CLMA AGM 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Communiqué de presse ici 

September 21, 2021 - The Canadian Live Music Association’s 7th Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday, September 21st. The AGM was an opportunity to take a look back at one of the most difficult years in the history of Canada's live music sector as well as welcome incoming board leadership.

"During the past year and more than anything, COVID-19 has underscored the importance of building and using our collective voice. With the support of our over 300+ members, we continue to lead the sector through one of the great crises of our lifetime. Our impressive #FortheLoveOfLIVE campaign, with a reach of over 60M (and counting), is just one example of how the CLMA has helped to amplify the ongoing impact of the pandemic over the last year and a half. From the federal budget to provincial reopening frameworks, municipal music cities strategies to local restrictions - the CLMA has been proactively and fiercely advocating on your behalf. We are here today for our members, and we will be here tomorrow, to help usher in our brighter collective future." - Erin Benjamin, President & CEO, CLMA

During the meeting, the CLMA highlighted several key advocacy successes including: 

  • Emergency funding to live music sector, festivals in "Phase 2" 2020 and again in the 2021 Federal budget, with $70M earmarked for live music including music venues after 30,000+ constituent letters were sent in support of the CLMA's pre-budget submission, leveraging #ForTheLoveOfLIVE;

  • Groundbreaking CLMA campaign #ForTheLoveOfLIVE/#PourLAmourDeLaSCENE has seen a reach of over 60M, leading to:

    • Jagermeister x #ForTheLoveOfLIVE: Venue funding program providing $1000 grants to 100 music venues across Canada;

  • $2 Million in support from the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, leveraged for the (national) Unison Fund;

  • Kinaxis InConcert, a partnership with Canadian supply chain technology firm Kinaxis, injecting $250K into programming livestreams across Canada. An additional $30K in funding was provided from FACTOR to continue this important work.

  • National research study "Closing the Gap: Impact and Representation of Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour Live Music Workers in Canada".

  • Efforts with the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, leading to the extension of CEWS and CERS programs into October 2021, and formation of targeted support measures like the $181.5M Hardest Hit Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP).

"As we look ahead to an uncertain future, the CLMA will continue to fight for your survival for as long as it takes to put the pandemic behind us, while not losing site of other critical issues ranging from the insurance crisis to the important and desperately needed work to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the live music ecosystem." - Jesse Kumagai, CLMA Board Chair and President & CEO, The Corporation of Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall

The Canadian Live Music Association also announced its newly and/or re-elected 2021-2022 Board members: 

Vanessa Arscott, Plan V Productions
Kerry Clarke, Calgary Folk Festival
Marlin Jones, FM Systems 
Victoria Lord, Edery & Lord Communications
Robyn Stewart, Western Canadian Music Alliance and Breakout West

The CLMA thanks outgoing Board members for their contributions:

Tao-Ming Lau, Blue Crane Agency
Melissa Bubb-Clarke, MLSE
Katy Venneri, The JUNO Awards

The CLMA's full 2021-22 Board can be found here

Looking forward, the CLMA will remain at the vanguard of rebuild and recovery conversations, ensuring that live music has a voice at every table, and fostering a diverse and equitable live music sector.

Read the Annual Report in English here.
Lire le rapport annuel en français ici.

About the CLMA
The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) is the voice of Canada’s live music industry. Established in response to an identified need in the live music industry, the CLMA represents venues, clubs, concert promoters, festivals, talent agencies, arenas, performing arts centres, industry associations and networks, as well as suppliers to the sector. Its mission is to entrench the economic, social and cultural value of live music – creating the conditions for concerts to thrive, from coast to coast to coast.

CONTACT:
Maddy Oliver
Membership and Communications Manager
moliver@canadianlivemusic.ca

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