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Tag archive: East Coast Music Association (4)

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New report calls for development of an Atlantic Canada Music Strategy

A new report unveiled during the 2017 East Coast Music Awards: Festival and Conference today calls for the need to develop an Atlantic Canadian Music Strategy in an effort to strengthen the future of the region’s music sector.

Striking A New A-Chord, a report spearheaded by the East Coast Music Association (ECMA), Music Canada, and Music Canada Live, emphasizes that concentrated investment in the music industry is beneficial not only for those who work in the sector, but ultimately for the region as a whole.

“Music is fundamentally linked to Atlantic Canadian culture,” says Andy McLean, Executive Director of the ECMA. “This report clearly shows that – in addition to bolstering that identity – supporting this sector means helping small businesses, creating opportunities to attract and retain youth employment, and developing our artists to compete at an international level. The first step to harnessing these opportunities is creating a pan-Atlantic strategy.”

Delivered during a presentation at the Saint John Trade & Convention Centre this afternoon titled Stronger Together, the report also marks a landmark partnership between all five music industry associations – Musique/Music NB, Music Nova Scotia, Music NL, Music PEI, and the Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative – who have committed to working with the ECMA, Music Canada, and Music Canada Live to establish this regional strategy.

“Atlantic Canada has one of the richest, most important – but fragile – music scenes in the country. Creating and executing a region-wide strategy will ensure the true economic, social and cultural potential of the industry, and its countless benefits for cities and towns, can be realized,” says Erin Benjamin, Executive Director of Music Canada Live. “This is an historic moment in the timeline of East Coast music, and huge milestone for all of the associations involved. Congratulations, Music Canada Live looks forward to supporting the hard work ahead.”

The report, which was officially commissioned at last year’s ECMAs in Sydney, NS, underscores a number of challenges facing musicians and industry professionals in Atlantic Canada including stringent liquor laws, changing business models in the industry, restrictions on live venues, and lack of industry infrastructure. The latter is a key focus for the proposed strategy, calling the shortage of music publishing companies, agents, publicists, bookers, and artist managers in the region “alarming.”

Among other recommendations, Striking A New A-Chord also calls for the development of an Atlantic Canadian Music Fund that would seek to provide resources to complement existing programs, attract investment, and develop and incentivize musicians and music related businesses to reinvest in Atlantic Canada.

“Targeted investments in other parts of Canada have strengthened those music communities and stimulated additional private spending as well, leading to increased activity in the sector,” says Amy Terrill, Executive Vice President of Music Canada. “We look forward to working with government and industry stakeholders to find ways to complement the existing programs available to the music community in Atlantic Canada in order to create a stronger, more sustainable Atlantic music sector.”

The entire Striking A New A-Chord report is available to read HERE.

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East Coast Music Association announces new partnership with Music Canada and Music Canada Live

Last week, over 600 performing artists and 8,000 fans gathered in Cape Breton for East Coast Music Week (ECMW). Amidst the performances music professionals and representatives from music associations from across Canada met and began an initiative to make the music industry stronger in Atlantic Canada.

As ECMW came to a close, Andy McLean, of the East Coast Music Association, announced the beginning of a process to study the east coast’s music industry. In partnership with Music Canada and Music Canada Live, this initiative will eventually lead to the production of an industry profile of Atlantic Canada which will identify its strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for growth and development.

The ultimate goal of the initiative is to ensure that East Coast musicians can have a sustainable career without having to leave the region.

“The amount of talent in the Atlantic region is undeniable, and large events and festivals like the ECMA, bring outstanding cultural and economic benefits to the region,” says Amy Terrill, Executive Vice President of Music Canada.  “We look forward to learning more about the things that are working well in the Atlantic region and generating some new ideas that would help build a stronger, more successful music community.”

The initial report, which is expected by September 2016, has the support of all five regions and the local music industry associations (Music Nova Scotia, Music PEI, Music New Brunswick, Music Newfoundland & Labrador and the Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative) who will participate in the study.

Amy Terrill spoke to the East Coast Music Week Industry Conference about Music Canada’s research—the BC Music Sector report which led to the Government of British Columbia’s recent $15 million investment in the music industry, and The Mastering of a Music City report which continues to generate discussion about how cities can make themselves more music and musician-friendly.

“It’s exciting to see the music city conversations blossoming in the Atlantic provinces,” added Terrill.  “Music has an incredible impact on community vitality and quality of life, which is critical for attracting and retaining young workers from every sector.  Working with the music community to ensure a friendly environment for the presentation of music is a win-win approach.”

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East Coast Music Association reveals 2016 Awards nominees

ECMW2016-Website-Button

The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) Awards will return to Sydney, NS, this spring as part of the 2016 Eastlink East Coast Music Week (ECMW), happening April 13 through 17. Today, the ECMA announced nominees and performers for the 2016 Awards show, which takes place Thursday, April 14, at Centre 200, and will be hosted by Ashley MacIsaac and Heather Rankin.

“We are thrilled to announce this year’s East Coast Music Awards nominees, which once again demonstrates the incredible musical talent coming out of our region right now,” said Andy McLean, ECMA Executive Director in a release. “Adding to the excitement is the first round of East Coast Music Week (ECMW) showcasing acts, which features both upcoming and established musicians, as well as the diverse styles and sounds that the East Coast is known for. With a wide array of events happening at iconic venues throughout Sydney, and our Industry Conference taking place at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre, the 28th edition of ECMW will truly be a memorable event!”

Leading the list of nominees with seven nominations is indie rock band Hey Rosetta!. Folk singer/songwriter Jenn Grant earned six nods, while Amelia Curran and Fortunate Ones both earned five. From now until March 16, 2016 at 5pm AST, fans can visit the Cape Breton Post website to vote once a day for the East Coast Music Awards Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year and Fans’ Choice Video of the Year.

In addition to the Awards Show, East Coast Music Week will feature an industry conference and a number of showcase performances. An estimated 500 musicians are expected to take part, in addition to more than 1,000 industry professionals.  Approximately 13,000 people are expected to attend all of the ECMW events, which McLean says will drive approximately $3 million in the local economic impact.

The ECMA and TD are also encouraging Nova Scotia high school students to show their musical talent through the Music Moves Me contest. Students can enter by posting a video of themselves on YouTube performing an original or cover song  and sharing it using the #TDMusic and #ECMW2016 hashtags. The winner receives $1,000 for their school’s music program, two passes to the ECMW Awards Show along with return travel and overnight accommodations. The winner is also invited to perform their song as part of the TD Pop-Up Concert at Sydney’s Mayflower Mall on Saturday, April 16, 2016.

Tickets and passes for the ECMA 2016 Award Show and ECMW Festival are on sale now.

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Global News Halifax: Tariff 8 cuts affect East Coast musicians

Earlier this week, East Coast Music Association Executive Director Andy McLean and artist and producer Daniel Ledwell spoke with Global Morning News Halifax about the Copyright Board of Canada’s Tariff 8 decision. The rates set by the Copyright Board are approximately 10% of the rates negotiated by Re:Sound in its direct agreements with digital services, and less than 10% of the comparable U.S. rates.

“We’re trying to get the Copyright Board to re-evaluate the decision that they made in the light of the fact that people are standing here saying, ‘this is ridiculous,'” said McLean. “It sends a really wrong message, it’s the worst possible rate in the world. There’s no other country that devalues it’s musicians like Canada does. And we have the greatest musicians in the world here.”

The full segment is now available on the Global News website, and is embedded below.

A growing coalition of artists, labels, industry associations, and music fans are speaking out against the Copyright Board decision; to learn more and to add your voice, Like and Share the I Stand For Music Facebook Page, or tweet using the hashtag #IStand4Music.

For more information on the Tariff 8 decision, see our Backgrounder.

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