Manitoba Music Export Puts Local Artists On the Map

Artist Entrepreneurs to Make International Music Business Connections at Industry Showcase Events This Fall in Hamburg, Nashville, Montreal, Toronto, Kelowna, and Winnipeg
 

Manitoba Music is gearing up for another busy season of Manitoba Music Export events this fall featuring a stellar roster of homegrown talent. The not-for-profit, member-driven music industry association will be presenting opportunities for several export-ready music entrepreneurs and connecting them to influential industry contacts in key music markets.

Bringing local music to new markets and intensifying trade activity in existing markets is critical to the growth and sustainability of the music industry. Artists will hit showcase stages in over a dozen cities over the next three months, including coveted spots at prestigious festivals in Germany, the US, and Canada. Manitoba Music’s expanded capacity to support export development activity is funded by PrairiesCan and the Province of Manitoba’s Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Fund. 

“Building connections with industry in key international markets is crucial for artists and music companies in Manitoba and any smaller music centre. Showcase and business-to-business opportunities are an influential part of an artist's long-term career development. “We’re thrilled to support these incredibly creative and hard-working music entrepreneurs as they take their careers to new heights,” says Manitoba Music’s Executive Director, Vanessa Kuzina. 

Manitoba Music will combine its exporting power with the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) overseas with a return to Canada House at the Reeperbahn Festival at Hamburg’s UWE on September 21 and 22. Anishinaabe DJ and producer Boogey the Beat, roots / Americana singer/songwriter Noah Derksen, and rock outfit Mise en Scene will be part of the showcase and export activity that brings together artists and music companies from across Canada through a partnership with CIMA and regional music industry associations. The delegation will also stop in Berlin for meetings with German music companies. 

Four acts from Manitoba will head south to music capital Nashville for AmericanaFest, presented with CIMA. The September 22 showcase at music haunt InDo, will feature singer/songwriter Field Guide plus bluegrass sideman Jaxon Haldane’s duo with Whitehorse-based singer/songwriter and guitarist Gordie Tentrees. JUNO Award-winning singer/songwriter William Prince and psych-country group Boy Golden 
will also be in Nashville for official showcases at the annual event.

“Building connections with industry in key international markets is crucial for artists and music companies in Manitoba and any smaller music centre. Showcase and business-to-business opportunities are an influential part of an artist's long-term career development. “We’re thrilled to support these incredibly creative and hard-working music entrepreneurs as they take their careers to new heights,” says Manitoba Music’s Executive Director, Vanessa Kuzina. 
 

The road to BreakOut West will be paved with export showcases and networking opportunities across the western provinces, including a pre-BreakOut West stop in Winnipeg. Manitoba Music will take over The Good Will Social Club on October 10 for a showcase featuring emerging locals building a buzz. International industry reps will be in town to take in the showcase, speak about international touring and publishing in MusicWorks sessions October 9-10, and meet with local industry and artists.

Some of the best in the west—including Ami Cheon, Andrina Turenne, Boogey the Beat, Field Guide, Ila Barker, Jade Turner, Kris Ulrich, Lev Snowe—will then converge in Kelowna for the 21st edition of BreakOut West Festival and Conference, October 11-15.

On the horizon, the eighth Montreal edition of Francophone music development project, Rame à la rencontre, will offer showcases and professional development for three Francophone artists from Western Canada, including one Franco-Manitoban artist at Coup de coeur francophone on November 3. Details TBA.

Toronto will host the third annual Come Together, Canada’s coast-to-coast artist showcase and industry mingler for GTA industry in the country’s largest music market. Presented by Canada’s music industry associations, with SODEC and CIMA, the organizations will present two days of industry showcases and meetings in Toronto this November 14 - 15. This year’s packed lineup features Andrina Turenne and Field Guide. 

Manitoba Music will return to Quebec to support local artists at two overlapping industry festivals in mid-November. Art rap/hip hop ensemble Super Duty Tough Work will showcase at Mundial Montreal, November 14-17. Blind music producer and recording artist Mattmac, and Boy Golden will both hit stages at M for Montreal, November 15-17.

Manitoba Music Export is funded by FACTOR and the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, 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.

Many of the artists and music companies participating in these and other export development events have been able to access support through the Market Access Program, which is administered by Manitoba Music and funded through the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and Manitoba Film & Music. The purpose of the Market Access Fund is to support Manitoba artists and music industry professionals in growing their business activities in export markets through showcases at music industry conferences and showcase festivals, targeted and confirmed business meetings, and collaborative songwriting trips.