The CCMA is excited to be offering a variety of seminars and networking opportunities throughout Country Music Week. These ticketed events are available to purchase by CCMA members through the Country Music Week Registration Portal. Click HERE to purchase tickets.
In addition, the CCMA will also be programing a number of workshops. The workshops will be free to all attendees. More information on the workshops is coming soon.
Friday, September 9, 2022
The Future Of Music – Shining a Light on Calgary – Presented by West Anthem
Patricia A.Whelan Performance Hall, Calgary Public Library
10:00am-12:00pm
The intersectionality of music, modern technology, community development and placemaking – from tech innovations, resiliency, adaptability, diversity to wellness. What do we need to know and be prepared for how fans, artists and communities can adapt, develop and interact with music in the next 5-10 years. Hear perspectives and stories of success from some of Calgary’s music leaders.
Publishing 101 Presented by Anthem Entertainment
BMO Financial Group Community Room, Calgary Public Library
11:00am — 12:00pm MT
FREE Workshop
They say that all it takes is a song. That perfect song that connects with fans, goes viral and takes an artist’s career to the next level. Moderated by Anthem Entertainment’s President of Publishing Gilles Godard, this panel will help educate aspiring songwriters, artists and country fans about the songwriting process and the team surrounding it. How does an aspiring songwriter move to a new city or country and find their way into the biggest rooms and land a Nashville publishing deal? From writing calendars to pitch groups, holds to radio hits, our goal is to teach you everything you need to navigate the often intimidating, yet incredibly exciting world of Publishing!
Tickets: FREE (first come, first served / 80 person max)
Talk Data To Me: State of the Canadian Country Music Industry
Patricia A.Whelan Performance Hall, Calgary Public Library
1:30pm-2:30pm
Utilizing Luminates recent first party data research, we will be taking a deep dive into demographics, Music and Consumption habits throughout Canada and its various regions. An overview insight report on todays Country Music Audience Profile within Canada. This presentation will look at data insights around the Canadian Country landscape, including year over year statistics, genre comparisons, catalogue growth, streaming, sales, and markets. It will also include insights from our 2022 Canadian Music 360 survey, focusing on the Country music fan.
Short Form Content Creation
BMO Financial Group Community Room, Calgary Public Library
1:30pm — 2:30pm MT
FREE Workshop
Creating TikTok and Instagram Reels Content Is Easier Than You Think. This keynote will discuss how any artist who doesn’t naturally feel they are a “content creator” can still maintain a thriving account on TikTok to attract new listeners and why they should do so. Topics include: why TikTok should be seen as an opportunity vs. a chore, specific types of videos that resonate on the platform, how the ‘for you page’ (AKA ‘algorithm’) works, the ever-debated question, “do hashtags matter?”, dos vs. don’ts, & more. We will also touch on tactics to get an artist’s audience off of TikTok and into somewhere with more artist control (i.e. email or text lists), as well as the reasons this process can’t be rushed.
Limited Consultation Appointments Available: If you would like 1:1 short-form content consultation from Suzy Yoder of Yo Suzy! – please connect with Suzy here: [email protected]
Tickets: FREE (first come, first served / 80 person max)
THROUGH THE FIRE: LIVE PODCAST RECORDING WITH DON AMERO + SPECIAL GUEST, DALLAS SMITH
Patricia A.Whelan Performance Hall, Calgary Public Library
2:30pm-3:30pm
Keynote: Don Amero
Through The Fire will feature engaging conversations with an array of Canadian public figures including musicians, athletes, activists and more, focusing on the journey one takes to overcome adversity, while re-framing ideas around misfortune and celebrating the courage required to make it through. With Through The Fire, Amero hopes to encourage and inspire listeners to approach challenges with kindness and grace, both inward and towards others.
Need A Little Help From Your Friends? A Chat with Unison
BMO Financial Group Community Room, Calgary Public Library
2:30pm — 3:30pm MT
FREE Workshop
For many, a career in music is a dream come true; however, the reality is that many members of the Canadian music community do not have access to the services that can make all the difference in a time of need: sick leave, medical benefits, family emergencies, pension plans, and unemployment insurance.
Music makers can easily find themselves unprepared to deal with the financial and emotional burdens of an unforeseen emergency or illness. Unison, Canada’s music industry charity, is a non-profit organization providing free counselling and financial relief services to the Canadian music community. They are here to offer help to music industry professionals in times of hardship – providing a lifeline to ensure the health of our friends, colleagues, and collaborators.
Since their foundation over 10 years ago, Unison has provided over $4.5 million in financial aid, supporting thousands of music professionals during the COVID pandemic, and that support continues with the 2022 launch of The Live Music Workers Fund, supported by a $16 million grant from the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Join Unison staff, Executive Director, Amanda Power and Manager, Programs & Services, Kathryn Hummel, to learn how Unison provides support to the music industry with financial relief and free counselling support services.
Tickets: FREE (first come, first served / 80 person max)
Saturday, September 10, 2022
Power of Fandom Keynote
Patricia A.Whelan Performance Hall, Calgary Public Library
11:00am-12:00pm
Fans aren’t just a screaming crowd at a show or lined up down the street for a signing – they play a crucial role as a powerful collective in promoting and supporting musicians online, and have their own siloed society on social platforms. Explore what fandom looks like and how it creates value. The influence of fandoms on consumer trends and purchase discussions continue to grow and provide a unique opportunity to turn organic fan communities into your strongest marketing tool evangelizing on behalf of your artists. Fans create both community and publicity. What do we know about virtual fandom, and how can we talk with, not at them? While musicians are no strangers to storytelling, we discuss how social media can be used to create opportunities to build community, engagement, and inspire activation.
Live Podcast Recording: Women in Country Music + Media
BMO Financial Group Community Room, Calgary Public Library
11:00am – 12:00pm MT
Free Workshop
Host Sarah Burke will lead a panel of industry women through a thoughtful discussion about gender parity in country music for a special live recording of the Women in Media Podcast. Panelists will include artists, label, radio and music programmers.
Tickets: FREE (first come, first served / 80 person max)
Modern Music Monetization
Patricia A.Whelan Performance Hall, Calgary Public Library
12:00pm-1:00pm
COVID-19 changed a lot of things for everyone. We want to share how you can find substantial royalties, what it means when artists own their masters and licenses, or distribute those masters. Learn from experts who have uncovered over $1M in unpaid royalties who will help you navigate modern music monetization, creating sustainable income streams in an artist’s career outside of touring. This year’s Modern Music Monetization panel will see representatives from royalty rights organizations, record labels, digital streaming platforms and more. Join us for a candid conversation about sustainable income for music rights.
Spotify Masterclass
BMO Financial Group Community Room, Calgary Public Library
12:00pm — 1:00pm MT
Free Workshop
Take a personal guided tour through Spotify’s artist tools & features. Meet the team and discover your biggest platform.
Tickets: FREE (first come, first served / 80 person max)
Sunday, September 11, 2022
Touring 2.0: How to Tour in the New World
Patricia A.Whelan Performance Hall, Calgary Public Library
9:30am-10:30am
The live concert industry’s biggest year on record was 2019, and 2020 showed no signs of slowing down. Ticket prices were high, shows were a plenty, and it was a great time to be a touring artist in demand. But then…everything came to a grinding halt. Operating in a world with restrictions, travel issues, insurance challenges, cancellations, infections, inflation and changing consumer trends and tastes is a challenging scenario to say the last. With an altered marketplace, fractured opportunities, and more competition how can you plan to build a touring strategy, and a touring business to provide a base for a touring career for years to come? Join some of the country’s top touring leaders including promoters, festival planners, venue operators, managers, and booking agents to talk about solutions to problems, how to adapt to changing consumer habits, source new methods of revenue on the road, adapt to a new marketing landscape and partake in a positive discussion about how to plan a new touring strategy for the future.
Are you Radio Ready?
BMO Financial Group Community Room, Calgary Public Library
9:30am — 10:30am MT
FREE Workshop
Are you and your music ready to take the next step at radio? Yes? No? Or more importantly, not sure?!
Getting your music onto radio can be a tricky task. However, there are a few ways you can ensure your music does not fall flat on programmer’s desks. Within this seminar, we will discuss tips to help you submit music to radio that you can be confident will have programmer’s attention, giving your tracks the best chance possible to get heard.
Moderated by Cool 100, Belleville’s Paul Ferguson, gain expert advice on moving your career forward from producer Dan Swinimer (Manicdown Music Inc.), artist advocate Tera Lee Flaman (GPS Promotion), Operations Manager/Brand & Content Leader Jenn Dalen (Stingray), along with CCMA Award nominee Hailey Benedict.
Tickets: FREE (first come, first served / 80 person max)
Working Abroad Panel
Patricia A.Whelan Performance Hall, Calgary Public Library
10:30am-11:30am
Hyper-local approach to building a brand remains extremely important; however, streaming has reduced friction and barriers to participating within a Global Ecosystem. Understanding the Global framework and how best to navigate it is key to the success of international growth.
For Canadian artists and industry members exploring working beyond Canada, let Industry leaders from Nashville, an immigration lawyer and Canadians who have successfully made the transition support you in navigating the complexities around Visa requirements, best practices, and next steps.
Anatomy of a Gig
BMO Financial Group Community Room, Calgary Public Library
10:30am — 12:00am MT
Free Workshop
So You Have Been Discovered, Now What? Learn the anatomy of a gig from preparation to hiring musicians, to advancing the gig and everything you need to know about Show Day all the way to a successful wrap-up!
Tickets: FREE (first come, first served / 80 person max)
Networking 101
Imperial 1,2,3, Hyatt Regency Calgary
1:00pm-3:00pm
This networking event formerly called the CCMA Round Tables offers newcomers a chance to sit down with trade experts and glean some of the wisdom years of experience have afforded them.
From honing your craft, to gaining and keeping an audience, and having longevity in the industry, this session is tailor-made for whatever focus the participants want addressed.
Featuring titans from all aspects of the industry, this is a must-hit session for those looking for some advice, ideas, mentorship, and direction on next steps in their careers.
