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Brett Kissel presented with Gold plaque for “Anthem” during 2019 JUNO weekend in London

Brett Kissel with his Warner Music Canada team on Friday, March 15, 2019 in London.

The 2019 JUNO Awards are officially in the books, and country artist Brett Kissel walked away from the festivities in London, ON with some new hardware in hand. To kick the weekend off, Kissel was presented with a custom Gold plaque for his hit “Anthem” by his Warner Music Canada team, as well as a CIMA Road Gold plaque commemorating his cross-Canada ticket sales.

During Sunday’s broadcast, Kissel took home the JUNO for Country Album of the Year for We Were That Song, which features the Gold-certified title track as well as “Anthem.”

Check out the video for “Anthem” below.

 

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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.

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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.

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WATCH: Board Chair Jennifer M. Sloan unveils Music Canada’s new Advisory Council

On March 15 at the 2019 JUNO Awards Chair’s Reception, Music Canada President and CEO Graham Henderson officially introduced Jennifer M. Sloan, the association’s new independent Chair of the Music Canada Board of Directors. In Sloan’s first public remarks as Chair, she unveiled Music Canada’s new 15-member Advisory Council.

The Council is comprised of 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.

Watch Sloan’s remarks in full below.

For more information on Jennifer Sloan’s appointment to the Music Canada Board of Directors, as well as Music Canada’s new Advisory Council, see our media release.

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Release: 42 Canadian music community groups commit to fostering safe and respectful workspaces

Coalition of Canadian music organizations sign Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct, announce training & education resources will be available through Unison Benevolent Fund

March 16, 2019, London, ON: A coalition of Canadian music community groups has joined in solidarity and is working towards environments free of harassment, discrimination, violence, and bullying for the music community.

Today the coalition announced that 42 music groups have formally signed on to the Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct. By signing on to the Code, the organizations are acknowledging their responsibility to build safe, respectful workplaces, and are committing to improving and implementing policies to keep the music community safe.

As a first step, members of the coalition have formed an Education, Training and Safe Support Committee, which is working to provide each member of the Canadian music community with the appropriate resources and training to identify, confront and prevent harassment, bullying and violence in any workplace. Unison Benevolent Fund has volunteered to host a suite of educational and training resources through its website at no cost. These resources will be made available to the music community at a later date.

Today’s announcement was made at Allies in Action, an event focused on initiatives undertaken or underway to create safer spaces as the Canadian music community gathers in London, Ontario for the 2019 JUNO Awards.

Because of the uniqueness of the music business and the spaces in which musicians and music workers often operate, the coalition has added the following music-specific preamble to the existing Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct:

“We, the Canadian music community signatories, support the Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct. We recognize that in the music industry, the terms work, workplace and work-related, are extremely broad and can include any physical or virtual spaces at any time.”

You can read the full Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct at www.ReadTheCode.ca

Additional organizations that would like to sign on to the Code can register online. Once the form has been completed, new signatories should email a high resolution company logo to info@readthecode.ca with your organization’s name and “Becoming Code signatory” in the subject line.

Music industry groups that have signed on to the Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct are:

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Supporting quotes

“The Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct addresses the distinct circumstances of music professionals, and the unique ways in which we work. Unison exists as a resource for the Canadian music community during times of crisis, and we look forward to investing in more proactive solutions that prioritize the safety of music workers. On behalf of the Unison Board of Directors, we would like to extend our most sincere thanks to the Education, Training, and Safe Support Committee for putting such a vital program together. We’re proud to partner with them to further serve the Canadian music community.”

– Amanda Power, Executive Director, Unison Benevolent Fund

 

“As organizations, CARAS and Music Canada deeply value respect, inclusiveness and excellence. Both organizations believe everyone working in this beautiful and complex music community deserves to feel safe and supported. To achieve this, we’re working on national initiatives like the Allies in Action event, as well as local CARAS partnerships in our host cities with groups like Anova in London and Good Night Out in Vancouver to make JUNO Awards events safe for everyone.

Signing the Code is a way for Canadian music community groups to affirm our dedication to our shared values, and to reinforce those values with action. Through the work of the Education, Training and Safe Support Committee, I’m very pleased that we will be able to offer all members of the Canadian music community the resources to help make all of our workplaces safer.”

– Jackie Dean, Chief Operating Officer, CARAS, The JUNO Awards, MusiCounts
Chief Financial Officer, Music Canada

 

“Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM), as the union for professional musicians, is committed to representing and protecting its membership in all facets of their career. Signing the Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct represents the music community’s shared action towards creating a healthy culture with zero tolerance to all forms of harassment. Working to ensure health and safety in the workplace for our membership is one of the union’s many functions. We will continue to pledge our resources, support and expertise and proudly sign on behalf of our over 17,000 active Canadian members.”

– Liana White, Executive Director, Canadian Federation of Musicians

 

“The Code is a community statement and commitment that each signatory organization and company takes their own measures to discourage and address harassment in their workplaces.  It acknowledges that music industry workplaces are often non-standard workplaces, known as extended workplaces, and include studios, venues, bars, green rooms, and tour buses, among others. If we collectively are motivated to meet the commitments in the Code, it will help musicians and all workers across the industry feel safer and more enabled to collaborate, create great music, and ensure that there is a professional platform to share the work of the world’s best artists.”   

– Michael Adam Murray, Executive Director, Toronto Musicians’ Association (TMA), local 149

 

“Canada’s live music industry is doing its part to ensure that every live music space is a safe place through our recently launched Raising the Bar program. Raising the Bar addresses safer spaces, harm reduction and event safety at live music events – be they indoors or out, and will work to complement both the ethos and practical implications of the Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct. We are all in this together, and we are vigorously working to supplant systemic issues with positive change.”

– Erin Benjamin, Canadian Live Music Association President & CEO

 

“The Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct is a wonderful initiative that provides a uniform set of standards to ensure the safety and success of of our colleagues throughout the industry.”

– Samantha Slattery, Founder, Women in Music Canada

 

“It is important that we have all signed on to the Code as a community but now it is even more important that we look at ways to proactively change the way we do business.”

– Margaret McGuffin, Executive Director, Canadian Music Publishers Association

 

For more information:
Victoria Lord, VLPR Inc.
416-484-9047
victoria@vlpr.com

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42 organismes canadiens de musique s’unissent pour promouvoir la sécurité et le respect en milieu de travail

Une coalition d’organismes canadiens de musique signe le Code de conduite des industries créatrices du Canada et annonce que des ressources de formation et d’éducation seront disponibles par l’entremise du Fonds de bienfaisance Unison

London (Ontario), le 16 mars 2019: Une coalition d’organismes de l’industrie canadienne de la musique se donnent la main pour favoriser la création de milieux de travail exempts de harcèlement, de discrimination, de violence ou d’intimidation au service de la communauté musicale.  

La coalition a annoncé aujourd’hui que 42 organismes musicaux ont formellement signé le Code de conduite des industries créatrices du Canada. Ce faisant, les organismes signataires reconnaissent la responsabilité qui leur revient de créer des milieux de travail sécuritaires et respectueux, et ce, en s’engageant à améliorer et à mettre en œuvre des politiques conçues pour assurer la sécurité au sein de la communauté musicale.

Comme premier pas, les membres de la coalition ont formé de Comité d’éducation, de formation et de soutien, conçu pour offrir à tous et chacun des membres de la communauté musicale canadienne les ressources et la formation requises pour identifier, confronter et prévenir le harcèlement, l’intimidation et la violence, quel que soit le milieu de travail. Le Fonds de bienfaisance Unison s’est porté volontaire pour mettre gratuitement à disposition sur son site Web une série de ressources d’éducation et de formation. Ces ressources seront plus tard rendues disponibles à la communauté musicale.  

L’annonce d’aujourd’hui a été faite dans le cadre d’Allies in Action, un événement centré sur les initiatives en cours ou à venir visant à créer des espaces plus sécuritaires au moment où la communauté musicale canadienne converge vers London, en Ontario, pour le gala des Prix JUNO 2019.

Compte tenu du caractère unique de l’industrie de la musique et de la nature des espaces dans lesquels les musiciens et les travailleurs de l’industrie de la musique doivent souvent évoluer, la coalition a ajouté le préambule qui suit au Code de conduite des industries créatrices du Canada afin de le rattacher spécifiquement à la musique :

« Nous, signataires issus de la communauté musicale canadienne, soutenons le Code de conduite des industries créatrices du Canada. Nous reconnaissons que, dans l’industrie de la musique, les termes de travail, de milieu de travail et d’activité professionnelle sont extrêmement vagues et peuvent renvoyer à n’importe quel espace physique ou virtuel à n’importe quel moment. »  

On peut lire le texte intégral du Code de conduite des industries créatrices du Canada au www.LireLeCode.ca

Les organisations qui souhaitent signer le Code peuvent s’inscrire en ligne. Après avoir rempli le formulaire d’inscription, les nouveaux signataires devraient envoyer un logo à haute résolution de leur entreprise à l’adresse info@lirelecode.ca avec le nom de leur organisation et la mention «Devenir signataire du Code» dans la ligne Objet.

Les associations de l’industrie de la musique qui ont signé le Code de conduite des industries créatrices du Canada sont les suivantes :

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Citations à l’appui

« Le Code de conduite des industries créatrices du Canada tient compte des circonstances particulières des intervenants de l’industrie de la musique ainsi que de la singularité de nos façons de travailler. Unison existe pour venir en aide aux membres de la communauté de la musique au Canada pendant les périodes de crise, et nous sommes impatients d’investir dans des solutions plus proactives qui privilégient la sécurité des travailleurs de l’industrie de la musique. Au nom du conseil d’administration d’Unison, nous tenons à présenter nos plus sincères remerciements au Comité d’éducation, de formation et de soutien pour avoir créé un programme aussi essentiel que celui-là. Nous sommes fiers de nous associer à eux pour mieux servir la communauté musicale du Canada. »

– Amanda Power, directrice générale, Fonds de bienfaisance Unison

 

« Comme organisations, CARAS et Music Canada attachent une grande valeur au respect, à l’inclusion et à l’excellence. Ces deux organisations croient que quiconque travaille dans cette belle et complexe communauté musicale a le droit de se sentir en sécurité et entouré. Afin d’y arriver, nous travaillons sur des initiatives d’envergure nationale comme l’événement Allies in Action ainsi que sur des partenariats locaux de CARAS dans nos villes hôtes avec des groupes comme Anova à London et Good Night Out à Vancouver afin de rendre les événements des Prix JUNO sécuritaires pour tous.

Pour les intervenants de la communauté musicale du Canada, l’adhésion au Code est une façon d’affirmer leur engagement pour nos valeurs partagées et de renforcer ces valeurs par l’action. Grâce à l’œuvre du Comité d’éducation, de formation et de soutien, je suis heureuse de pouvoir affirmer que nous pourrons offrir à tous les membres de la communauté musicale canadienne les ressources qui permettront de rendre plus sécuritaire l’ensemble de nos milieux de travail. »

Jackie Dean, chef des opérations, CARAS, les Prix JUNO, MusiCompte;
directrice financière, Music Canada

 

« À titre de syndicat de musiciens professionnels, la Fédération canadienne des musiciens (FCM) s’engage à représenter et à protéger ses membres dans tous les domaines de leur carrière. La signature du Code de conduite des industries créatrices du Canada représente une démarche collective de la communauté musicale pour la création d’une culture saine caractérisée par une tolérance zéro face au harcèlement sous toutes ses formes. Nos efforts pour assurer la santé et la sécurité du milieu de travail pour nos membres s’inscrivent dans les nombreuses fonctions du syndicat. Nous continuerons d’engager nos ressources, notre soutien et nos compétences et à adhérer fièrement au Code au nom de nos membres canadiens actifs, qui sont au nombre de plus de 17 000. »  

Liana White, directrice générale, Fédération canadienne des musiciens

 

« Le Code est un énoncé et un engagement communautaire visant à ce que chaque organisation et entreprise signataire prenne ses propres mesures pour décourager et faire face au harcèlement dans son milieu de travail. Il reconnaît que les milieux de travail de l’industrie de la musique sont souvent des espaces atypiques qu’on désigne sous le nom de milieux de travail élargis et qui peuvent être des studios, des lieux de spectacle, des bars, des salons verts et des autobus de tournée. Si nous nous engageons collectivement à respecter les engagements du Code, cela aidera les musiciens et l’ensemble des travailleurs de l’industrie de la musique à se sentir plus en sécurité et mieux encouragés à collaborer, à faire de la belle musique et à assurer l’existence d’une plateforme professionnelle permettant de partager les œuvres des meilleurs artistes du monde. »  

Michael Adam Murray, directeur général, Toronto Musicians’ Association (TMA), local 149

 

« L’industrie canadienne de la musique sur scène fait sa part pour assurer que chaque espace consacré à la musique en direct soit un milieu sécuritaire grâce au programme Raising the Bar que nous venons de lancer. Ce programme porte sur l’amélioration de la sécurité des espaces, la réduction des risques et la sécurité des événements musicaux en direct – qu’ils soient présentés en salle ou en plein air – et il servira de complément à la philosophie et aux implications pratiques du Code de conduite des industries créatrices du Canada. Nous sommes tous concernés, et nous nous affairons tous vigoureusement à remplacer les problèmes systémiques par des changements positifs. »

Erin Benjamin, présidente et chef de la direction, Association canadienne de musique sur scène

 

« Le Code de conduite des industries créatrices du Canada est une excellente initiative qui nous présente un ensemble de normes uniformes permettant d’assurer la sécurité et le succès de nos collègues à la grandeur de l’industrie. »

Samantha Slattery, fondatrice, Women in Music Canada

 

« Il est important pour chacun de nous d’avoir signé le Code en tant que communauté, mais il est maintenant encore plus important pour nous d’apprendre à modifier de façon proactive notre manière de faire des affaires. »

Margaret McGuffin, directrice générale, Association canadienne des éditeurs de musique

 

 

Pour de plus amples renseignements :
Victoria Lord, VLPR Inc.
416-484-9047
victoria@vlpr.com

 

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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.”

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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.

 

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JUNO Awards 2019: How Music Canada is working to strengthen Canada’s music ecosystem

JUNO Awards week is here and Music Canada is gearing up for another spectacular few days celebrating Canadian music with our friends and partners in the music community.

Last year at the JUNOS we showcased how our advocacy work benefits artists at every stage of their career with our #EveryStage campaign. This year, we aim to highlight the ways we’re working to improve the music ecosystem in Canada. With the support of our members, Sony, Universal and Warner, we’re committed to building a framework where music businesses can thrive, and artists can have sustainable and prosperous careers.

Five major areas in which we are working to create a better Canadian music ecosystem are:

  • Improving Policy Frameworks,
  • Addressing the Value Gap,
  • Diversity and Inclusion,
  • Music Cities, and
  • Celebrating Success.

 

IMPROVING POLICY FRAMEWORKS

Music Canada President and CEO Graham Henderson testifies before the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology

A major pillar of Music Canada’s mandate is advocating for a functioning marketplace where music creators are paid fairly every time their work is used.

Copyright is the bedrock of remuneration for the creators of recorded music. It enables them to receive payment when their recordings are copied or played in public, including on the Internet. In the age of streaming, it’s vital that copyright legislation and institutions be adaptive and responsive so musicians and labels are paid whenever their work is commercialized by others. 

Some of the ways that we’re working to strengthen copyright and boost investment in music are: successfully championing reforms to the Copyright Board of Canada that will make the Board’s processes faster, more efficient, and more predictable; calling for the elimination of copyright exemptions that syphon value away from music, and; encouraging provincial government investment in regional music economies, such as the BC Music Fund and Ontario Music Fund.

 

ADDRESSING THE VALUE GAP

Music Canada has been a global leader in researching the Value Gap – its origins, the economic toll, and practical solutions the Government of Canada can implement to help fix the problem. Throughout the government’s current review of the Copyright Act, numerous music community representatives testifying before government committees referenced our report, The Value Gap: Its Origins, Impacts and a Made-in-Canada Approach, and presented the same four recommendations to government. It was abundantly clear that the Value Gap is a real phenomenon that is hurting creators and that it needs to be addressed. Its harm is felt across the music community – everyone from publishers and composers, to labels, and especially artists, are at a disadvantage because of outdated copyright legislation.

Because artists are the motor that drives the music industry, and the storytellers that music fans fall in love with, they are best equipped to communicate the serious and erosive effects the Value Gap is having on their careers, their economic livelihoods, and the wider music community.

Music Canada is committed to supporting artist advocacy, because their stories truly resonate with the public and political decision-makers. We do this through support for discussions at music conferences, economic forums, and spreading the voices of artist advocates at our events and in our reports.

 

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Dr Stacy L. Smith at the 2018 Global Forum

In 2017, Music Canada embarked on an exhaustive organizational review to provide recommendations on ways we could demonstrate leadership in inclusion and good governance. At our annual Playback event in October 2018, we announced preliminary results of this review, including the addition of two new independent member positions on our Board of Directors to bring representation of women on our Board to 40%. We look forward to announcing further details on ways we’re working to reflect the exquisite mosaic that is our Canadian music community in the coming days.

Bringing measurable inclusivity and accountability for the music industry was the topic of one of our major annual events in 2018 called the Global Forum at Canadian Music Week. We were proud to host Dr. Stacy L. Smith of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the leading think tank in the world studying issues of diversity and inequality in entertainment. Dr. Smith pioneered the now popular “Inclusion Rider,” and at the Global Forum, spoke to her organization’s research into inclusion in the music industry.

During JUNOS Weekend 2019, we’re pleased to be supporting CARAS’ Allies in Action event, focusing on action undertaken or underway in the Canadian music community to create safer and more inclusive workplaces and environments for industry members, artists and music fans.

 

MUSIC CITIES

The 2018 Music Cities Summit at CMW

Since the publication of our 2012 report Accelerating Toronto’s Music Industry Growth, Leveraging Best Practices from Austin, Texas, Music Canada has become an internationally renowned source for research into policies municipalities can implement, and actions they can take to activate the full potential of their music economies. Our leadership in Music Cities was further cemented with the publication of our groundbreaking The Mastering of a Music City report in 2015.

Since the release of these reports, we’ve seen phenomenal traction in Canadian cities like Smithers, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and 2019 JUNO Awards host city London. These cities have all formulated an official music strategy, and some have established a music office, or officer position, within their municipality.

In addition to presenting our research at Music Cities events across the globe , Music Canada will host its third annual Music Cities Summit at Canadian Music Week in May of 2019. Look out for details on the 2019 Music Cities Summit, including featured speakers and other program elements in the coming weeks.

 

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

Jessie Reyez receives a Double Platinum plaque with the Universal Music Canada team

Music Canada is proud to return as a sponsor of the Album of the Year category, as well as the Presenting Sponsor of the Chair’s and Welcome Reception on Friday, March 15. With our sponsorship of the category and continued partnership with the JUNO Awards, we join music fans across the country in celebrating the works from this year’s nominees – Hubert Lenoir, Jann Arden, Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd, and Three Days Grace – and congratulate the dedicated label and production teams involved with each release.

Throughout the year, we also join fans in celebrating their favourite artists’ first certification milestones to a lifetime’s worth of achievements with our historic Gold/Platinum program, which was launched in 1975 to celebrate milestone sales of music in Canada. Today, artists can receive new certifications for the combined sales and stream equivalents of their singles and albums, and are often surprised with a tangible recognition of national success by their labels’ devoted teams. Certifications are shared on our Gold/Platinum Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts, and the latest Gold certifications are added to our #GoldinCanada playlist every Thursday.

Music Canada also presents two awards, our President’s Award and Artist Advocate Award, during Playback, our annual industry dialogue and celebration. So far, artists Miranda Mulholland (2017) and Loreena McKennitt (2018) have been honoured with the Artist Advocate Award in recognition of their outstanding advocacy efforts to improve the livelihoods of music creators. Meanwhile, the President’s Award, which is presented to an individual working outside the music community who displays a deep passion for music and the people who make it, has been received by Music Cities champions including former Toronto City Councillor Josh Colle (2018), and co-recipients Cory Crossman, London Music Industry Development Officer, and Chris Campbell, Director of Culture and Entertainment Tourism at Tourism London, who were instrumental in bringing the JUNOS to London this weekend for the very first time.

 

A full rundown of JUNOS Week events is available on the JUNO Awards website. Tickets to The 2019 JUNO Awards Broadcast are available online at budweisergardens.com, by phone at 1-866-455-2849 and in-person at the Courtesy Ford Box Office at Budweiser Gardens (Located at Gate 1).

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grandson presented with Gold plaque during first-ever headlining tour

Photo Credit: Warner Music Canada

On Friday, March 1, Toronto musician grandson performed his biggest hometown show to date at The Opera House to wrap up the Canadian leg of his 2019 “No Apologies” North American headlining tour. Prior to his highly anticipated performance, Warner Music Canada surprised the 2019 JUNO Breakthrough Artist of the Year nominee with a Gold Single Award for his breakout hit “Blood//Water,” which is featured on his debut 2018 EP a modern tragedy vol. 1.

The music video for “Blood//Water” can be viewed below.

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VIDEO: Artists discuss strategies to make positive change at Folk Alliance International 2019

Folk Alliance International, the world’s largest folk music conference, descended on one of Canada’s most culturally historic cities in 2019 and was host to countless spirited performances, discussions, and interactions. The festival is known for musical performances into the wee hours, but a relatively early panel yielded profoundly moving, honest, and inspiring discussion.

On Saturday, February 16 at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Music Canada, in participation with Miranda Mulholland, was proud to present an event titled ‘Artist Advocates in Action.’

Five artists, each with their own advocacy issues close to their hearts, discussed how they most effectively work to create change, and how they tackle challenges such as criticism, drawing a line between their personal and professional lives, and balancing life on the road with parenting and other commitments.

The panel featured musicians Zoë Keating, Peter Katz, Aaron Myers, and Caroline Brooks, with Miranda Mulholland moderating the discussion. Watch the full ‘Artist Advocates in Action’ panel below.

 

More on the artists:

 

Caroline Brooks

Caroline Brooks is a singer-songwriter, session vocalist and guitar player from Toronto. She is one third of critically acclaimed Good Lovelies, a JUNO award-winning band that has toured internationally for the last 12 years. They have released 8 albums and their latest single “I See Gold” is up for Song of the Year at the International Folk Music Awards.

Outside of performing, Caroline is a sitting board member with the Mariposa Folk Festival and Muskoka-based advocacy group Safe Quiet Lakes. She and her partner also co-founded Secondhand Sunday, a community re-use and waste reduction program based in Toronto.

Website: http://goodlovelies.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3hh35eWuRs5ZqIUIKyne5S

Zoë Keating

DIY Cellist and composer Zoë Keating has worked with many artists and productions, including Jeff Russo, Amanda Palmer, Imogen Heap and the podcast Radiolab. Her music has achieved a surprising degree of ubiquity for a DIY artist, from the bumper music to NPR’s Morning Edition to the thinking-music of the Sherlock Holmes character on CBS Elementary to the theme music for the Brazilian telenovela Para Sempre.

A vocal advocate for the rights of creators, Keating was elected a governor of the San Francisco chapter of the Recording Academy, named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and serves on the board of CASH Music, a nonprofit organization that builds open source digital tools for musicians and labels.

Website: http://www.zoekeating.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6OHXnLZCeWUwtdDsBdqOdr

Aaron Myers

Mr. Myers is a life-long social activist and musician who uses entertainment to increase awareness of social issues. While a full-time college student Mr. Myers ran unsuccessfully for the office of Mayor in Corsicana, Texas. In 2008 he served as a field organizer for the Obama campaign in Florida. Mr. Myers is also a skilled volunteer coordinator event manager and public speaker an experienced music teacher and an army veteran. He has also served as National Director of the nonprofit Global Family Program. A jazz and soul musician Mr. Myers is the Resident Artist at Mr. Henry’s Restaurant in DC.

Website: http://www.aaron2.me
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5JqWYlpaw2lH5PrAXxFtqK

Peter Katz

Over the past decade, Peter has seen his albums debut at #1 on the iTunes singer-songwriter charts; he’s shared the stage and studio with the likes of Academy Award Winner Glen Hansard (Once, The Swell Season), JUNO Award-Winners The Good Lovelies, Polaris-Prize nominated Melissa McCelland (Whitehorse) and the Legendary Garth Hudson from The Band. He’s toured all over the world, regularly playing to capacity crowds, and has managed to build an impressive fan-base of loyal listeners, selling over 25,000 copies of his discs mostly from the stage, one show at a time. Never content to sit still for long, Peter Katz has his eyes firmly set on the future.

Website: http://www.peterkatz.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6O5zKwY8kFFYhBwZdJ7VKI

Miranda Mulholland

Classically trained on violin and in voice, Miranda is a versatile performer and in high demand as a fiddler and singer covering a wide range of styles. Her debut full length solo album, Whipping Boy, was released in May 2014 to critical acclaim.  It became the flagship of her own record label, Roaring Girl Records which is quickly gaining a reputation for as a home for diverse and excellent artists. She is the founder of a music festival in historic Gravenhurst, Ontario called Sawdust City Music Festival which is now three years old.

Currently she is a member Harrow Fair, a duo with Andrew Penner of Sunparlour Players. She makes select appearances in the violin show, ‘Bowfire’ and her fiddle trio, Belle Starr as well as with Stephen Kellogg and the South West North East Band. She has also sung and played fiddle with Jim Cuddy, Steven Page, Calexico, Joel Plaskett, Rose Cousins, Alan Doyle, Raine Maida, Dan Mangan, John Borra, The Rattlesnake Choir and Justin Rutledge, among others.  Not limited to band performances, Miranda has appeared in various theatre productions including the Dora winning productions of ‘Parfumerie’ and ‘Spoon River’ with Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto.

Website: https://www.mirandamulholland.ca/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/25SnqefE8tn1TyqvvivBEb

 

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Bhad Bhabie surprised with Gold plaques on stage in Toronto

Photo Credit: Warner Music Canada

On Sunday night, Danielle Bregoli – AKA Bhad Bhabie – packed Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre for the second stop on her 2019 Canadian tour. Following her high energy set, the 15 year-old viral rapper was brought back on stage and surprised with two Canadian Gold Single Award plaques for her hits “Gucci Flip Flops” and “Hi Bich” in front of her adoring fanbase.

Bhad Bhabie’s Canadian tour continues to head west before wrapping up Saturday night at Vancouver’s Venue.

Watch the video for “Gucci Flip Flops (ft. Lil Yachty)” below.

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Drake named 2018’s best-selling global recording artist by IFPI

The IFPI revealed their Top 10 Global Recording Artist Chart today, naming Drake as the world’s best-selling artist of 2018. The Toronto hip hop sensation is the sixth recipient of the IFPI Global Recording Artist Award, and the only artist to ever hold this title multiple times, with his first being in 2016.

Drake earned the top spot following the global success of his fifth album Scorpion, which was officially certified Double Platinum in Canada in July 2018, and includes the hits “God’s Plan” (8x Platinum), “In My Feelings (5x Platinum), “Nice For What” (4x Platinum). The 25-track double album broke multiple global records in its first week of release, including being the first album to reach one billion streams across all platforms worldwide.

“Drake has had an incredible, record-breaking year, one that is more than worthy of the title of Global Recording Artist of the Year,” says Frances Moore, chief executive of IFPI. “That Drake has won this award for the second time is testament to his continued global appeal and his ability to engage and connect with fans.”

Drake is the only Canadian artist to receive the prestigious award, with previous recipients including One Direction (2013), Taylor Swift (2014), Adele (2015), and Ed Sheeran (2017), who remains on this year’s list at number 3.   

“This year’s Top Ten artists reflect the global appeal of music” Moore continues. “From modern-day superstars like Drake, Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande, to the rise of genres such as K-Pop, to legacy acts like Queen, fans are exploring and enjoying music of all types and from all corners of the world.”

The full Top 10 list, which was counted down by the IFPI on Twitter, is now available below.

Top 10 Global Recording Artists 2018

1 Drake
2 BTS
3 Ed Sheeran
4 Post Malone
5 Eminem
6 Queen
7 Imagine Dragons
8 Ariana Grande
9 Lady Gaga
10 Bruno Mars
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