MusiCounts, a music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), along with the help of JUNO Award winning special guest singer-songwriter Joel Plaskett, celebrated the $10,000 Band Aid Grant awarded to Sackville High School. The event featured Plaskett, who talked about the importance of music education and performed for those in attendance. Performances were also given by the Sackville High School Concert Band, Jazz Band and Vocal Ensemble. (more…)

The International Music Software Trade Association (IMSTA), a nonprofit association which strives to inform music software users about the effects of software piracy on the music software industry, is asking music software users to complete its survey. “We believe that through education, we can change end-user behavior over time and reduce the demand for pirated software,” says the organization in a press release. (more…)

CTV and The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced the first round of artists confirmed to perform on CTV’s broadcast of the 2012 Juno Awards on Sunday, April 1 from Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

The first group of performers announced to take the stage at the 2012 Juno Awards are: Blue Rodeo, the 2012 Canadian Music Hall of Fame recipients; City and Colour, JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter and current CM cover artist; deadmau5, award-winning producer and electronic artist; and Feist, the award-winning recording artist (more…)

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has launched Unsigned Only, a new, international music competition. Designed for solo artists, bands, and singers who are not signed to a major record label, Unsigned Only’s goal is to find an outstanding, talented performing artist or band.

“We are pleased to introduce a new music competition of this caliber to artists throughout the world,” says the Founders of Unsigned Only, Jim Morgan and Candace Avery Having. “Having worked with a wide variety of artists over many years, we know that what artists want most is access to record label professionals. However, it is virtually impossible for most up-and-coming artists to have direct access to this elite and elusive group of decision makers. So, Unsigned Only is offering the unprecedented opportunity for the Grand Prize winner to network with and be mentored by a prestigious group of record label executives. This has never been done before, and we are excited about the possibilities it affords the Unsigned Only winner.” (more…)

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has announced Blue Rodeo as the 2012 inductees to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Spanning nearly three decades, Blue Rodeo has sold in excess of four million records and won an unprecedented 11 JUNO Awards, establishing themselves as one of the premier groups in Canadian music history. On Sunday, April 1, 2012, Blue Rodeo will be honoured at the 41^st Annual JUNO Awards broadcast on CTV from Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, ON. (more…)

South by Southwest (SXSW) Music is pleased to present the SXSW Music Gear Expo, now in its third year. This expanded event will include manufacturers from top companies showcasing their
guitars, drums, amps, pedals, keyboards, software, and countless other accessories needed by amateurs and professionals alike. With over 2,000 bands playing at SXSW, some of the finest musicians in the world will have the opportunity to give some of the best equipment a test run.
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