Photo by courtesy/courtoisie. Wintersleep.

Wintersleep wins four honours at 2020 East Coast Music Awards, including Song of the Year

Story by Howard Druckman | Monday July 13th, 2020

Wintersleep was the big winner at the 2020 East Coast Music Awards, taking home four honours, including Song of the Year for “Beneficiary.” Former Hey Rosetta! leader Tim Baker earned three, and The East Pointers garnered two, including Songwriter of the Year. Dave Sampson and Florian Hoefner also earned two trophies apiece.

Performers on the pre-recorded, two-hour, televised broadcast of the gala show on Saturday, July 11, included Matt Mays, Damhnait  Doyle, Tim Baker, Neon Dreams, Shanneyganock, Rose Cousins, and Wintersleep. The re-scheduled show followed the cancellation of the 32nd  annual edition of event – originally scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 03 – due to COVID-19. Nine awards were given away on the show, while the rest were announced the day before, on Friday, June 10, via the East Coast Music Association’s social media channels.

As part of the show, six-time East Coast Music Award (ECMA) winner and legendary songwriter Ron Hynes, of Newfoundland, was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, five years after his death. His nephew, Joel Hynes, accepted the award on his behalf, and also performed with Glenn Simmons, Shaye, Colleen Power, and Lennie Gallant in a tribute, with a backing band that included former Wonderful Grand Band member Sandy Morris.

For a complete list of ECMA 2020 winners, click here and scroll down.

ADVANCE, Canada’s Black music business collective, launched today

Story by SOCAN | Monday July 13th, 2020

Today, more than ever, the vibrant mosaic of Black voices at the heart of the Canadian music industry need to be amplified. ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective, is a newly formed non-profit organization that aims to provide a unified voice for Black people working in the Canadian music industry, and to lead the change for real, tangible Black advancement and reform in the music business landscape and infrastructure in corporate, private and government sectors.

Membership in the organization is open to self-identifying Black persons working in all branches of Canadian music. ADVANCE works to address and find solutions for the vast cultural gap, lack of mobility, and lack of representation in the Canadian music business, not only for professionals currently employed in the industry, but also for budding entrepreneurs. The organization aims to assist entrepreneurs in helping grow their businesses, in an effort to provide more sustainable opportunities for Black employment within the Canadian music landscape, and groom future professionals for roles in the business within companies that do not currently have any Black presence.

ADVANCE’s goals include, but are not limited to, creating equal opportunities and pipelines within companies for Black employees; making anti-Black-racism education programs mandatory; changing policies for fair and equitable access to the funding system; and supporting the Black music community through financial means. To accomplish the objective, ADVANCE has established four pillars of action:

  1. Advocacy & Government
  2. Mentorship & Education
  3. Community Outreach
  4. Business Development & Entrepreneurship

ADVANCE Mission Statement
Driven by the heart, soul, and sounds of Black voices across Canada’s music entertainment industry,
ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective, is leading the change in developing an infrastructure for the betterment, upliftment, and retention of Black people in the music business. Serving as a unified front for Black people working within all sectors of the Canadian music industry, ADVANCE creates conditions for long-term success by addressing racial equality and inclusivity through four areas: Advocacy & Government, Mentorship & Education, Community Outreach, and Business Development & Entrepreneurship. By holding the corporate, private, and government sectors accountable, ADVANCE is committed to building a more equitable Canadian music industry that grants Canada’s Black music communities a fair and valued voice in a consistently growing music nation.

For more information, and/or to subscribe for further communications please contact connect@advancemusic.org

Photo by francoconnexion.com

A Practical Guide to developing shows in Western Canada

Story by Marie-Michèle Bouchard | Monday July 13th, 2020

Franconnexion.info and La musique francophone de l’Ouest canadien have published a practical guide for developing and booking shows in the provinces and territories of Western Canada. The guide offers anecdotes, experiences, tips, contacts, and resources to help people in the cultural sector navigate this vast territory.

Subjects covered to help readers market a show or tour include:

  • A portrait of Western Canada
  • Media coverage and promoting your shows in Western Canada
  • Planning and administration
  • The market for Francophone shows
  • The Anglophone market
  • A Checklist for how to prepare a tour of Western Canada

You can download the guide (in French only) here.