Midwest Music Exchange Builds Connections Between Manitoba and Minnesota

Manitoba Music, MPR's The Current, UMFM 101.5, and Manitoba Film & Music, to Present Virtual Showcases and Interviews May 25-27

In these extraordinary times, building connections is critical to the recovery of the local and global music industry. This month, two hotbeds of stellar indie music are joining forces to do just that with the fifth edition of the Midwest Music Exchange.

Manitoba Music is teaming up with Minnesota Public Radio's The Current, UMFM 101.5, and Manitoba Film and Music for a virtual edition of the music exchange to build a bridge with Minnesota-based industry and media. 

For this year’s project, three acts from Manitoba will pair up with three acts from Minnesota for streamed interviews with UMFM and The Current to explore their connection and craft. Airing at noon via Facebook May 25-27, each episode will stream pre-recorded showcases of each artist to offer a glimpse of their dynamic performances. 

May 25: ethereal singer/songwriter Diaphanie and indie-folk activist David Huckfelt 

May 26: synthpop artist Warming and prairie rockers Keep for Cheap

May 27: Polaris Music Prize long listed hip hop collective Super Duty Tough Work and guitar/drum duo King Brown

“We’re excited to work once again with our friends at The Current in Minneapolis/St. Paul, along with UMFM and MFM, to continue to strengthen the connections between our two music markets. The Midwest Music Exchange is a chance for emerging artists to share audiences and connect with industry and media just across the border, which is critical to building successful and sustainable careers,” says Manitoba Music’s executive director, Sean McManus.

Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is one of the premier public radio stations in the US producing programming for radio, online and live audiences and operates a 45-station radio network serving nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states. Reaching 900,000 listeners each week, MPR and its three regional services – MPR News, Classical MPR, and The Current – produce programming for radio, online, and face-to-face audiences.

The showcases are part of Manitoba Music’s export activities, which have made virtual pivots to create international development initiatives via Berlin’s Most Wanted: Music and Folk Alliance International’s Folk Unlocked, M for Montreal, AmericanaFest's Thriving Roots, and launched the far-reaching EMBARK Export Accelerator Program. Manitoba Music also co-presented the PASSPORT: Music Export Summit masterclasses in February and hosted national and international industry pros at the Catalyst Music Conference.

Bringing Manitoba music to new markets and intensifying trade activity in existing markets is a key component of Manitoba Music Export initiatives. Manitoba Music Export is funded by the Province of Manitoba, FACTOR and the Government of Canada, and Manitoba Film & Music. Through events like these, Manitoba Music is able to increase the connection between our province’s music industry and the broader national and international industry, which is vital to the career advancement of Manitoba artists and industry professionals, and contributes to the growth and development of Manitoba’s economy.