Manitoba Courts L.A. Market

Two Manitoba artists and representatives from several top Manitoba-based companies are heading to California this week to do business with some of the music industry’s most influential players at MUSEXPO 2010. One of North America’s most important music business conferences, MUSEXPO is attended by top international industry professionals, label execs, A&R big wigs, and major television and film music supervisors. The event runs April 25 to April 28 in West Hollywood.

MUSEXPO selects only 30 acts from around the world for coveted official showcase spots. Roots darling Alana Levandoski and rapper Sketch Williams were chosen by MUSEXPO to join this year’s line-up, which includes some of the hottest buzz bands from the U.S., Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Levandoski, who will showcase at the infamous Viper Room on April 26, has garnered international acclaim with the release of her sophomore effort, Lions & Werewolves. Recorded in Levandoski’s hometown of Kelwood, the album was produced by famed Coldplay producer, Ken Nelson. Levandoski has spent much of the last year on the road, including a UK tour last month.  

Williams has been getting attention since the 2005 release of his debut full-length, The Moonlit Tunnel, and the 2009 follow-up, City in the Clouds. He has landed song placements for television and won several songwriting and composing competitions since attending Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music. Williams is set to play Whisky A Go Go on April 28.

Manitoba’s music companies attending MUSEXPO include: Songs4media.com’s Chris Burke-Gaffney and Jewls Dengl, producer/songwriter Arun Chaturvedi, C12 Records/441 Studios/Arbor Records’ Brandon Friesen, Unison Studios/Contact Artist Management’s Jack Shapira, Vince Fontaine of Rising Sun Productions, Paquin Entertainment’s Michelle Szeto, Studio 11’s Jason Gordon, Burning Circus Management’s Glen Willows, BreakOut West’s Melissa Kaminsky, David Kennedy of Manitoba Trade and Investment, Manitoba Music’s Sara Stasiuk and Sean McManus, and MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC’s Carole Vivier and Jason Smith. Singer/songwriter J.P. Hoe and acoustic pop duo Keith and Renee will also attend.

This is the fourth year that Manitoba has had a strong presence at MUSEXPO. Manitoba Music and MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC will co-host a special networking dinner for select conference delegates on April 26 at Cravings in West Hollywood, featuring an acoustic performance by Levandoski. The Manitoba hospitality continues post-MUSEXPO with a networking event on April 29, this time with Alicen Catron Schneider, VP Music Creative Services at NBC Universal TV, on April 29. At the dinner, Manitoba’s artists and industry will have the opportunity to make contact with Schneider’s invited guests, including key music publishers and supervisors.

This year’s MUSEXPO delegates include heavy-hitters like Steve Schnur (Worldwide Head of Music & Marketing, EA Games), Alexandra Patsavas (Founder/Music Supervisor, Chop Shop Music – “Grey’s Anatomy” etc.), George Ergatoudis (Head of Music, BBC Radio 1), Ron Spaulding (President, Fontana Distribution), Troy Carter (Founder, Chairman & CEO, Coalition Media Group – Worldwide of Lady Gaga), and many more.