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FYI

The FYI Bulletin: March 16, 2023

CARAS and the CBC have announced a renewed five-year partnersh

The FYI Bulletin: March 16, 2023

By David Farrell

CARAS and the CBC have announced a renewed five-year partnership that begins next year with the 2024 Juno Awards in Halifax.


“We’re excited and proud to renew our partnership with the dedicated and collaborative team at CARAS. With this extension, we will deepen our shared commitment to nurture and showcase the very best musical talent from across Canada, including new and emerging voices,” said Barbara Williams, EVP, CBC. CARAS President & CEO shared: ““For the past six years, our two organizations have had a common vision and shared values and we can’t wait to see where the next five years take us.”

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– Terri Clark, Trooper, Diane Dufresne and Oliver Jones are being inducted into the Music Hall of Fame in Calgary’s National Music Centre on May 18th. The inductees were announced during the March 13 Juno Awards streamed live from Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Ontario Creates is promoting itself at SXSW 2023 by partnering with Ontario tech company ARHT Media to create an interactive holographic “Capsule” experience to showcase the potential for music/tech collaborations and applications, and to highlight the talent in Ontario. The interactive holographic Capsule experience is located at Canada House (a branded business and event space designed to highlight and showcase Canadian talent).

Propel Studios is a new full-production recording studio in the BC Kootenays region offering a menu of options, including accommodations. Chyvonne Lynch is GM.  

– The IFPI Global Music Report 2023 is to be announced on Tuesday, March 21.

– Diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome several months ago and posting to Instagram that she needed to cancel the rest of her world tour due to the rare neurological condition that causes muscle spasms, Celine Dion is said to be winding down her day-to-day business operations and laying off staff.  This follows a 40-year career in the international spotlight. While a difficult syndrome to overcome, there is hope for a recovery and a comeback. For one, this column wishes her the very best on this painful journey.

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– In the 1218th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike (Boon) chats with promoter and publicist Richard Flohil about working with BB King, The Downchild Blues Band, Miles Davis, kd lang, Alice Cooper, Crash Test Dummies, Justin Rutledge and a history book of other artists. Banjo Dunc co-hosts! To listen to the hour-plus show, link here.

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Executive of the Week: Justin West of Secret City Records on the Secrets of Independent Music Success​
FYI

Executive of the Week: Justin West of Secret City Records on the Secrets of Independent Music Success​

The man behind one of Canada's most successful indie labels talks about the late-blooming success of French-language streaming record-holder Patrick Watson, why he builds long-term relationships with artists, and why it's important for the indie sector to work together.

Justin West is a leader and advocate in Canada’s independent music scene, but he didn’t plan it out that way. When he started his record label Secret City Records in Montreal in the mid-2000s, it was out of necessity. He had met an artist he loved and wanted to build a career with, and the label was a means to do it. That artist was Patrick Watson, and 20 years later he — and Secret City — are more successful than ever.

West — a multiple time Billboard Canada Power Player – leads one of the biggest indie labels in Canada while also advocating for the sector on multiple boards both locally and internationally. When we speak to him for this Executive of the Week interview, he’s just returned from Banff for the National Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Culture, and is a central figure in discussions around the Online Streaming Act and collective negotiations with online streaming platforms.

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