The Western Canadian Music Awards have revealed their list of nominees for 2023, following the BreakOut West “First Wave” announcement last week. British Columbia has received a total of 48 Artist Award Nominations and 8 Industry Award Nominations.
Are you a member of Music BC, or another Western Canadian Music Industry Association? You can vote!
Here’s how:
– Check your email for your official voting link from BreakOut West
– Follow the guidelines provided in the email, and vote once in each category
– Make sure to vote before July 18th at 11:59 PM PST
Rifflandia is back, and now includes six days over two full weekends in September!
Established in 2008, Rifflandia Festival is one of the longest-running large-scale music & arts festivals in Western Canada. The full 2023 lineup has been announced and includes a phenomenal roster of BC talent.
Music BC is pleased to be partnering with Rifflandia to add up to 20 BC artists to an already stacked lineup!
Are you curious about the skills and connections that it takes to get your music in film and TV?
Apply to attend VIFF AMP Music in Film Summit before July 30th!
From songwriters to composers to music entrepreneurs, Amp supports an annual cohort of emerging music professionals through a competitive and juried application process, with a focus on providing access to artists from traditionally underrepresented communities.
This multi-day summit features expertly curated masterclasses, case studies, panel discussions, networking events, breakout sessions and music showcases, all of which are designed to develop professional skills and create connections that can propel a career in film, television and new media.
As British Columbians revel in summer’s long-awaited arrival, music enthusiasts across the province embrace the start of the highly anticipated festival season.
From vibrant cities to picturesque outdoor venues, B.C. transforms into a hub of pulsating beats and harmonious melodies as crowds gather to celebrate live music across the province.
Discover this full list of festivals in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, and more via BC Creates!
CREATIVE BC ANNOUNCES UPCOMING GRANT DEADLINES Creative BC has officially announced their 2023 deadlines for Amplify BC programming. You can find all deadlines for their Music + Sound Recording components now on their website, as well as in our “Upcoming Deadlines” section below. Application intakes open soon – mark your calendars! MORE INFO
REGISTER TO ATTEND CMRRA SESSIONS This session is an opportunity for self-published songwriters, publishers, and administrators to connect in-person with the CMRRA Publisher Engagement team, get updates on CMRRA activities, and ask questions! Registration Deadline: July 12, 2023 at 12:00 PM PST MORE INFO
NEW JUMPSTART CAREER CONSULTANTS AVAILABLE FOR MEETINGS! Our ongoing career consultation and music business mentorship program is taking requests for free 1-hour sessions! We have welcomed new Career Consultants on board, focusing on topics likes Biographies and Elevator Pitches, Artist and Business Management and more. REQUEST A MEETING
ARC is an accelerator program highlighting, nurturing and sending into orbit the exciting, diverse voices that beat in BC 💫
MIKEY JOSE AND TEON GIBBS TO CO-HEADLINE UPCOMING SHOW ARC 2022 Alumni, Mikey Jose is teaming up with 2023 participant, Teon Gibbs for a memorable night of soul, R&B and rap anthems. The show is taking place on Thursday, July 13th at The Biltmore Cabaret, and will also include music by Cameron James, Kardias Quing, Raamie and Bungalow. LEARN MORE
2023 PARTICIPANTS TO PERFORM AT KHATSALANO FESTIVAL Catch 2023 ARC Participants FKA Rayne, Wallgrin and Winona Forever lighting up this stage this Saturday, July 8th at Khatsalano Street Party! The full lineup can be found on the festival website. LEARN MORE
INDUSTRY NEWS
How Indigenous-Owned Record Labels Are Changing the Music Industry in Canada Shoshona Kish — the Ojibwe-Anishnaabe artist who forms one half of the Indigenous musical duo Digging Roots — remembers the moment that lit a fire in her.– READ MORE
B.C. Band Chases Guinness World Record in Squamish On Saturday, July 8, LooPS aims to perform nine concerts in nine cities, starting in Squamish, to top the world record for most shows in a 12-hour period. – READ MORE
604 Records Looks Back On 20 Years of Success 604 Records put out its first album on Sept. 17, 2002. The self-titled debut from Theory of a Deadman was the label’s first platinum platter. It also won a Juno award.– READ MORE
Sofar Claims that Artists Have Generated Nearly $650M in Ticket and Merch Sales Via its Self-Serve Listings Tool Since the Pandemic The company revealed the figure in a recent blog post, highlighting its most recent updates on how it is expanding its efforts to support artists. – READ MORE
Boslen is Ready to Enter His Pop era The Juno-nominated Vancouver rapper opens up about his upcoming album and moving beyond hip-hop. – READ MORE
Universal Music to Buy RS Group Catalog in Thailand, Establish Partnership in Fast-Growing Market Universal Music Group has struck an agreement to acquire majority control of the second largest music catalog in Thailand, one of the fastest growing music markets in Asia. – READ MORE
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
XL The Band is a Western Canadian Music Award-nominated hip hop/ jazz/ alternative project with a deep and rich history in the music industry, and decades of live experience rocking audiences of tens of thousands in arenas and at festivals, playing in symphonies, and winding up jazz clubs. XL is composed of Prevail and Rob The Viking from the 4-time JUNO Award-winning group Swollen Members, Liesa Norman, a former Vancouver Symphony Orchestra flautist and singer who holds a doctorate in music performance and composition, and Neph from WCMA nominated rap group Alpha Omega.
XL The Band have had their songs featured on key playlists including Spotify’s Hip Hop Central, Outliers, All New Jazz, Orbit, Modern Jazz Mix, and Northern Bars, have performed at numerous prominent festivals, and have toured Europe and North America in support of their debut album Opus No. 1.
Reach out to info@musicbc.org if you would like to include an upcoming application or funding deadline.
ROLLING DEADLINES
FACTOR:Live Performance, Industry Events, Collective Initiatives – Showcase Production for Artists from Official Language Minority, Collective Initiatives – Showcase Production for Export-Ready Artists, Comprehensive Artist, Comprehensive Music Company, Business Travel, Marketing & Promo for Non-FACTOR Funded Sound Recordings, Songwriter Development, Sponsorship, Video
SOCAN:Travel Assistance, Professional Development Assistance, SOCAN Foundation Relief Fund
Canada Council:Travel, Residencies, Professional Development for Artists, Research and Creation
This project is funded in part by FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters. Ce projet est financé en partie par FACTOR, le gouvernement du Canada et les radiodiffuseurs privés du Canada.
