Manitoba Music Export Brings Local Artists to the Global Stage

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

Manitoba Music is gearing up for another busy season of Manitoba Music Export events this fall featuring a powerhouse roster of artists from Manitoba. 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 the Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) through the Government of Canada; The Manitoba Government; FACTOR, the Government of Canada and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters; and Manitoba Film & Music.

“Career-defining opportunities for showcasing talent to industry leaders and engaging in business-to-business networking play a vital role in an artist's long-term career growth,” says Manitoba Music’s executive director, Vanessa Kuzina. “We’re thrilled to support these creative entrepreneurs as they continue to build strong connections on the national and international stage and solidify Manitoba’s place as an extraordinary music hub.”

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 19 and 20. Anishinaabe and settler folk-soul musician Ila Barker, folk-tinged indie rock duo Slow Spirit, and Polaris Music Prize long-listed art rap outfit Super Duty Tough Work 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 provincial music industry associations. The delegation will also stop in Berlin for meetings with German music companies. 

Two acts from Manitoba will head south to music capital Nashville for Canada House at AmericanaFest, presented with CIMA. The September 20 showcase at music haunt InDo, will feature JUNO-nominated singer/songwriter Desiree Dorion and award-winning songwriter and performer Jade Turner. Honky tonk singer/songwriter Bobby Dove and folk singer/songwriter Madeleine Roger will also be in Nashville to showcase at the annual event.

“Career-defining opportunities for showcasing talent to industry leaders and engaging in business-to-business networking play a vital role in an artist's long-term career growth,” says Manitoba Music’s executive director, Vanessa Kuzina. “We’re thrilled to support these creative entrepreneurs as they continue to build strong connections on the national and international stage and solidify Manitoba’s place as an extraordinary music hub.
 

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 Handsome Daughter on September 24 for a showcase featuring emerging locals building a buzz including indie pop/R&B artist CEC, powerhouse singer/songwriter Diaphanie, Afro-pop/Afro-fusion act Nú Baby, and Slow Spirit. International industry reps will be in town to take in the showcase, speak about international touring and promotion in MusicWorks sessions on September 23, and meet with local industry and artists.

Some of the best in the west—including Amos the Kid, Boogey the Beat, Brandi Vezina, Flora Luna, Fold Paper, HAVS, Kelly Bado, and Len Bowen—will then converge in Saskatoon for the 22nd edition of BreakOut West Festival and Conference, September 26 through 28.

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 24 and 25. More details will be released in coming weeks. 

On the horizon, Manitoba Music will return to Quebec to support local artists at two overlapping industry festivals in mid-November, Mundial Montreal and M for Montreal, with showcasing acts to be announced.

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 Manitoba Government, 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.