As Canadian Music Week kicks off its forty second anniversary, the competition and convention is present process a giant change.
The foremost music occasion, which brings artists and trade to Toronto yearly for every week of performances and panels, is altering palms. Competition founder and president Neill Dixon introduced his retirement at this time (June 3) on the welcoming deal with for the CMW convention, with Toronto mayor Olivia Chow in attendance.
The competition has been acquired by Toronto-based Loft Leisure and American hospitality and sports activities firm Oak View Group, who plan to develop its choices whereas sustaining Dixon’s imaginative and prescient.
Just lately named considered one of Billboard Canada’s Energy Gamers, Dixon was available on the June 2 inaugural Energy Gamers occasion, presenting Gary Slaight with the Energy Gamers Impression Award as his closing public look earlier than saying retirement.
Below his management, CMW has grown into a serious hub for trade occasions, internet hosting the Stay Music Business Awards, The Indies awards, Jim Beam Nationwide Expertise Search, Radiodays North America and extra.
“It has been an unimaginable journey to see Canadian Music Week develop from a small gathering of music lovers to some of the influential music festivals and conferences on this planet,” Dixon says.
Loft Leisure and Oak View Group (OVG) will maintain the occasion’s headquarters in Toronto, as they look forward to its future. Loft is a brand new enterprise from trade titan Randy Lennox, former Common Music Canada CEO and Bell Media President, launched in 2023.
The artistic companies firm’s partnership with OVG on the acquisition boosts the latter’s enlargement into Canada. OVG already has partnerships with Canadian sports activities organizations Canada Basketball and Nice Canadian Gaming, and is at present main a main renovation of Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre. (It was additionally not too long ago entangled within the U.S. Division of Justice’s antitrust criticism towards Stay Nation).
With an American companion on board, it appears doubtless Canadian Music Week will look to develop its worldwide footprint, whereas remaining a house for Canadian music exercise. Particulars for the 2025 version, the primary beneath the brand new possession, are coming quickly.
CMW is on now, till June 8. Discover competition and convention programming on the occasion web site.
This text was initially printed by Billboard Canada.
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