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Culture

A Sum 41 Exhibit Is Coming To Calgary's National Music Centre

The exhibit launches on March 26, ahead of the rock group's induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Sum 41 photographed by Lane Dorsey on Jan. 27, 2025 at Canada Life Place in London, Ontario. Left to right: Deryck Whibley, Frank Zummo, Tom Thacker, Jason "Cone" McCaslin, Dave "Brownsound" Baksh
Sum 41 photographed by Lane Dorsey on Jan. 27, 2025 at Canada Life Place in London, Ontario. Left to right: Deryck Whibley, Frank Zummo, Tom Thacker, Jason "Cone" McCaslin, Dave "Brownsound" Baksh

The National Music Centre is telling Sum 41's story.

A new exhibit about the iconic Canadian rockers will launch at the Centre's Studio Bell in Calgary on March 26. That comes just ahead of the group's final-ever performance at the 2025 Junos, which will mark their induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The band played their final shows in January, where Billboard Canada joined them for their final digital cover shoot and interview.


Co-presented by CARAS, the exhibit will shine a light on the Ajax, Ontario band, who burst onto the scene in the early 2000s leading a wave of Canadian pop-punk. It includes never-before-seen artifacts and rare memorabilia, like the VHS tape that helped them score their first record deal.

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"We've kept so many memories over the years – from tour footage and stage outfits to the VHS tape that kicked everything off," frontman Deryck Whibley says. "We can’t wait to see these pieces come together in one place, and we hope fans enjoy this look back as much as we’ve enjoyed the ride."

The band has been closing out that journey on a high, with the release of 2024's double album Heaven :x: Hell and a world tour, Tour of the Setting Sum. They've played some of their biggest-ever dates and notched two new No. 1's on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, setting a chart record in the process.

"We didn’t think we would chart on radio or even get played on a single station on this record,” Whibley told Billboard Canada. “It’s pretty phenomenal. It feels like a miracle.”

It's been an intense journey for Sum 41, from their start as scrappy high schoolers pulling pranks to their international breakthrough with "Fat Lip" and near-death experiences on the road.

"Sum 41’s influence stretches far beyond Canada,” says Andrew Mosker, president and CEO of the National Music Centre. “We’re excited to celebrate their legacy at NMC and give fans an up-close look at the band’s journey and rise as global rock icons.”

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The exhibit will run until February 2026, giving fans plenty of time to dive in deep.

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Canadian Music Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) Distributed $96 Million In Royalties to Publishers and Songwriters In 2024
Photo by Soundtrap on Unsplash
Publishing

Canadian Music Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) Distributed $96 Million In Royalties to Publishers and Songwriters In 2024

The music royalties agency, which is celebrating 50 years in 2025, saw a 23% increase in distributions from 2023, led by growth in streaming and TikTok.

One of Canada's leading royalty agencies saw a marked increase in 2024 distributions.

The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) distributed $96 million in royalties to publishers and self-published songwriters last year. That marks a 23% increase from 2023, with streaming leading the way in growth at 38%.

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