About MusicOntario

WHO WE ARE:

MusicOntario is a non-profit, membership-based provincial Music Industry Association (MIA), whose mission is to provide professional development, education, information, and support to the music industry of Ontario. The association's mandate is to nurture, elevate, and empower emerging companies and artists in Ontario's indie music sector. We help.


OUR PROGRAMMING:

MusicOntario delivers programs, services, events and initiatives that assist in nurturing, developing, promoting, and sustaining growth within the provincial music sector. MusicOntario supports and develops both the emerging and established independent industry in all markets province-wide.

Between 2013 and 2019, MusicOntario delivered more than 300 events, ranging from workshops, panels, B2B and peer mentorship sessions, to showcasing (domestic and international), networking and professional development, whether in the form of free, low cost or subsidized programming. More than 33,000 artists, emerging and established industry professionals, stakeholders and music fans have taken part in or attended MusicOntario events in 37 cities across seven provinces/states, six countries and two continents! Annual attendance has risen from 708 in 2013 to 7557 in 2018, and we have proudly showcased more than 400 Ontario performers across the world in that time.


WHAT WE DO:

Our programs and services are geared towards serving our members and fulfilling our mandate. Some of the activities that MusicOntario offers are:

  • Advocacy
  • Featured Member Program
  • Industry Promotion for members via website directory. Members can log in here.
  • Market Access and International Development Opportunities
  • Membership Directory
  • Member exclusive e-blasts, discounts & opportunities
  • Networking activities
  • Industry Newsletter
  • Partnership Discount Program
  • Professional Development
  • Workshops


WHO WE SERVE:

The membership base of MusicOntario is intended to be broad and inclusive. Our members can include, but are not limited to, the following types of individuals & companies:

Bands/artists/creative collectives, Blogs, Booking Agents/Agencies, Designers, Distributors, Engineers, Industry professionals & companies, Lawyers, Music Supervisors, Photographers, Print media, Promoters, Publicists, Publishers, Radio stations, Retailers, Studios, Trade Associations, Venues

GENERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

MusicOntario's appointed General Advisory Committee gathers the perspectives and experiences of artists and professionals representing a cross-section of disciplines and genres from Ontario's emerging music sector. In gleaning insights from a broad group of engaged music business experts, MusicOntario is able to assess gaps in education, barriers to access, and opportunities for the association to better serve its constituents by developing programming and opportunities to address these issues, in order to strengthen the Ontario's music industry.


TALENT COMMITTEES:

Drawn from respected music industry individuals and organizations, MusicOntario's internal talent committees review and recommend candidates for participation in MusicOntario opportunities and showcases. Adjudication is not a one-size fits all solution, so specialized talent committees are convened as needed to jury certain program applications from a position of impartial expertise. Names are not made public to discourage pitching or preferential treatment.


HIP-HOP, R&B & RAP ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

Mandate: In 2017, MusicOntario established its Hip Hop Advisory Committee in order to help direct and shape the organization’s outreach and programming for Ontarians working in Rap, Hip Hop, R&B, Reggae, Soul, Soca, and in the many other branches of those genres, whether as creators or entrepreneurs.


PRISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SUPPORTING & CELEBRATING LGBTQ2S+/QTBIPOC CREATORS)

Mandate: In 2018, MusicOntario established the LGBTQ2S+ Advisory Committee (formal name TBD) in order to help direct and shape the organization’s outreach and programming for artists and entrepreneurs who identify as LGBTQ2S/QTBIPOC, with the long-term goal of creating change-making awareness surrounding cultural and institutional barriers that are oppressive. The committee will strive to address some of these barriers faced by the community through discussion, consultation, safer spaces, support and programming, and will be comprised of and driven by artist and industry community leaders.