“Music ♥’s Everybody” is the message of a new merchandise campaign unveiled by SOCAN today, with all proceeds going to the Unison Benevolent Fund, a non-profit, registered charity that provides counselling and emergency relief services to the Canadian music community.

The e-commerce site was launched with several pieces of merchandise already modelled by some of SOCAN’s notable members.

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The following article, which we felt was worth a read, is from Mark Savage at the BBC. 

YouTube has said it has paid the music industry $1bn (£794m) in royalties this year – but record companies have responded by claiming it is not enough.

The spat began on Tuesday, when YouTube’s chief business officer Robert Kyncl posted a blog highlighting the site’s contribution to the industry.

He said YouTube had distributed $1bn in advertising royalties alone, arguing that “free” streaming was as important as subscription sites like Spotify.

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POP Montreal is now accepting artists applications to fill has 85 performance slots reserved for Sonicbids artists. Selected artists will be compensated between $100-500. POP Montreal 2017 will be held Sept. 13-17 in various venues around downtown Montreal. The submission deadline is May 13, 2017.

The Opportunity
The 2017 festival will take place September 13-17 in over 50 venues throughout Montreal. Founded in 2002 by fans and supporters of music, it will celebrate its 16th anniversary in 2017.

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The latest free webinar from Canadian Musician has been scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 at 7 pm and registration is now open. Entitled “Sure-Fire Showcasing,” attendees will learn how to make the most of industry showcase opportunities. Registration is open HERE.

Webinar info: 

Are your submissions in to showcase at the many industry events happening in the spring of 2017? From CMW to NXNE to ECMA Week and more, there are some major showcasing opportunities on the horizon for Canadian artists. If you’re lucky enough to be accepted to perform at one of these major events, how do you make the most of the opportunity?

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The Indigenous Music Awards are returning May 19th, 2017 with a new format that organizers say will better support artists in the ever changing music industry.

Submissions are open online at www.indigenousmusicawards.com, and are accepted from Indigenous recording artists and music industry professionals from around the world.

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To get music fans in the holiday mood, Nielsen has released the below infographic on the consumption of Christmas music in Canada in 2015. It looks like folks in Edmonton may be the merriest of all Canadians. Radio stations in the Alberta capital played the most holiday music between Nov. 1 and Dec. 27, 2015. Edmonton was followed by the four Ontario cities of Ottawa, Toronto, Barrie, and London.

As it appeared people love the classics, as “Feliz Navidad” and renditions of a “Winter Wonderland” were the most popular holiday songs during the Christmas season last year. Mariah Carey’s modern classic “All I Want for Christmas is You” was the most popular digital song, being streamed more than 5 million times and getting downloaded 18,000 times. As well, covers “All I Want for Christmas is You” were streamed 7.5 million times last year.

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Youth4Music, a group created by the Coalition for Music Education, will host the second Youth4Music Toronto Leadership Symposium this Saturday, Nov. 26^th, at Ryerson University in Toronto.

Youth4Music is a network of youth who are passionate about music in their lives – learning, appreciating, creating and making music. Youth4Music provides a platform for youth voices, and leadership opportunities for youth to make a difference for music in their schools and communities. The program is “for youth – by youth – through music.”

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Cirque du Soleil has put out an urgent casting call for a multi-instrumentalist (guitar-mandolin-accordion player) to be part of an arena show touring in North America in 2017.

Duration of contract: one year starting May 2017, with an annual renewal option.

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Walk Santa’s red carpet with Toronto’s notables & grab yourself a present or two at the Canadian music industry schmoozefest, presented by the Unison Benevolent Fund.

Tickets are on sale now for the Unison Holiday Schmoozefest’s triumphant return! With even more prizes, special guest DJ Brendan Canning, and the Big Jolly Man himself, this is one industry party you wont want to miss! The Unison Holiday Social is a chance to celebrate the season with notable Canadian music professionals and artists at Toronto’s chic Spice Route Bistro+Bar. No potluck offering or secret santa gift required!

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