal Assent

December 18, 2018, Toronto: Music Canada is pleased to see that reforms to the Copyright Board of Canada were made official as the Government of Canada’s Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2, (Bill C-86) received Royal Assent. The changes will make the Board’s processes faster, more efficient, and more predictable.

“On behalf of our members, Music Canada extends our thanks to the Hon. Minister Navdeep Bains and the Hon. Pablo Rodriguez for their vision in leading the Copyright Board reform process, from the consultations last year through to Royal Assent,” says Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada. “By modernizing the Copyright Board, the Government is creating a more efficient regulatory environment which will support a royalty rate-setting process that better reflects the true value of music.”

When the reforms come into force in April 2019, they will address a long-held concern of the music sector. The Copyright Board plays a vital role in relation to Canada’s music community by setting rates that directly impact the value of music and the amount that artists and labels receive for their investment. Music Canada has been a lead advocate for full and meaningful reform of the Copyright Board.

“Everyone that works a job likes to be paid fairly and the changes made are a huge step for all of us that make music for a living. I applaud the government for taking action on this,” says Gord Bamford, one of the most decorated artists in Canadian country music with an impressive 24 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) awards and multiple JUNO nominations.

Music Canada looks forward to working with the government to support the implementation of these changes as the reforms come into force.

̶   Ends  ̶

For more information:
Quentin Burgess, Music Canada
qburgess@musiccanada.com
+1 (647) 981-8410

 

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.

Comments