About Us

Manitoba Music is the hub of Manitoba’s vibrant music community.

We are a member-based, not-for-profit industry association working with over 750 members in all facets of the music industry, including artists and bands, studios, agents, managers, songwriters, venues, promoters, producers, and beyond. Manitoba Music serves all genres, from rock to roots, hip hop to hardcore, country to classical, and everything in between.

Through our programs and services, we provide information, education, communication, advocacy, industry development, and networking opportunities to nurture, develop and promote the growth and sustainability of the Manitoba music industry.

Manitoba Music has a website with artist and industry profiles, comprehensive live music listings, streaming music, video, and news; online resources; business-related workshops, a far-reaching market development program, and an Indigenous music development program.

Mission and Vision

Vision
Manitoba Music is a catalyst that allows Manitoba’s music industry to thrive worldwide.

Mission
Manitoba Music promotes and amplifies the success of Manitoba’s music industry and helps all members of our province’s music community reach their fullest potential.

Guiding Principles

Music is for everyone. Manitoba Music represents and reflects the diversity of our society and our industry.
Music creates employment. The music industry is an integral contributor to economic development in Manitoba.
Music is global. The Manitoba music industry is part of the global music industry.
Music is fun. Music is a significant part of Manitoba’s culture and contributes to our quality of life.
Music has value. Fair and equitable compensation for the use of intellectual property is an inherent right of the creator.
Music creates opportunities. Partnering, community involvement and cooperative development are essential for the continuing growth of the Manitoba music industry, both at home and abroad.

Through policy and action Manitoba Music demonstrates:

Services

Inform and Educate
Members have access to a wealth of information and resources pertaining to all aspects of the music industry locally, nationally, and internationally.

Consultations
Manitoba Music staff is always available to answer questions and provide consultations on just about any topic pertaining to members’ careers, including funding applications, assistance with press kit development, assistance with MROC, information on rights and royalties, and advice on career development.

Professional Development
Throughout the year, Manitoba Music hosts professional development events, including workshops and panels, featuring top industry professionals and songwriters from across Canada and beyond. We also provide mentor sessions, one-on-one training with our staff, as well as informal discussions with successful local artists and industry professionals.

Information
We keep our members informed about variety of topics, including deadlines, funding information, performance opportunities, and important industry developments through our weekly e-newsletter, website, social networking sites, and through direct one-on-one contact. 

Represent and Promote

manitobamusic.com
Our popular website is a tool to help promote our members and the Manitoba music scene both here at home and around the globe. Features include comprehensive concert listings, streaming playlist, weekly music downloads, a searchable artist and industry directory, profiles for all our members, and a variety of useful resources for music fans, artists, and industry alike. The site routinely gets over 50,000 pageviews per month and has over 11,000 regular users who keep coming back for all the latest news and music. Manitobamusic.com is also a source for music supervisors and talent buyers searching for music for their projects. 

Social Networking
Manitoba Music maintains a strong presence on social networking sites, notably Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, to broadcast information and to direct the public to manitobamusic.com. 

Partnerships
Manitoba Music places a strong focus on the development of partnerships with regional and national organizations as well as members of the local cultural communities. These partnerships allow us to access new communities while strengthening and expanding our own. The partnerships come in many forms, from co-productions of professional development events to showcases and concert presentations to joint market development initiatives. These relationships are key to further expansion and promotion of our music industry. Find out more at manitobamusic.com/partnerships

Open Mics
Manitoba Music presents a regular series of open mic nights, hosted by a different Manitoba Music member on the third Tuesday of each month (except June, July, and August).

Live Music Events and Showcases
Manitoba Music presents and co-presents a number of live music events throughout the year. These activities are aimed at increasing the profile of Manitoba Music and local artists within the community at events such as the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Exchange District BIZ, and public concerts at The Forks. In addition, local artist showcases are produced for visiting industry personnel such as speakers in the Music Works professional development series.

Data Gathering
Manitoba Music is the voice of the Manitoba music industry in communications with government and other stakeholders. We conduct and distribute industry research and gather data on the size, makeup, and economic growth of the industry. We also gather integral information on the accomplishments of our industry, including awards and nominations, showcases, touring, new music releases, film/TV placements, and more.

Positions and Representations
Manitoba Music has representation with the following organizations:

Indigenous Music Development
The Indigenous Music Development Program (IMDP) is designed to help First Nation, Metis, and Inuit people develop sustainable careers in Manitoba’s music industry. The program is a first for Canada’s music industry and was launched April 1, 2004. It utilizes the organization’s established networks, resources and services as a foundation with which to provide additional support and profile for Indigenous music industry workers in Manitoba.

Indigenous Music Development Program Goals

The Indigenous Music Development Program also maintains a dedicated website, indigenousmusic.ca, which hosts artist and industry profiles, concert listings, artist and industry directory, and more.

Grow the Industry

Export Marketing
Sustainable music industry careers for artists and many industry entrepreneurs are based on the ability to successfully export through touring, releasing recorded music, sub-publishing, and securing media placements in other territories. Manitoba Music works to continually understand and communicate the factors that lead to successful export marketing, tracks the export marketing activities of the local industry, and runs programs and projects to support increased levels of success in export marketing for Manitoba artists and companies.

Market Development
Manitoba Music recognizes the importance in maintaining and increasing the level of connectedness between the Manitoba music industry and the broader industry. This is accomplished by increasing awareness of both Manitoba music (the artists and companies) and Manitoba Music (the brand) locally, nationally, and internationally, and by creating opportunities for the establishment and growth of market penetration and business relationships. Through the Market Development Program, Manitoba Music engages in pan-industry promotion and targeted market development support through trade missions, industry showcases, marketing events, online marketing, and public events and activities.

Market Access
Through the Market Access Program, Manitoba Music supports the travel and marketing expenses for artists and industry personnel who travel to other markets for showcases and business meetings where the goal is to open new markets and develop new business relationships.

Showcases
Manitoba Music promotes local artists at home and at major music conferences and festivals by presenting and supporting showcase performances. Showcases are most often an opportunity for artists to perform for others within the industry including current and future potential business partners and team members, and are an essential step in becoming known within the industry and building a support team.

Board of Directors

Ruth Shead, University of Manitoba (President)
Bob Somers, Scatliff + Miller + Murray (Vice President)
Chloe Chafe, Synonym Art Consultation
David Schellenberg, Signal Noise Music Marketing / tunic
Desiree Dorion
Liliane Lavack, Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain - CCFM
Malcolm-Jamal Wilson, Malcolm-Jay
Maribeth Tabanera
Michael Jack, City of Winnipeg
Stu Anderson, Mighty Cypress Talent
Suzanne Holatko, Deloitte LLP