Music News Digest: CMRRA Celebrates 50th Anniversary, Cadence Weapon Joins Jason Collett's Basement Revue

Lasting 50 years in the volatile music industry is a milestone worth celebrating. Canadian reproduction rights agency CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency) did exactly that last week by throwing a lavish anniversary cocktail party in its downtown Toronto offices.

President Paul Shaver and his large staff greeted a who's-who of Canadian music publishers, the agency's core clients, plus other notable industry figures and supporters. Publishers seen there included Jodie Ferneyhough (CCS Rights Management), Peermusic's Neville Quinlan and Cheryl Link, Tony Tobias, Mark Altman (Morning Music), Vince DeGiorgio, Quebec publishing legend Diane Pinet, Frank Davies (the founder of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and a longtime CMRRA luminary) and more.

Other music business luminaries in attendance included Music Publishers Canada CEO Margaret McGuffin, SOCAN CEO Jennifer Brown, Slaight Music's Jim Campbell, former CMRRA President & CEO David Basskin, Warner Music Canada veteran Steve Coady, Broken Social Scene's Brendan Canning, songwriter Stan Meissner and Canada's Music Incubator co-founder Vel Omazic.

Check out a photo above.

CMRRA's Elyssa Macri and Andrea England were honoured last week as part of Billboard Canada Women in Music 2025.

Awards News

The YYC Music Awards, presented by Craig Senyk Initiatives and honouring Calgary's music community, were held recently at the Grey Eagle. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, they presented 29 awards, making it the biggest year yet. Award highlights include the announcement of the Hit Makers Hall of Fame which welcomed Al Muirhead, MCC Recording Studio and The Royal Foundry as its inaugural inductees.

The Royal Foundry also topped the winners list, with three awards. Other notable victors included ZENON, Robert Adam, Drew Gregory, Ashley Ghostkeeper and Marcus Trummer. See the full winners list here.

– The 2025 Music Nova Scotia Music & Industry Awards Brunch is set for Sunday, October 26, at the Rodd Grand Yarmouth (the ceremony will begin at 10:30 am). This year’s event will present awards in 23 music and eight industry categories. The ceremony will be hosted by Katie Kelly, and will feature performances by Adina, Baby Nova, Morgan Toney, Kxng Wooz and Mo Kenney.

Limited awards brunch tickets are on sale here. A separate ticket is required from delegate passes and festival wristbands.

Industry News

Music PEI Week 2026 has announced its dates, Feb. 28 – March 7. This celebration of the Island’s music industry will feature nominee showcases, industry events and more, culminating in the awards gala on March 7th. Submissions (here) for the 2026 Music PEI Awards will close on Oct. 13. New this year, all awards application fees have been removed to make the process more accessible.

– After a date change, CIMA’s Annual General Meeting will now be held virtually on Oct 22 at 3 pm ETTime. Members will review the past year’s highlights, elect new board members, and hear about upcoming initiatives shaping Canada’s independent music sector. Register here.

Artists News

Now preparing its 17th edition, Jason Collett's annual Basement Revue is a highlight of the winter holiday season. Described as "a half music, half literary variety show," it will be held this year at the Paradise Theatre on Bloor. Hip-hop artist/author Cadence Weapon, this year's guest curator, will host on Dec. 11, with other shows taking place Dec. 4, 18, 23 and 30. The Basement Revue is hosted and curated by singer/songwriter Collett (Broken Social Scene) and author/poet Emma Healey, and the list of guest performers is kept secret until the night of the show. Musical and literary stars who have appeared previously include Feist, the Sadies, Margaret Atwood, Sheila Heti and Michael Ondaatje. Tickets on sale here.

– Legendary Canadian composer, singer, and transgender activist Beverly Glenn-Copeland has just announced his new studio album, Laughter In Summer, will come out February 6, 2026, via Transgressive. The album is a collaborative work with eco-poet, theatre actor and producer Elizabeth Copeland, and news of the release is accompanied by a new double single “Children’s Anthem” / “Let Us Dance (Movement One)." Last year, Glenn-Copeland announced he was living with dementia, but was experiencing a "massive creative renewal."

Laughter In Summer follows Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s acclaimed 2023 record The Ones Ahead, as well as the 2024 collaboration with star singer Sam Smith on a new recording of his classic song “Ever New” for the Red Hot Org Transa compilation record. Smith will honour Glenn-Copeland at the Pink Triangle Press Awards in Toronto on Nov. 6.

The Copelands are currently on tour in the U.K. and Europe followed by Dec. and Jan. concerts in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Details here.

– Singer-songwriter NLX (Natasha Alexandra) returns to Hamilton, Ontario from her current New York City base for a show at Selo Cafe & Wine Bar on Oct. 14. She shares the bill with Danny Greaves, frontman of The Watchmen, who performs solo here. Event and ticket information here. NLX informs Billboard Canada that she is currently working on an album for her new duo project, THE 456, entitled Life On The Head Of A Pin and set for an Oct. 31 release. Her collaborator is renowned New York music veteran David Wolfert and the project is named for the 456 miles from his home studio in New York City to Alexander’s hometown of Hamilton. Here is an advance single.

– Toronto jazz impresario Jaymz Bee's popular Music For Secret Agents recording and shows feature jazz versions of James Bond theme classics. Two upcoming shows are at Flato Markham Theatre on Oct. 14 and the Cotton Factory in Hamilton on Oct. 17. The A-list singers who will perform include Irene Torres, John Finley, Gavin Hope (The Nylons), Kyree Vibrant, Simone Denny (Love Inc.) and Serafin LaRiviere, with a stellar band comprising Michael Shand on piano/keys, Eric St-Laurent on guitar, Ben Whitman on drums, George Koller on bass, Alison Young on saxes and Bill McBirnie on flute). Tickets and details here.