Music News Digest: A Plea to Mark Carney to Protect Canadian Music and Culture, Oak View Group Makes Another Move

The votes were still being tallied in the federal action on Monday morning (April 29) when the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) sprang into action. The trade org issued a press release congratulating Mark Carney and the Liberal Party of Canada on their electoral victory while urging Carney to, in its words, "make the investment in and promotion of Canadian-owned cultural businesses a top priority."

The statement stressed that "The global cultural economy is changing rapidly, and with it come significant risks to Canada’s cultural and economic sovereignty. Recent developments — including TikTok’s decision to walk away from licensing negotiations with Merlin, a key representative of independent music worldwide; Universal Music Group’s acquisition of Downtown Music’s assets; and the legal challenge by global tech platforms, in partnership with foreign-owned multinational record companies, to avoid regulation under Bill C-11 — starkly illustrate the growing concentration of global corporate power in Canada’s cultural sector. If left unchecked, these trends threaten to erode Canadian ownership of intellectual property, diminish our global competitiveness, and compromise the future of Canadian cultural exports."

CIMA emphasizes four priorities for the most industry and suggests the government act quickly:

• Prioritize Canadian ownership in cultural policy and investment frameworks;
• Strengthen competition, trade, and copyright policies to protect Canadian IP holders;
• Champion independent Canadian businesses in international markets;
• Defend Canada’s right to regulate its cultural industries against multinational corporate resistance.

CIMA concluded by noting "We are eager to work with your government to secure a strong future for Canadian culture — Canadian culture remains Canadian-owned, Canadian-created, and world-renowned."

– Oak View Group is undergoing another big project in Canada.

The City of Oshawa has announced 30-year partnerships with the Oshawa Generals Hockey Club and Oak View Group. The news included the City’s $50 million investment to modernize the Tribute Communities Centre (TCC), with enhancements including a new prime location for the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame.

This agreement ensures that the Oshawa Generals will remain in the Ontario city for another three decades. As operators of the city-owned TCC, Oak View Group is also extending its agreement for management and food and beverage services for 30 years, as well as investing $1 million in facility infrastructure.

An international live event venue development and management company, Oak View Group has managed the TCC since 2008. As well as being the home of the Generals, the multi-purpose venue with a capacity of up to 7,600 has welcomed more than seven million guests and hosted shows including Elton John, Bryan Adams, The Tragically Hip and Jerry Seinfeld and events such as the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

Oak View Group is currently in the middle of a $290 million upgrade of the Hamilton arena formerly known as FirstOntario Centre and Copps Coliseum into its flagship Canadian venue. Read more on that project in Billboard Canada's behind the scenes walkthrough.

Festivals News

On June 28 and 29, Line Spike Frontenac 2025 takes place at Frontenac County, at 3587 Harrowsmith Rd, Harrowsmith, Ontario. The pre-Canada Day event features an all-Canadian lineup that is a mix of popular veterans and emerging stars. That list is headed by Burton Cummings, Chantal Kreviazuk, Alan Frew and Walk Off The Earth, and also features Kelsi Mayne, Madison Galloway, KASADOR, Luscious and Tom Green. Early bird tickets now onsale here.

– Toronto has a brand-new jazz festival, JazzInToronto Community Celebration. It will take place May 30, 31 and June 1 in multiple downtown venues and is produced by musicians Lina Welch and Ori Dagan, who collectively run the non-profit org Jazz In Toronto. The lineup is stylistically diverse, from swing and bebop to soul and R&B, rising stars to veteran virtuosos, in both free and ticketed concerts. Notable names featured include Trombone Charlotte, Lady Son, the Ona Ensemble, Roger Scannura, Michael Shand (leading a tribute to Stevie Wonder), Mark Eisenman, Alex Samaras (doing Judy Garland) and 5x Juno winner Jane Bunnett with Marilyn Lerner. Tickets for the festival can be purchased here.

Industry News

Chor Leoni’s upcoming annual community choral festival, The Big Roar, is set to be held on May 3, at the Chan Centre in Vancouver. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, it features more than 250 singers across Chor Leoni's five diverse choirs. The org recently received a $25,000 sponsorship gift from TD Bank Group, which enables Chor Leoni to offer $5 TD Community Roar Tickets. More info here.

– Presented by CMI (Canada's Music Incubator), The Artist Entrepreneur program is designed to help artists and bands of all genres build their businesses and create more sustainable careers. The next series of sessions with industry experts in many facets of the biz runs Aug. 5 to Sept. 12, with an application deadline of June 8. Apply here.

– Toronto-based label Ishkōdé Records has announced the signing of Keith Secola, a legendary artist and member of the Native American Music Hall of Fame, and the first non-Canadian artist on the label's roster. The Indigenous artists-focused label is now the home of a new version of Secola’s drum and chant driven hit, “NDN Kars,” featured in the season finale of AMC’s hit thriller Dark Winds. The original version of Secola's best-known song was first released in 1992.

Artists News

Toronto punk band PUP are already going on a six-venue tour of their hometown, but they've added one more off-the-beaten path date to the celebration of their upcoming album Who Will Look After The Dogs?(out this Friday, May 2, on Little Dipper / Rise Records). They have a new song "Olive Garden," and will celebrate the family favourite American chain with a special album listening party and short set at Blood Brothers Brewing on May 1. There will be Olive Garden style decor and food from Matty Matheson's Rizzo's House of Parm. RSVP here.

– “Louisiana Checkbook” is the lead-off English track from JP LeBlanc’s new album All In My Blood--Je l’ai dans le sang, out in July on the Acadian Connection label. The swamp-rock cut features an all-star cast that includes producer Colin Linden, New Orleans drummer George Recile, Canadian bassist John Dymond (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings) and Cajun music legend Steve Riley (the Mamou Playboys on accordion. Of note: All the songs on the album are co-written by noted veteran Toronto music journalist Larry LeBlanc (no relation).

– Veteran Toronto folk-roots singer-songwriter Tyler Ellis is prepping his eighth album to date, Down by the Don, for a June release. It is preceded by a brand new single, "100 Proof," a song that has already grabbed attention via a cover by award-winning roots artist Julian Taylor. Included on Taylor's Juno-nominated Beyond the Reservoir album, the song was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Single of the Year in 2023, and has received more than one million streams. More info on Ellis's website.

– On May 6, acclaimed Toronto soul singer John Finley hosts a 80th Birthday Concert & Celebration event at Lula Lounge in Toronto. Expect two sets of soul, jazz and blues delivered by Finley and an A-list grouping of local players, The Soul City All Star Orkestra. Tickets here.