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Ontario Seeking Input in Developing Province’s First Culture Strategy

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Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport has announced plans for a province-wide consultation to help develop Ontario’s Culture Strategy, which will outline a vision for arts and culture in the province for years to come.

Ontario is seeking input from across the province, and inviting Ontarians to share their feedback by:

“Ontario’s cultural landscape has evolved and it is important that government priorities reflect this. That’s why I am proud that our government is developing the province’s first-ever culture strategy,” said Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “I look forward to hearing from Ontarians about what they value about arts and culture in their lives and what culture means to them. This is an opportunity for the province to take a fresh look at how it invests in arts and culture, to build our vibrant sectors and to enrich our diverse communities.”

Minister Coteau - Cultural Strategy Announcement

The cultural strategy will reflect what is important to all Ontarians and will be guided by the following principles:

  • Creativity and innovation
  • Quality of life and economic development
  • Diversity and inclusiveness
  • Respect for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples
  • Public value and accountability

The province’s release notes that culture is one of Ontario’s fastest growing economic sectors, generating approximately $22 billion of Ontario’s GDP, and supporting more than 280,000 jobs. The release states that Ontario is home to more than 58,000 artists; nearly twice as many as any other province. The release also notes that the province’s film and television production supported more than 44,000 direct and indirect jobs, and that Ontario’s music industry is the largest in Canada. .

The province also announced the creation of the Culture Strategy Advisory Group, comprised of seventeen members of Ontario’s cultural industries, from various backgrounds including music, dance, theatre, fine arts, documentary film, museums, literature, and more.

Music Canada encourages the music community in Ontario to share their perspective by taking part in the province’s consultation. To add your voice to the discussion, visit the province’s Culture Talks website, where you can sign up and share your ideas, see what others are saying and vote on ideas, or send your suggestions via private message.

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Music Canada’s 2015 Annual General Meeting

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Music Canada was thrilled to welcome many of our members, friends, and industry partners to our 2015 Annual General Meeting, held on September 24, 2015, at the Lula Lounge in Toronto.

Among the program highlights, the AGM featured a conversation with Toronto Mayor John Tory and Music Canada President & CEO Graham Henderson. Entitled ‘Toronto’s Music City – View from the Top’, the discussion centred on Toronto’s role and reputation as a Music City, and how the City, community, and local music industry can continue to foster this reputation.

John Tory - Graham Henderson

Video: Toronto’s Music City – View from the Top: in conversation with Mayor John Tory

For more on Tory’s remarks, visit our blog.

Next, Henderson delivered the Year-In-Review, which underlined the importance of collaboration and partnership within our industry.

After noting the growth in Canada’s digital music market, helped by the launch of new streaming entrants in the market, Henderson highlighted the Ontario Music Fund, which was made permanent in Ontario’s most recent budget bill. “Thank you Premier Wynne and Minister Coteau for seeing the economic value in Ontario’s booming music sector,” said Henderson. The success of the Ontario Music Fund has sparked interest across the country, explained Henderson, pointing to the Fertile Ground report commissioned by the National Music Centre and completed by Music Canada last fall, which provides recommendations for leveraging the potential of Alberta’s music sector. Henderson then announced that Music Canada is undertaking a study on British Columbia to make similar recommendations to their provincial government.

At the federal level, Henderson noted a major win in the budget bill with term extension for sound recordings. Noting that these recordings would otherwise fall into the public domain during the artists’ lifetime, the unprecedented success on term extension brought Canada in line with international standards.

Henderson also congratulated the Unison Benevolent Fund on reaching their $1 million fundraising target this year, making the fund operational. Music Canada is proud as an organization, along with our label members, for the role we played in investing $250,000 for the fund. Henderson then recognized our matching partner, Slaight Music.

Graham Speaking

Video: 2015 Year In Review

Continuing on the Music Cities theme, the AGM featured a panel entitled ‘Music City Strategies from the Ground Up’ with three panelists from across Canada who shared insight to the strategies and programs they are using to grow the music sector in their home regions.

Moderated by Amy Terrill, Music Canada’s VP of Public Affairs, the panel featured:

  • Andrew Vincent, a singer-songwriter, researcher, and creative consultant from Ottawa, ON. He is the co-author of Connecting Ottawa Music, an Ontario Music Fund-supported project profiling Ottawa’s music industries that was released in Spring 2015. He is currently serving as the interim Executive Director of the newly formed Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, a not-for-profit dedicated to promoting growth in the city’s music industries.
  • Mark Garner, Executive Director for the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area in downtown Toronto. Over the past decade he has increasingly focused on the revitalization and development of urban downtowns, playing an integral role in catalyzing on economics, neighbourhoods, social innovation and incubators. The DYBIA boasts a Music Strategy that looks at the deep history of music in downtown Toronto, programming His ideas and approach have been acknowledged by numerous awards and by being emulated in other communities.
  • Thom Bennett, a professional musician/producer/recordist/instructor based in Edmonton.  He performs regularly around Western Canada and beyond with a plethora of artists including A/B trio, MIXTAPE, Ann Vriend, Jesse Peters and dozens of other artists. When not maintaining his busy gigging schedule he splits his time between producing and engineering records for local artists at Sanctuary Studios, session studio work, accompaniment work, teaching and composing music.  Thom has created the ELM (Edmonton Live Music) Initiative involving with the support and help of key stakeholders in government and the music industry in Edmonton.  Its aim is to reinvigorate Edmonton’s live music scene through an innovative economic stimulus plan that involves the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission.

Music Cities panel

Video: ‘Music City Strategies from the Ground Up’ panel

Following the panel, Henderson introduced a new tradition at the Music Canada AGM with the creation of the President’s Award, which recognizes an organization or individual outside the music industry that has had a significant impact on the music industry. The inaugural recipient of the award was Mark Garner of the Downtown Yonge BIA, which has created an action plan to stimulate music performance, creation, education and celebration in the downtown core of the city. Their music strategy builds on the rich music history in downtown Yonge in order to create an environment where music can succeed now and in the future.

For more on the President’s Award, visit our blog.

To close out the day, Warner Music Canada President Steve Kane introduced Modern Space, a five-piece Toronto-based band that recently signed with Warner Music Canada. The band delivered a high energy performance of songs from their upcoming debut EP.

Modern Space

For more photos from the Annual General Meeting, visit our photo album on Facebook.

We were thrilled to welcome many of Music Canada’s members, friends, and industry partners to our 2015 Annual General…

Posted by Music Canada on Thursday, September 24, 2015

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Live Music Industry Awards launched by Canadian Music Week

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Canadian Music Week (CMW) has announced the first annual Live Music Industry Awards, taking place on May 7, 2016 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. The awards, created by CMW in partnership with the International Festival Network and Music Canada Live, will honour outstanding individuals and achievements in the live music sector.

“We know the live music sector is driving revenue for the music industry, with festivals and concerts also increasing tourism in cities across North America,” said Cameron Wright, Vice President, Operations and Live Programming for Canadian Music Week, in a release. “We look forward to recognizing the players and decision-makers from Canada and around the world who are advancing this growth, through an award show dedicated to the live music industry. The awards will celebrate a wide range of Canada’s venues, market sizes and the artists that fill those venues as well as the infrastructure of personnel that make this happen.”

“The time has absolutely come for a comprehensive celebration of live music in this country,” said Music Canada Live Executive Director Erin Benjamin. “We are thrilled to collaborate with CMW – to highlight the important achievements of our members, and those working hard to put amazing talent in front of audiences across the country, from coast to coast to coast.”

Nominees will be posted at www.LiveMusicAwards.net, with winners determined by votes from the general public and members of the industry. The awards will cap off CMW’s Live Music Summit, which has been extended to a two-day event, running May 6-7, 2016.

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Music Canada Proud to Sponsor the 2015 CCMA Record Company of the Year Award

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Music Canada is proud to return as sponsor of the Record Company of the Year Award at the Canadian Country Music Association Gala Dinner and Awards, taking place this weekend in Halifax, NS.

The 2015 Record Company of the Year Award nominees are:

  • Big Star Recordings Inc.
  • MDM Recordings Inc.
  • Open Road Recordings Inc.
  • Royalty Records Inc.
  • Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.

“As Canada’s country music community comes together in Halifax to celebrate the artists, songs, and industry partners who make Canadian country music great, Music Canada is proud to sponsor the CCMA’s Record Company of the Year Award, which recognizes the effort and drive of the record companies who invest in Canadian country music artists and help bring their talents to the world,” said Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada.

The Record Company of the Year Award will be presented at the CCMA’s Industry Awards Gala at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax on Saturday, September 12th.

 

CCMA 2015 Ad

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Deane Cameron Announced as President and CEO of The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall

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The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall has announced that Deane Cameron has been appointed its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 15, 2015.

The respected music industry executive will oversee all aspects of the Corporation’s management. With more than 40 years of experience in the Canadian music industry, including 24 as President and CEO of EMI Music Canada, Cameron has earned a reputation as a stalwart champion of Canadian culture. He has received some of the highest honours in Canada for his contributions to arts and culture, including an appointment to the Order of Canada, the JUNO Awards’ Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award, and the Canadian Country Music Association’s Hank Smith Award of Excellence.

“The Board are excited and pleased to have a person of Deane Cameron’s calibre to lead the Corporation at such an exciting time in our organization’s history,” said Richard Hamm, Chair of the Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall Board of Governors, in a release. “We have full confidence that Deane will bring meaningful opportunities for audiences and artists alike on behalf of one of Canada’s premiere music and entertainment institutions.”

“I am honoured and thrilled to not only be a part of this iconic music company’s legacy, but to join the impressive momentum within the organization” said Cameron of the appointment. “The team is a creative force in the live entertainment world and this is truly a unique opportunity for me, as a proud Canadian, to explore and support all exciting ways that we can best serve the community through the revitalization of Massey Hall, new program initiatives on all of our stages, and beyond.”

Cameron’s appointment was applauded by artists, industry personnel, and music organizations following the announcement.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Deane for many years, and I could not be more pleased to see such a passionate and proud supporter of Canadian creators assuming the helm at Roy Thomson/Massey Hall,” said Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada. “Deane’s passion for the promotion and development of Canadian artists is legendary.  From Anne Murray to Serena Ryder, Deane has worked with a galaxy of Canadian artists helping them to make their mark in Canadian music history.  He was not given the Order of Canada for nothing!  His knowledge of every facet of the music industry, gained from his years as President and CEO of EMI Music, will be invaluable as the Corporation continues to grow and reach out to new generations of Canadians.  It is, moreover, immensely gratifying to see that a Canadian has been entrusted with the stewardship of two of our beloved, cultural crown jewels.”

“Since the very early stages of my professional career Deane has supported and encouraged me, and he was there to celebrate with us when I made my headline debut at Massey Hall just over a year ago,” said recording artist Serena Ryder in the release. “Every artist knows that these are among the greatest stages a musician can aspire to anywhere in the world. I congratulate Deane on this announcement on behalf of all artists fortunate enough to work with him and know that music fans everywhere will benefit – because he’s one of us. A true music champion.”

Congratulations to 2011 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award recipient Deane Cameron on his new gig as the President and CEO of Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall!

Posted by The JUNO Awards on Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Deane Cameron is the new president of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall. Deane is a real music man, someone I’ve had the…

Posted by Nicholas Jennings on Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Nice new gig for Deane. The venues will be in great hands.

Posted by Bob Roper on Tuesday, September 8, 2015

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Rita Davies Appointed Chair of the Ontario Arts Council

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The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has announced that Rita Davies has been appointed Chair of the OAC, following her nomination by the Government of Ontario.

Ms. Davies brings extensive leadership experience in the arts community to the role, having been Executive Director of Culture for the City of Toronto from 1999 through 2012. Prior to that role, she was Executive Director of the Toronto Arts Council from 1984 through 1999. More recently, she launched Cultural Capital, which provides consulting services in cultural planning and policy.

“We are delighted with the appointment of Rita Davies as Chair,” said Peter Caldwell, OAC Director & CEO in a release. “The Chair plays a crucial role at agencies like the Ontario Arts Council. Rita’s extensive and in-depth knowledge of the arts in Ontario, and particularly public funding of the arts, will serve OAC and the arts community very well in the years ahead.”

“I’d like to congratulate Rita on her appointment as Chair,” said Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “Over the past few decades, Rita’s efforts to advance the interest of artists and arts organizations in Ontario have led to lasting, tangible change.  The Ontario Arts Council, artists and arts organizations across the province will benefit from the impressive experience, knowledge and passion that she brings to the table.”

“I am thrilled to be given this opportunity to lead the Ontario Arts Council, one of the great cultural institutions of this province,” said Rita Davies in the OAC release. “The OAC makes a difference in the lives of communities large and small and adds to our economic prosperity.  I look forward to working with arts organizations across Ontario.”

 

Music Canada, as well as many other Canadian arts organizations, congratulated both parties on the appointment via social media.

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Music Canada’s Graham Henderson on Toronto Pearson’s Economic Impact

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In a new video, Music Canada President & CEO Graham Henderson speaks about the economic impact of Toronto Pearson, Canada’s largest and busiest airport.

In conjunction with the Economic Impact Study, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority wanted to hear firsthand from those who rely on the airport to keep their business running. In the video, Henderson highlights the impact of Toronto Pearson in supporting Toronto’s music scene and connecting Canadian and international recording artists with global audiences.

“They need access to the world. We no longer live in a world where your market is your home. In order to be a successful recording artist in today’s world, it has to be a global marketplace. Without access to that global marketplace, it’s going to be very, very difficult. Making it easier is essential,” said Henderson. “We have domestic musicians who come from literally every culture in the world. And musicians from literally every culture in the world come here to perform. I don’t think that type of a music scene would have developed and flourished if it was not for an access point like Toronto Pearson.”

The importance of easy access by air travel was highlighted in The Mastering of a Music City, a new report released by Music Canada and IFPI that presents a roadmap that communities of all sizes can follow to realize the full potential of their music economy. The report found easy access via air travel is important in establishing a Music City as a destination for both touring artists and music tourists, and recommends communities consider the importance of international travel when planning for airports and routes.

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Music Canada Street Team Promotes New Music Fridays at the Foo Fighters Concert

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Today, Friday, July 10th, marks the first edition of New Music Fridays, the new global release day for new music. Until now, singles and albums have been released on different days of the week in different countries – Mondays in France and the UK, Tuesdays in Canada and the US, and Fridays in markets like Australia and Germany.

The change to a global release day means that fans around the world can get new music on the same day, rather than waiting for their own national release day. This switch is being implemented by labels, retailers, and artists internationally, and will establish an aligned release day in more than 45 countries.

To promote the switch, the Music Canada street team teamed up with Dine Alone Records’ Wax On Wheels mobile record shop at last night’s sold-out Foo Fighters concert at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto. We shared the news of the change with concert-goers and encouraged them to help spread the word by tweeting a photo with the New Music Friday signage.

Wax on Wheels is Dine Alone’s touring record store, which has transformed a simple 16 ft. trailer into a fully functioning record store, complete with an awning-covered patio, free wifi, and a phone charging station for visitors. The store features titles from the Dine Alone back catalogue, rare releases from the archives, and limited releases from the label’s 10 Years Store. Launched this past May, the shop has already transversed the country, going from Vancouver to Halifax on the Red Bull x Dine Alone 10 Year Tour.

This was the second of two back-to-back Foo Fighters concerts at the Amphitheatre, where they thrilled the 16,000 fans in attendance each night with a long string of hits from their 20-year catalogue. The band played nearly three hours each night despite the fact that Grohl was recovering from a broken leg, an injury sustained in a fall from the stage at a concert in Gothenberg, Sweden last month.

Photos from the promotion are available in the album below. For more information on New Music Fridays, visit www.NewMusicFridays.com.

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“New Music Fridays” Go Live as Albums and Singles Switch Over to Global Release Day

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From Friday July 10th, new music releases will be made available for fans to enjoy on the same day across the world, as the switchover is made to “New Music Fridays”.

Until now, tracks and albums have been released on different days of the week in different countries – from Mondays in markets such as France and the UK, through Tuesdays in the US and Canada and to Fridays in markets such as Australia and Germany.

The change means that fans can now get new music on the same day worldwide rather than having to wait for their own national release day. It replaces the patchwork of national release days which meant fans were frustrated and unable to access music in their own country when it was legally available elsewhere.

The switchover to “New Music Fridays” is being implemented by labels, retailers and artists internationally and will establish an aligned global release day in more than 45 countries.

Frances Moore, chief executive of IFPI, said: “The switch to New Music Fridays is about getting new music to fans at the time they most want to enjoy it, whether in physical stores or online. It’s also an opportunity to recreate excitement around the release of music – the message is “Think Friday, Think New Music.”

Fans, industry professionals and anyone else looking for information on the switch to a Friday release day can visit www.newmusicfridays.com which has all the details of the changes taking place.

 

The first “New Music Friday” worldwide

There are several albums being released on the first “New Music Friday” including Years & Years’ Communion (Polydor), Owl City’s Mobile Orchestra (Republic), Little Boots’ Working Girl (Repeat Records), R5’s Sometime Last Night (Disney), Veruca Salt’s Ghost Notes (El Camino) and Kidz Bop’s Kidz Bop 29 (Razor & Tie).

Singles releases in key markets include Little Mix’s Black Magic (Syco) and Nick Jonas’ Chains (Island) in the UK and Taio Cruz’s Do What You Like (Island).

 

A worldwide switchover

“New Music Fridays” will be established in more than 45 recorded music markets worldwide.. Of these, 11 countries already release music on Fridays, while the others will switch the day that new albums and singles become available.

The switch to global “New Music Fridays” has been overseen by an international steering group made up of the following organisations:

  • IFPI, representing some 1,300 record labels worldwide;
  • WIN-Impala, representing independent record labels worldwide;
  • FIM, representing musicians’ unions and associations globally;
  • Featured Artists Coalition representing UK performers;
  • Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) (UK);
  • Music Biz (US).

 

Consumer research

Independent research suggests that music fans wanted new music to be available at the start of the weekend. Consumer research by TNS across seven markets[1] shows Friday and Saturday as the preferred days for new music release among consumers who expressed an opinion. More than two-thirds of those with a preference (68%) chose Friday or Saturday.

 

Charts move into line

The move to New Music Fridays will also lead to many countries making changes to their charts as well. Public music charts in most countries reflect a week’s sales, so changing the release day to Friday means changing the chart week as well. For example, in the UK the BBC will launch its first Friday chart show, having moved it from Sundays, and in France the TV station D17 will be moving its weekly featuring the latest charts from Tuesday to Friday.

 

Statements on Global Release Day

Kim Bayley, chief executive, Entertainment Retailers Association:

“Retailers and digital services are the ultimate link in the chain between artists and music fans. Having a single worldwide release day reduces customer confusion about when new music is available and focuses everyone’s attention on new releases. Retailers are working hard to implement the change to Fridays and ensure that the advent of New Music Friday is a success.”

 

James Donio, president, Music Business Association (Music Biz)
“The Music Business Association (Music Biz) is committed to working with our members and industry partners in the United States to make a smooth and successful transition to New Music Fridays.”


Frances Moore, Chief Executive of IFPI
“The switch to New Music Fridays is about getting new music to fans at the time they most want to enjoy it, whether that be in physical stores or online. It’s also an opportunity to recreate excitement around the release of music – the message is “Think Friday, Think New Music. The global release day also helps artists, labels and retailers by limiting the time between releases in different countries and thus narrowing the gap on piracy. The move made today has been a great example of cross-sector cooperation, involving labels, artists, retailers and others across more than 45 markets.”

 

Paul Pacifico, chief executive, Featured Artists Coalition (FAC)
“The FAC welcomes any initiative that brings artists and fans closer together and the Global Release Day does just that, making sure that all fans, wherever they are in the world, can get legal access to new tracks as soon as they are released. Making Global Release Day Friday brings the additional excitement of launching major new releases in the run-up to the weekend.”

 

John Smith, president, International Federation of Musicians (FIM)
“FIM fully supports the move to New Music Fridays.  Our industry, our membership and our audiences are increasingly global, and a move to a global release Friday offers an exciting opportunity to release music at a time when people most want to listen to and buy it.”

[1] January 2015 – TNS survey of 7251 consumers across seven markets: Brazil, France, Italy, Malaysia, Spain, Sweden and USA. 4201 consumers expressed an opinion/ preference for a release day.

 

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City of London seeking applications for Music Industry Development Officer position

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The City of London has issued a job posting for a Music Industry Development Officer, working in the City Manager’s Community & Economic Innovation division.

“The Music Industry Development Officer is responsible for working with the Music Industry Resource Committee composed of representatives from: the City of London, Tourism London Inc. and the London Arts Council on implementation of the London Music Strategy,” reads the position’s Summary of Duties. “Specifically, the Music Industry Development Officer works towards advancing the eleven (11) Key Priorities from the London Music Strategy. The advancing of each of these Key Priorities may involve several organizations, including many community partners.”

Tourism London shared news of the job position this past weekend on Twitter:

The position marks another step forward in the London’s Music Strategy, which was developed by London’s Music Industry Development Task Force in 2014. Earlier this month, the strategy was advanced with the announcement that the iconic downtown building at 182 Dundas St., home to Nash Jewellers for nearly a century, would be repurposed to accelerate London’s music sector. The project, dubbed The London Music Division, is proposed to act as a collective centralized resource for the commercial music sector, featuring a Music Incubator, the London Music Hall of Fame, and a future Music Office.

If you are interested in the Music Industry Development Officer position or know someone else who might be interested, please visit https://careers2.hiredesk.net/viewjobs/JobDetail.asp?Comp=CityofLondon&sPERS_ID=&TP_ID=1&JB_ID=&PROJ_ID={C346BDCC-9CA8-4708-9456-9846226C9DF3}&LAN=en-US&BackUrl=ViewJobs/Default.asp for more information.

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