Worldwide Independent Network To Celebrate 20th Anniversary in Toronto at WINCON 2026
The international trade org for independent music, WIN brings its flagship global conference to Toronto, Nov. 9-11, joining forces with CIMA's Label Summit and Make It Music conference.
Call it a WIN win situation.
WIN (Worldwide Independent Network), the leading international trade org for independent music, turns 20 this year and is celebrating the milestone anniversary at WINCON 2026 in Toronto. From Nov. 9–11, the city hosts WIN’s flagship global conference. WINCON aims to unite the independent community around ownership and infrastructure, digital market, generative AI, and unlocking international revenues, with speakers from across the world.
In partnership with the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), WINCON joins forces with CIMA's Label Summit and Make It Music conference in a special anniversary edition. WIN's goal is to bring its global community together to reflect on two decades of collaboration and to shape the future of independent music.
The recently-announced program and speakers features label leaders, trade association executives and industry experts from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and beyond. Leaders from trade associations in Europe, United States, Brazil, Australia, South Korea and Paraguay will also participate.
Speakers include Tony Kiewel (Sub Pop), Josh Madell (Secretly), Zena White (Partisan), David Barnes (Rhymesayers), Jason Peterson (GoDigital), Justin West (Secret City), Dan Nevin (Merlin, Felippe Llerena (Nikita Music/ABMI), Mark Meyer (Random Sounds/AMI-PY), Marty Ro (Sound Republica/LIAK), Gord Dimitrieff (Aporia Records), Pierre Gourde (MétaMusique) and Tak Yamazaki (IMCJ).
WINCON 2026 will give delegates from around the world direct access to Canada’s independent music community. Through WIN’s partnership with IMPALA under its EU-funded network programme, WINCON will also create new opportunities for collaboration and exchange with European businesses. Merlin, the digital licensing partner for independents globally, is supporting both WINCON and Make It Music.
Across seven sessions spread out over three days, WINCON 2026 will explore the forces reshaping the global music sector and discuss how independents can build durable collective power as consolidation and financialization reshape the industry. Program topics include the sector’s response to discoverability challenges, streaming fraud, the flood of generative AI content, collaboration with collective management organizations to unlock neighbouring rights income and trade associations adapting to an evolving ecosystem.
On Nov. 9, WINCON delegates will join participants in CIMA’s Label Summit at Toronto’s Society Clubhouse. On Nov. 10 and 11, WINCON sessions will take place at The Great Hall as part of the wider Make It Music program.
The WIN secretariat, chair (Mark Kitcatt, Everlasting Records), vice-chair (Marty Ro, Sound Republica) and treasurer (Maria Amato, AIR), alongside CIMA’s ceo Andrew Cash, will present the organization’s projects and activities at WIN’s Annual General Meeting. Members of the WIN network Josh Madell, Zena White and David Barnes will also participate in other Make It Music sessions outside of the WINCON program, which also feature speakers such as journalist Liz Pelly and many more.
''Independent music is a global business, but independent companies need the right connections, knowledge and partnerships to compete across markets," says CIMA's Andrew Cash. "Partnering with WIN creates an important opportunity to strengthen the connection between Canadian businesses and the global independent sector. By collaborating globally, we can strengthen our networks here at home and build new opportunities abroad for Canadian-owned companies and their artists.''
Noemí Planas, WIN CEO, observes that ''Twenty years ago, independent music trade associations around the world decided they were stronger together and formed WIN. WINCON is where we celebrate what that collaboration has achieved, and where we look ahead to what comes next. From policy to streaming, AI, and neighboring rights, the issues on this year’s program are ones no market can solve alone. We’re delighted to celebrate this special milestone edition of WINCON in Toronto alongside the Canadian independent community and CIMA.''
Check out the full WINCON 2026 program here. Sessions on Monday are shared with CIMA’s Label Summit. Sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday are shared with CIMA’s Make It Music.
