Prior to his sold out show at Toronto’s Velvet Underground, Tel-Aviv artist Dennis Lloyd was surprised with his first Canadian Gold Single Award plaque for his breezy hit “Nevermind” by Warner Music Canada. Lloyd shared the exciting news with his fans through his social media accounts.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjj8ZKZjCXY/?taken-by=dennislloyd
Watch the video for “Nevermind” below.
Ahead of his sold out show at Echo Beach in Toronto this week, American rapper Post Malone was presented with a Double Platinum plaque for his 2018 sophomore album beerbongs and bentleys by President/CEO of Universal Music Canada, Jeffrey Remedios.
Later in the week, beerbongs’ highest certified single “rockstar (ft. 21 Savage)” joined Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” and Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” as the only songs so far in 2018 to earn 9x Platinum certifications. The album also includes the Triple Platinum single “Psycho (ft. Ty Dolla $ign)” and Double Platinum single “Candy Paint.”
“rockstar (ft. @21savage)” is now rapper @PostMalone‘s highest Canadian certified single, officially earning a 9x Platinum certification!
— Gold/Platinum Canada (@GoldPlatCA) May 30, 2018
Post Malone was one of the top certified artists in Canada in 2017, with 8 tracks from his debut Double Platinum album Stoney earning Single Award certifications.
Portugal. The Man were in Toronto last Thursday to help kick off the Budweiser Stage’s outdoor concert season with a co-headlining show alongside Canadian indie all-stars Broken Social Scene. Prior to their highly anticipated return to the city, the Portland-based band was surprised with their first Canadian Gold Album Award plaques for their 2017 LP Woodstock by Warner Music Canada. The album features the summer 2017 hit single “Feel It Still,” which they also received new 4x Platinum custom plaques for.
Watch the video for “Feel It Still” below.
Photo Credit: Stoo Metz
During the 2018 East Coast Music Association Awards earlier this month in Halifax, NS, the legacy of Cutting Crew guitarist Kevin Scott Macmichael was recognized with the presentation of a Platinum Single Award plaque for the UK group’s hit “(I Just) Died In Your Arms.” Universal Music Canada presented the vintage-style awards during the show to Kevin’s daughters Cadence and Liz Macmichael, who were also in attendance to accept their father’s ECMA Directors Special Achievement Award.
https://twitter.com/GoldPlatCA/status/993577881807802368
Watch the video for Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died In Your Arms” below.
Photo Credit: Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.
Following an electric performance at the Sony Centre on April 27, 2018, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc. staff presented Camila Cabello and Manager Roger Gold with a plaque commemorating the Canadian Platinum certification of her debut studio album Camila. The plaque also highlights the 7x Platinum certification of “Havana (ft. Young Thug),” the Platinum certification of “Never Be The Same,” and the Gold certifications of “Real Friends” and “She Loves Control.”
Watch the video for “Havana” below.
The Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport announced today the 2018 recipients of the Ontario Music Fund, which aims to help increase music production and attract new audiences to discover local artists. Glenn Thibeault, MPP for Sudbury, made the announcement on behalf of Daiene Vernile, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, at Sudbury’s Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario.
The Ontario Music Fund, which is managed by the Ontario Media Development Corporation, has contributed to the creation of over 1,800 full-time equivalent positions for Ontario’s music industry between 2013 and 2016. This year, Ontario is investing over $14 million to provide more than 200 new grants to 198 music companies and organizations that help produce, distribute, present and promote Ontario-based music, and to help them compete internationally.
“Our government recognizes that the music industry is a key economic driver in Ontario, as well as an important part of Ontario’s cultural landscape,” said Vernile in a release. “The Ontario Music Fund supports an environment where our music companies and organizations – both large and small – can innovate and expand, raising the profiles and boosting the careers of talented artists from many musical genres and backgrounds.”
Congrats to this year’s recipients of the Ontario Music Fund! We’re providing over 200 grants to music businesses to support innovation and increase music production and performance in Ontario. https://t.co/TymDQDr0rT pic.twitter.com/2dy1Hon3Od
— TourismCultureSport (@ExploreON) April 27, 2018
As mentioned in the release, artists supported by the fund between 2013 and 2016 sold over 5.6 million recordings domestically and a further 7 million recordings internationally. Almost 4 million people have attended live music events supported by the fund, featuring performances by more than 4,000 Ontario artists.
“The Ontario Music Fund has been a real game-changer for music companies and artists in Ontario,” says Karen Thorne-Stone, OMDC President & CEO, in the release. “OMDC is proud to invest in building this important sector and ensuring that local talent reaches audiences around the world. The popularity of Ontario music is reflected in more than 100 JUNO nominations this year alone, with seven out of nine artists in the JUNO Fan’s Choice award category from Ontario.”
The full list of 2018 Ontario Music Fund recipients is now available on the OMDC website.
Earlier today, Ottawa City Council officially adopted the Ottawa Music Strategy, a three-year roadmap to strengthen Ottawa’s music industry and establish Ottawa as a global music city. On April 3, 2018, Ottawa’s Finance and Economic Development Committee approved the three-year strategy, which was then brought to Council for consideration this morning.
Developed in partnership with the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC), the Ottawa Music Strategy would make more City-owned spaces available for music, promote safer spaces for music and integrate music in strategies for economic development and tourism.
The Ottawa Music Strategy was first announced by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson in March 2017, leading up to Ottawa’s role as the host city for the 2017 JUNO Awards. Following this announcement, OMIC assembled a group of music industry representatives and local business and community leaders, known as the Ottawa Music Strategy Task Force. The 15-member group was asked to envision what Ottawa might look like in 2030 following the implementation of a successful music strategy, and to develop a series of practical recommendations that can be implemented.
The Task Force has set six Phase 1 recommendations for the City to implement in 2018, including:
Furthermore, to mobilize the local music industry through its association, the Task Force has set the following 2018 recommendations for OMIC:
In November 2017, the City’s Draft Budget 2018 committed $100,000 to support the Ottawa Music Strategy, which the Task Force, subject to approvals by City Council through its annual budget processes, hopes to see matched through 2020 with Phase 2 of the Strategy’s recommendations.
The full Ottawa Music Strategy can be viewed on the OMIC website.
Ahead of a two night run at Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall earlier this week, Canadian country star Johnny Reid was presented with a Gold Album Award plaque for his 2017 album Revival by Universal Music Canada. The album marks Reid’s eight full length to be officially certified Canadian Gold, with 2009’s Dance With Me earning a Triple Platinum certification.
Reid will continue his Revival Live tour throughout Ontario in April before making his way to The Maritimes for the final leg.
Watch the video for Revival‘s single “Heart Of A Woman” below.
Universal Music Canada President Jeffrey Remedios (middle) with James Barker Band (Photo Credit: UMC)
Ontario-crafted country outfit James Barker Band had a sensational 2017, raking in two Canadian Gold Singles for tracks of their breakthrough debut EP Game On. During JUNO weekend in Vancouver, the band was surprised by Universal Music Canada with a third Single Award plaque for the “Just Sayin.” The group also took home some more hardware from Vancouver, winning the JUNO for 2018 Country Album of the Year during the Gala Dinner and Awards, where they also performed.
The band announced the news to their fan in an Instagram video, popping champagne while overlooking the beautiful Downtown Vancouver scenery.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgwuhm1h2wE/?taken-by=jamesbarkerband
Watch the video for “Just Sayin'” below.
Photo credit: MDM Recordings
Canadian country star Jess Moskaluke was surprised with a Gold Single Award plaque from MDM Recordings for her single “Kiss Me Quiet” during JUNO weekend in Vancouver. “Kiss Me Quiet” is the Saskatchewan singer-songwriter’s second solo Gold track certification, with “Cheap Wine & Cigarettes” earning Platinum status in 2016. Moskaluke has also received a Gold certification for her collaboration with Paul Brandt on “I’m An Open Road,” which was certified in June of 2017.
Moskaluke spent the better part of the JUNO Awards festivities recovering from the flu, but that did not stop her from sharing the news with her fans through Instagram as soon as she could.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgy-RvehiFF/?taken-by=jessmoskaluke
Watch the video for “Kiss Me Quiet” below.
Music Canada