Manitoba Music Industry Courts L.A. Market

There will be plenty of Manitoba music in Los Angeles this month when a local trade mission heads to the hot California music market. Four Manitoba artists and entrepreneurs from several Manitoba-based companies will make their way south to do business with some of the industry’s leading players at a market development event at the Canadian Consul General’s Official Residence on May 29.

Coordinated by Manitoba Music in partnership with Manitoba Film & Music, and featuring a showcase and networking opportunity, the trade mission builds on the success of past events in Los Angeles. The initiative allows Manitoba artists and companies to develop critical business contacts and expand to new markets.

“Los Angeles is a major market of interest for Manitoba companies and represents the best avenue for accessing the ever-growing area of film, television, trailer, and game placements for music,” says Sara Stasiuk, Manitoba Music’s executive director. “The connections made at events like these are key to helping our talented and accomplished artists and entrepreneurs achieve the next level of success.”

 Performers include JUNO Award-winning singer/songwriter Ruth Moody, acoustic pop troubadour JP Hoe, up-and-coming pop act James Struthers, and indie upstarts The Treble.

Representatives from companies rounding out the Manitoba delegation include some of this province’s most active and innovative managers, labels, and producers: Stephen Carroll of Empirical Artist Services (The Weakerthans, Imaginary Cities), CBG Artist Development’s Chris Burke-Gaffney, producer/songwriter Arun Chaturvedi, Vince Fontaine of Rising Sun Productions (Eagle & Hawk, Indian City), Mike Petkau Falk of Head In The Sand Records (Les Jupes, Royal Canoe), RoseAnna Schick of RAS Creative (Don Amero), and McKinley Entertainment’s Ben McKinley (The Treble).

Many of the Manitoba delegation received travel assistance from the Market Access Program, a program jointly funded by Manitoba Music and Manitoba Film & Music with the purpose of supporting Manitoba artists and music industry professionals in career development, and attending and enhancing their presence at professionally organized music industry conferences and showcases.

Manitoba Music has presented successful showcases and events at Reeperbahn, MIDEM, Musexpo, North by Northeast, International Folk Alliance, Canadian Music Week, and SXSW. These showcases are an initiative of Manitoba Music’s Market Development Program, which is funded by the Government of Canada and Province of Manitoba through the Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement, and by FACTOR with the support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters.