Since early May, American pop sensation Selena Gomez has been touring across North America on the first leg of her 2016 Revival Tour, which included a Canadian stretch beginning in Vancouver, BC, through to Montreal, QC.
During her tour stop in Toronto, ON, Wednesday night, Gomez was surprised with a custom award plaque by Universal Music Canada commemorating the Gold certification of her 2015 album Revival. The plaque also highlights the Platinum certification of her hit “Hands To Myself,” and Double Platinum certifications of “Good For You,” and “Same Old Love.”
Gomez was initially scheduled to play Toronto over the weekend, however an unprecedented playoff run by the Toronto Raptors caused the singer to reschedule her sold-out Air Canada Centre concert. Gomez made light of the situation by sporting a Raptors sweater during her dazzling 20+ song set, which included her multi-Platinum hits and covers of Hillsong United and The Eurythmics.
Gomez will return to Canada later this summer when she headlines Québec City’s Le Festival d’été de Québec July 7, and AtlanticFest 2016, happening September 3 in Paradise, NL, and September 4 in Moncton, NB.
On Tuesday, legendary singer/songwriter Andy Kim paid a visit to the Music Canada courtyard to perform an acoustic set for staff and Liberty Village businesses and residents. Kim performed his iconic hits “How’d We Ever Get This Way,” “Sugar, Sugar,” and “Rock Me Gently,” and provided personal anecdotes from his extensive career.
Tonight, the Montreal-born recording artist will be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame at Canadian Music Week in Toronto, honouring his achievements and longstanding career in the music industry.
Congratulations to Andy Kim on the induction, and thank you to eOne Music Canada for the opportunity.
On Monday May 2, 2016, thousands of students from coast to coast will come together to participate in Music Monday and celebrate the impact music education has on our lives. The nationwide event will begin when schools open on the Eastern shores of Newfoundland, moving across the country to closing school bells by the Western shores of British Columbia. At 12:30 PM EST, students will join in on the official singing of the Music Monday Anthem, “We Are One.”
Beginning at Noon ET, student supporters and Coalition For Music Education’s Youth4Music ambassadors will gather outside Toronto City Hall at Nathan Phillips Square for the Toronto Lives Music rally and showcase concert, hosted by Céline Peterson. Toronto Mayor John Tory, entertainers Sharon & Bram, and JUNO-nominee Scott Helman will be in attendance for the rally, which will also feature performances from Canadian Brass, Melanie Doane & The Uschool, Dijah SB, Charlotte Siegel, and more.
The Coalition For Music Education will also be presenting the NUFSICISUM Youth Leadership Awards at the rally, which are given to students who have made a special positive impact in their school music program.
In 2013, retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield helped lead a nationwide sing-a-long of his Music Monday anthem “I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing),” co-written by Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies, aboard the International Space Station. Following a nationwide search in 2014, Bolton, Ontario’s Connor Ross penned his winning anthem “We Are One,” which will be performed again in 2016 across Canada.
Participants are encouraged to use the hashtag #MMC2C to share their Music Monday experiences, and can find the links to the nationwide rally and sing-a-long webcasts beginning Monday morning on the Music Monday website.
Congratulations to the 2016 Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards (MBIA) nominees, which were revealed earlier today by Canadian Music Week (CMW). The awards gala, hosted by TV personality Jessi Cruickshank, will take place during CMWon Thursday May 5, 2016, at the Sheraton Hotel’s Grand Ballroom in Toronto, ON. The MBIA’s recognize individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the Canadian music industry in the past year.
Several award recipients have already been revealed for the industry celebration, including Nelly Furtado for the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award, and J. Robert Wood for Allan Waters Broadcast Lifetime Achievement Award.
The gala will also celebrate the Canadian Music Industry Hall Of Fame inductions of legendary singer/songwriter Andy Kim, Quebec music industry veterans André Ménard and Alain Simard, and Newcap Radio President and CEO Rob Steele.
Additionally, on Saturday, May 7, Canadian Music Week will present the first annualLive Music Industry Awards, in partnership with theInternational Festival Network(IFN) and trade organizationMusic Canada Live. The awards will honour outstanding individuals and achievements in the Canadian live music business sector, and nominees are expected to be revealed shortly.
The full list of 2015 Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards recipients can beviewed here.
For nearly a decade, the third Saturday in April has become an unofficial holiday for vinyl collectors and music enthusiasts across the globe.
On Saturday, April 16, 2016, eager crate diggers will once again set their alarms early in anticipation of Record Store Day, a music community celebration which aims to gather artists, customers, and staff to celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned stores play in their communities. Each year, limited edition vinyl and CD titles are made available exclusively for the event. with many of the stores also running special sales throughout the day.
In Canada, an appetite for high-quality sound, artwork and a tangible product has lead to soaring vinyl sales. In 2015, vinyl posted its tenth consecutive year of sales growth, and experienced its biggest overall vinyl sales total in the SoundScan era, with a sales increase of 30% over 2014.
According to IFPI’s 2016 Global Music Report, Canada ranks #5 in top global vinyl sales, pushing 1.3 million units in 2015. Despite the sales surge, vinyl remains a niche portion of the physical market, which contributed 35% to Canada’s recorded music revenue in 2015 largely driven by CD sales. In 2015, digital revenue surged to 52% of Canada’s market share due to the rise in streaming service subscriptions. However, for labels and artists, the revenue generated from the sale of vinyl remains far greater than the revenue generated from free, ad-supported streaming services, due to what is known as the “value gap.”
Sales of #vinyl have grown from 3.1 million in 2006 to 31.5 million last year #GMR2016
While vinyl’s resurgence is excellent news for labels and artists, the few remaining North American pressing plants are struggling to keep up with the demand as aging equipment can lead to unforeseen delays for new releases. In 2015, Canada Boy Vinyl in Calgary, AB, opened its doors and is currently listed as the only vinyl pressing plant in Canada.
In Toronto, ON, a new startup aims to fix the issue of plant delays and their backlog of orders. Viryl Technologies, who will join Alan Cross on a panel for a free Record Store Day Music-Technology Meet Up, has developed their prototype “The Warmtone”, which uses digital technology to press up to three records per minute, an increase from the industry standard 35 seconds per unit.
Regardless of production delays, over 150 stores across Canada will participate in Record Store Day, stocked with thousands of new and vintage titles ready to be spun. The full list of participating Canadian record stores can be found at Record Store Day Canada’s website.
The University of Calgary has also partnered with the National Music Centre, which played a leading role in bringing the EMI archive to Calgary by connecting UMC with the university. The partnership will allow for collaboration on opportunities for the public to celebrate music in Canada through educational programming and exhibitions that highlight the archive.
“Plans for an educational component around music and the ambitions for this archive are tremendously exciting,” said Jeffrey Remedios, President and CEO of UMC, who spoke at Thursday’s announcement along with Deane Cameron, former President and CEO of EMI Music Canada, and celebrated Canadian artist Tom Cochrane. “EMI Music Canada became the source of the music many Canadians grew up listening to. It’s such a rich and treasured history and it’s terrific that generations to come will have the opportunity to explore that.”
In addition to the gift of the EMI Music Canada Archive, Universal Music Canada will provide substantial funding over several years to support the preservation and management of the collection.
“We are eager to work with Universal Music Canada and the University of Calgary to explore programming and exhibition opportunities that bring the wealth of this collection to Canadians,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO for the National Music Centre. “From our burgeoning music scene, the opening of Studio Bell this summer and this incredible archive, it is safe to say that Calgary is becoming a serious music city.”
Spanning from 1949 to 2012, the EMI Music Canada Archive collection consists of 5,500 boxes containing more than 18,000 video recordings, 21,000 audio recordings and more than two million documents and photographs. Over 2,500 Canadian and international artists are represented in the archive, which includes master recordings, publicity photos, demo tapes, album cover art, creative outlines for music videos, marketing plans, awards, drafts of song lyrics and correspondence between artists, producers, engineers and EMI Music Canada executives.
Established in 1949, EMI Music Canada included Capitol Records Canada and was the recording company for a range of Canadian artists, including Anne Murray, Tom Cochrane, Sarah McLachlan, Nickelback, Glass Tiger, Kim Mitchell, Helix and the Rankin Family. The company was also the Canadian distributor for major international acts such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys, Heart, Smashing Pumpkins, Garth Brooks, Pink Floyd, Queen and Iron Maiden.
Visit the University of Calgary’s website for more information on the archive acquisition and view the video below for a sample of what the collection has to offer.
American singer/songwriter Charlie Puth was in Toronto, ON Monday night for an intimate sold-out concert at The Mod Club as part of his 2016 North American Tour. Prior to the show, Warner Music Canada presented Puth with a custom award plaque for the Gold certification of his track “One Call Away” and Platinum certification of “Marvin Gaye.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDhFCVch40V/
Earlier in the day, Puth met with his Canadian fans for an autograph session at the HMV Underground, located at Toronto’s HMV Superstore (333 Yonge St.).
Charlie Puth has also been certified Quadruple Platinum in Canada for his collaboration with Wiz Khalifa on the Furious 7 theme song “See You Again.” The video for Charlie Puth’s Platinum single “Marvin Gaye” with Meghan Trainor can be viewed below:
Entertainment One (eOne) has announced the appointment of Last Gang Records founder and music industry attorney Chris Taylor to the role of President, Entertainment One Music. Taylor will bring his independent recording, publishing and artist management company Last Gang to eOne, whose roster includes record label clients Death From Above 1979, Chromeo and Ryan Hemsworth, and management clients Lights and Arkells. Last Gang will continue to operate under Taylor as a label of eOne.
In his new role, Taylor will oversee music operations globally and will lead strategic growth initiatives across music licensing, publishing, label and distribution. Taylor brings over 25 years of music industry experience to eOne through his work with Last Gang and representing recording artists like Drake, Nelly Furtado and Avril Lavigne with his legal practice.
“I’ve known Chris for many years and I am delighted that he has come on board to steer our music business into the future,” said Darren Throop, President & Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment One, in a release. “In addition to being a musician and songwriter himself, Chris’ business-acumen, strategic management expertise and far-reaching relationships will support the diversification of eOne Music. There has been a seismic shift in the music industry over the last decade and it is important that we continue to find innovative ways to build and bolster the business. With Chris and the Last Gang family of artists, we are well-positioned to do just that.”
Taylor, whose label is credited for launching the careers of Metric, Crystal Castles, Death From Above 1979, and MSTKRFT, will lead teams in Toronto, Los Angeles, New York and Nashville.
“This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the world’s leading entertainment companies, and combine my team and clients with a strong world-class brand that has global reach and proximity to world-class television and film producers,” said Taylor in a release. “I’m looking forward to working with Darren and the whole eOne team as we welcome new artists, broaden the opportunities for our current roster and reinforce eOne as the leading indie.”
Coinciding with their 15th anniversary, leading independent music company MapleMusic has officially rebranded as Cadence Music Group. The announcement was revealed at an industry gathering Tuesday evening at Toronto’s newly renovated music venue The Velvet Underground.
“Today, as we mark our 15th anniversary, we are celebrating the reinvention of a great legacy,” said Iain Taylor, CEO of Cadence Music Group, in a release. “Cadence Music is the new face of a re-energized music company that is reaffirming its place in the indie music scene. With our deep well of expertise, infrastructure and business relationships, we are uniquely positioned to maximize opportunities for artists and labels not only in Canada, but also on the global stage.”
Among the attendees Tuesday night were the Hon. Michael Coteau, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Toronto Mayor John Tory, and a cross-section of over 250 guests from Canada’s music sector, government, and other music industry stakeholders.
“Huge congrats to our Canadian family on the launch of Cadence Music,” remarked Alabama Shakes, who are on the Cadence Music label in Canada. “We thank them for all their hard work in helping us reach Gold status on our albums Boys & Girls and Sound & Color. Looking forward to our new adventures together!”
Cadence Music will continue to provide a full range of services that marry music and commerce under a single umbrella, which include:
Cadence Music – label imprint for artist signings
Fontana North – domestic and international label distribution company
Fan Experience – North American fan engagement company
Cadence Management – new division representing Cadence’s collective of artist managers
Open Road Recordings – Canadian country music label
Pheromone Recordings – boutique artist label
Cadence Songs – music publishing group
“Maple has been a pioneer in our business, showing us all that independence and success need not be mutually exclusive,” says Cadence shareholder and key strategic partner Jeffrey Remedios, President and CEO of Universal Music Canada. “Cadence is the future. Iain and his team have already made important new strides and I’m excited for what will come next.”
International music trade body IFPI has announced their list of 2015’s top global recording artists, and Canadian artists Justin Bieber, Drake, and The Weeknd make up three of the top 10 positions. The multi-Platinum Canadian artists dominated Billboard’s US Hot 100, and charts worldwide, in 2015 with hits like “What Do You Mean?”, “Hotline Bling”, and “I Can’t Feel My Face”. In Canada, Drake’s album If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late and The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind The Madness were certified Platinum, while Justin Bieber’s Purpose was certified Triple Platinum.
UK singer/songwriter Adele was announced as the recipient of 2015’s Global Recording Artist of the Year award, following the success of her chart-topping third album 25. The album’s lead single, “Hello”, was number 1 in more than 30 countries worldwide and has been certified 6X Platinum in Canada since its release. 25 was officially certified Diamond in Canada, selling over 800,000 copies since its November 2015 release.
Adele is the third recipient of the award, which reflects an artist’s worldwide popularity across physical formats, downloads and on-demand streams. Last year’s winner Taylor Swift lands at #3 in 2015, while 2013 winners One Direction move to #5.
The full top 10 list can be viewed below and visit IFPI’s release for more information about the award.
Music Canada