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Toronto music industry raises more than $4,000 for Unison and MusiCounts at Blue Jays game fundraiser

In its second year, the Toronto music industry Blue Jays game raised an incredible $4,404.75 to support the Unison Benevolent Fund and MusiCounts. This is nearly double the amount raised in the event’s inaugural year, where $2,100 was raised in support of the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research.

Jon Box of Universal Music Canada is the organizer of the annual event, and is already planning to surpass this year’s achievement in 2018.

“We are inspired by the work of our 2017 charities, MusiCounts and Unison Benevolent Fund, and our greater industry who supported the event with nearly 400 ticket purchases!” says Jon Box. “There’s nothing more gratifying than bringing people together for a good cause. We now have a 2018 goal to sell 500 tickets and raise $5,000. Looking forward to sharing details soon!”

Congratulations to everyone who helped to organize the event, donated prizes for the raffle/silent auction and attended the game. Thanks also to Steam Whistle Brewing, who donated event space and staff for a pre-game get together, as well as $1 from each beer sold to support Unison and MusiCounts.

Below is a selection of social media posts from the event:

MusiCounts celebrates musical excellence and puts musical instruments into the hands of kids who need them the most.  Their mission is to ensure that all children and youth in Canada have access to music education.

Unison Benevolent Fund provides counselling and emergency relief services to the Canadian music community. They are here to help professional music makers in times of hardship, illness or economic difficulties.

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Dean Brody surprised with Canadian Gold/Platinum awards in Toronto

Photo credit: Open Road Recordings

Canadian country star Dean Brody returned to Toronto last week for a sold-out show at Budweiser Stage alongside Open Road Recordings label-mate Tim Hicks and rising Big Machine Records artist Carly Pearce. On Friday afternoon, Ron Kitchener, Brody’s manager and president of RGK Entertainment Group, surprised the artist with a custom award plaque commemorating his newly Canadian Gold-certified albums Gypsy Road (2015), Crop Circles (2013), and Trail In Life (2010). The plaque also commemorated Brody’s 2012 album Dirt, which was certified Gold in 2013.

Brody was then surprised with two more Music Canada plaques for the Double Platinum certification of his 2015 hit “Bring Down The House,” and a Gold plaque for 2016 hit “Bush Party.”

https://twitter.com/GoldPlatCA/status/902542320846954496

The video for Brody’s Double Platinum hit “Bring Down The House” can be viewed below.

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K. Flay receives first Canadian Gold plaque in Elora, ON

American singer-songwriter K. Flay was surprised with her first Canadian Gold Single Award plaque last Saturday for her breakout debut single “Blood In The Cut.” K. Flay was presented with the plaque by Universal Music Canada prior to her set on the Main Stage at Riverfest in Elora, ON, headlined later that evening by Gold-certified psychedelic rockers MGMT.

K. Flay shared the exciting news with her fans through her social media channels.

The video for “Blood In The Cut” can be viewed below.

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Portugal. The Man receive first Canadian Gold plaques for ‘Feel It Still’ in Toronto

Photo Credit: Katherine Kwan / Warner Music Canada

Prior to two sold-out headlining shows last week at Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall, Portland, OR-based band Portugal. The Man were surprised with their first Canadian Gold award plaques by Warner Music Canada for their summer hit “Feel It Still.” The track comes off their eighth full length studio album Woodstock, released earlier in 2017.

The band shared the news with their fans through their Instagram and Twitter accounts.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX6n1NxgfSD/?taken-by=kawaiiathy

“We love this song,” the band said in an Instagram post earlier in the week, when they were also presented with Gold RIAA plaques. “It’s the most natural thing we’ve ever done.”

Watch the video for “Feel It Still” below.

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City of Toronto seeking public input for new culture strategy

Photo credit: City of Toronto

The City of Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture Division (EDC) is developing a new Divisional Strategy to establish priorities over the next five years (2018-2022). In order to develop a comprehensive strategy, the EDC is seeking the input of the public on emerging opportunities, challenges, and areas of focus as they relate to Toronto’s economic development and culture.

As a starting point, they have created a Conversation Guide that highlights key emerging economic and cultural trends and challenges facing Toronto and are asking our stakeholders for their input via an online survey or written submission.

“There is an opportunity to clearly define the public benefit to artistic and cultural events,” the EDC states in the Conversation Guide. “This lens will help evaluate how artists and cultural leaders can leverage technology to support growth and new firm formation within strategic sectors of the local economy. A focus on creativity can involve the Division thinking through the City’s role in funding and/or helping to develop creativity.”

The City’s previous strategies – 2011’s Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan For Toronto and 2013’s Collaborating for Competitiveness: A Strategic Plan to Accelerate Economic Growth and Job Creation in Toronto – helped lead to the establishment of Music and Film Sector Development Teams, and the Toronto Music Strategy.

With the threat of venue closures still looming large over Toronto’s music scene, the EDC’s call for input for their new strategy is a welcomed opportunity for musicians, venue owners, and label owners to express their concerns to City staff.

In addition to the survey and written submissions, a series of public Town Hall consultations have also been scheduled for September. Written submissions will be accepted until October 2, 2017, and it is encouraged to register for the Town Hall meetings listed below:

Thursday September 14 (Register online)
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Assembly Hall, Performance Hall
1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive

Tuesday September 19 (Register online)
9:00 am – 11:00 am
North York Civic Centre, Burgundy Room
5100 Yonge Street

Saturday September 23 (Register online)
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Scarborough Civic Centre, Rotunda
150 Borough Drive

Wednesday September 27 (Register online)
9:00 – 11:00 am
Toronto Reference Library, Bram & Bluma Appel Salon
789 Yonge Street

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Downtown Yonge BIA pays tribute to Toronto music heritage with second 22-storey mural

Today, the Downtown Yonge BIA announced a second Music Mural will be added to Yonge Street in Toronto, which will pay tribute to the music legends that played the area in the 1970s & ‘80s. The 22-storey fresco mural will cover the entire south wall of the Toronto Community Housing building at 432 Yonge St.

The mural, which is being developed by artist and musician Adrian Hayles, celebrates artists The Band, David Clayton-Thomas, Rush, GODDO, Carole Pope, Kim Mitchell, Salome Bey and Lonnie Johnson, as well as the landmark venues from the era, including Brown Derby Tavern, Gasworks, Piccadilly Tube and A&A Records. The 70-metre-tall piece is expected to take two to three months to complete.

“These murals are dazzling sights to celebrate amazing sounds,” said Downtown Yonge BIA’s Mark Garner in a release “They are a stunning visual reminder of the long, vibrant history of music in Downtown Yonge, which continues today.”

This mural compliments the first Music Mural on the north side of the same building, which was unveiled last year, and features luminaries from the 1950s & 60s, including Glenn Gould, Diane Brooks, Jackie Shane, Muddy Waters, Shirley Matthews, B.B. King, and Oscar Peterson. That mural was also created by Hayles, as was the mural on Reggae Lane, located at 1529 Eglinton St. West, Toronto, which honours the history and origins of Toronto’s reggae music scene.

“Great cities all over the world have murals as part of their public realm,” said Garner. “We think the music mural fits perfectly with the vision for a vibrant Yonge Street – combining visual and musical artistry.”

The mural is part of the Downtown Yonge BIA’s Music Strategy, the BIA’s multi-pronged vision to re-establish Yonge Street as a ‘Music Mecca.’ The three core components of the strategy, broadly, are:

  • Homage to Toronto’s Music Legacy
  • Activating Live Music
  • Paving the Way to Toronto’s Music Future

The mural is supported by StreetARToronto, a division of the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services Division, whose mission is to revitalize and engage communities through street art.

An artist rendering of the final version of the mural is available now on the Downtown Yonge website.

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Brett Eldredge receives Canadian Gold/Platinum awards at Boots & Hearts Music Festival

The 2017 Boots & Hearts Music Festival took place over the weekend, bringing some of country music’s biggest names to Burl’s Creek Event Grounds in Oro-Medonte, ON.

On Sunday, August 13, headliner Brett Eldredge was surprised with two Canadian Gold/Platinum award plaques by Warner Music Canada.

The American singer-songwriter was presented with a Platinum award plaque for his 2016 single “Drunk On Your Love,” and Gold award plaque for his 2015 single “Wanna Be That Song.”

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Fitz and the Tantrums receive first Canadian Double Platinum plaque in Toronto

Prior to their set at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage Saturday opening for OneRepublic, Los Angeles neo-soul band Fitz and the Tantrums were surprised with Double Platinum award plaques for their hit single “HandClap.”

“HandClap,” which is the lead single from their 2016 self-titled album, is the first track by the band to be certified Double Platinum in Canada, with their hit “The Walker” reaching Platinum status in 2016.

The band shared a short video of the plaque presentation with their fans through their Twitter page.

The video for “HandClap” can be viewed below.

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Top 10 Finalists for 2018 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class Announced

On Thursday, the JUNO Awards and Slaight Music announced the 10 emerging acts that will continue to a final round of judging in the 2018 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class.  This year’s three winners will be the third group to participate in Canada’s premier artist development program, which aims to equip artists with the tools, training, and guidance needed to further their careers, build their own sustainable businesses, and become ‘JUNO ready.’

The top 10 acts were selected by a panel made up of representatives from major and independent music labels, publishers, agents, managers, and media partners. The 2018 list includes:

  1. A.Y.E.: Calgary, AB
  2. Caveboy: Montreal, QC
  3. Elise LeGrow: Toronto, ON
  4. FEATURETTE: Toronto, ON
  5. Ivory Hours: London, ON
  6. Nice Horse: Calgary, AB
  7. Nuela Charles: Edmonton, AB
  8. Quake Matthews: Halifax, NS
  9. The Katherines: Vancouver, BC
  10. The Treble: Winnipeg, MB

The Master Class combines music education through MusiCounts and the recognition and support of music excellence through the JUNO Awards.  Allan Reid of CARAS/The JUNO Awards and MusiCounts will be featured on the 2018 Super Jury tasked with selecting the winners.  The Super Jury will also feature JUNO alumni Lights, Kardinal Offishall, Max Kerman (Arkells), and Gavin Brown, in addition to Ali Slaight of Slaight Music.  The acts selected by the Jury will receive a prize valued at over $100,000, including studio time at Slaight Music Recording Studios, an all-inclusive trip to Toronto for a week of mentorship hosted by Canada’s Music Incubator at Coalition Music, a trip to the 2018 JUNO Awards in Vancouver, BC, a performance slot at JUNOfest, and a chance to perform at the exclusive JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards.

Past winners of the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class include Neon Dreams, The Lytics, Youngblood, Derrival, Slow Leaves, and The Fortunate Ones.  Like this year’s group of finalists, their hometowns are spread across the country, and include Halifax, NS, Winnipeg, MB, Vancouver, BC, and St. John’s, NL.

Visit the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class website to learn more about the program and this year’s selected emerging talents.

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Khalid receives Gold and Platinum Awards in Toronto

Prior to performing a sold-out show at Toronto’s Rebel Nightclub Wednesday, American R&B singer Khalid received a custom Gold plaque for his 2017 debut album, American Teen. Presented to him by Sony Music Canada, the plaque also commemorates his Platinum debut Single, “Location.”

Toronto was the 19-year-old artist’s third and final stop in Canada on The American Teen Tour, following performances at Pemberton Music Festival in Pemberton, BC and Métropolis in Montreal, QC earlier this summer.

The video for “Location” can be viewed below.

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