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, 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 present opportunities for several export-ready music entrepreneurs and connect them with 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.

"Opportunities to showcase and connect with industry leaders and tastemakers are crucial for an artist’s long-term growth and for the music sector in Manitoba. We’re excited to support these creative entrepreneurs in building meaningful relationships that span national and international markets, further establishing Manitoba as a dynamic and influential music hub,” says Manitoba Music’s executive director, Vanessa Kuzina.

Manitoba Music will combine its exporting power with the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) for a return to music capital Nashville for Canada House at AmericanaFest. Two acts from Manitoba will head south for the September 12 showcase at music haunt InDo, honky tonk singer/songwriter Bobby Dove and rootsy father-and-sons trio The Janzen Boys. 

Manitoba Music will return to the Reeperbahn Festival at Hamburg’s UWE on September 18, presented with CIMA. JUNO-nominated country singer/songwriter Desiree Dorion and psychedelic alternative rock outfit Holy Void 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. 

"Opportunities to showcase and connect with industry leaders and tastemakers are crucial for an artist’s long-term growth and for the music sector in Manitoba. We’re excited to support these creative entrepreneurs in building meaningful relationships that span national and international markets, further establishing Manitoba as a dynamic and influential music hub,” says Manitoba Music’s executive director, Vanessa Kuzina.
 

BreakOut West returns to Winnipeg for its 23rd edition of the annual music discovery festival and industry conference, September 24 - 28. Some of the best in the west—including hometown acts Alpha Toshineza, Boniface, CEC, Dill the Giant, FONTINE, Jade Turner, Lhasa Petik, Noah Derksen, Slow Leaves, The Haileys, TOMMYPHYLL, and Virgo Rising—will then converge in the city for showcases, panels, and immersive career-building opportunities. 

Manitoba Music will pave the way to BreakOut West in the days leading up to the event with The Road to BreakOut West, featuring an export showcase, networking, and professional development. Public Domain will host the showcase on September 23 with performances from emerging locals building a buzz, including Afro-fusion artist SCUD, award-winning country artist Catie St. Germain, honky tonk singer/songwriter Bobby Dove, and indie pop/rockers Mise en Scene. International industry reps will be in town to take in the showcase, speak about international touring and promotion in MusicWorks sessions on September 22, and meet with local industry and artists.

Manitoba Music will return to Folk Music Ontario next month with a spotlight showcase featuring eight artists from Manitoba, including Cara Luft, Don Amero, Field Guide, Indian City, Mitchell Makoons, The Janzen Boys, The Stanley County Cut-Ups, and TOMMYPHYLL. The showcase will take place at Ottawa's Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre on October 18. 

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. Artists from Manitoba hitting the stage are sundayclub and TOMMYPHYLL.  More details will be released in the 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 Fund, 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.