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FYI

Erin Benjamin Named CEO Of Renamed Canadian Live Music Association.

Erin Benjamin Named CEO Of Renamed Canadian Live Music Association.

By FYI Staff


 

Canada’s national live music association, formerly known as Music Canada Live, is getting a new name and logo as we turn the calendar into 2019 and the 5th year of operations for this growing organization: The Canadian Live Music Association.

“This is an important milestone for our organization," said board chair Jesse Kumagai, “As Music Canada Live we were able to hit the ground running back in 2014 with great thanks to Music Canada for providing the support we needed to launch and grow as quickly as we did. Now, with over 200 members across the country and a clear mandate ahead of us, the time is right to establish our own distinct identity. Our new name and brand reflect who we are and will strengthen our ability to advocate on behalf of our sector and our amazing members, and deepen relationships our many valued partners.”

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In addition to the name change, Erin Benjamin – formerly the Executive Director, becomes the President & CEO (non-voting), a move acknowledging her role in setting the strategic direction of the organization in tandem with the board of directors.

She will continue its focus on demonstrating the exponential value of live music for government and industry alike.

“We have achieved a remarkable amount of success in a very short time,” said Benjamin, “because live music is more important than ever, especially to artists. Our sector...is anticipating tremendous growth by 2021 and a robust association means a healthy industry. We are helping to tell the story of live music in this country by championing the work of our members because when live music prospers, everybody benefits.”

The Canadian Live Music Association represents concert promoters, festivals, venues, clubs, arenas, performing arts centres, talent agencies, ticketing companies, other organizations and suppliers to live music from across Canada. 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.

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-- For more information, please contact Victoria Shepherd, Director of Operations, Canadian Live Music Association: vshepherd@canadianlivemusic.ca

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Ed Sheeran performs onstage at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York, New York.
John Nacion/Billboard

Ed Sheeran performs onstage at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York, New York.

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Ed Sheeran Addresses Controversy at First Show Since Openers, Backing Band Dropped Off Tour, Calls It ‘The Best Show of My Life’

Before his show in Philadelphia, Sheeran read a statement acknowledging the issue of Israel and Palestine, but still tried to keep things neutral.

Ed Sheeran needed to address the situation before he could start playing guitar. It wasn’t how he wanted to start his show, and he’s made it abundantly clear that the last thing he wants around him is controversy or, in his words, to be an “activist musician.”

But here he was, at the first show after his opener and friend Macklemore was kicked off the tour, following pressure by a group of venue owners led by Robert Kraft who took issue with Macklemore’s statement of support toward Palestine. That led to the rest of the tour’s openers and even Sheeran’s backing band for the tour dropping off the tour in solidarity with Macklemore — all of which became a huge news story and PR nightmare for the usually very un-controversial Sheeran. And though he had already made one highly scrutinized statement online while the news story was at its most potent, Sheeran felt the need to address the crowd at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night (Sept. 19) in person, before the show really started.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.

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