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Our Lady Peace Named 2023 Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors

The 16th annual celebration of the culture of independent record stores is set to take place on April 22–and Our Lady Peace is officially named as this year’s Record Store Day Canada (RS

Our Lady Peace Named 2023 Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors

By FYI Staff

The 16th annual celebration of the culture of independent record stores is set to take place on April 22–and Our Lady Peace is officially named as this year’s Record Store Day Canada (RSDC) ambassador with a band-approved career-spanning 2-disc, 20-track vinyl compilation entitled Collected 1994-2022 set for release. Included with the collection are two previously unreleased tracks.


Past Canadian ambassadors have included Triumph, The Sheepdogs, and on the global stage Taylor Swift served as last year’s recording artist.

RSD was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and market the unique culture surrounding the then nearly 1400 independently-owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. This year, roughly 240 stores continue selling vinyl, CDs and collector paraphernalia, and many of these will participate in the marketing campaign that brings with it a great number of unique, one-off vinyl offerings proffered by enthused acts and participating record companies.

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Sponsors of this year’s event include GrooveWasher, Audio-Technica Canada, Paranoid Print Co., Microforum Pressing, Vans Off The Wall, AMS All Media Supply, Brave Words, Sony Music Entertainment Canada, The Orchard Canada, Warner Music Canada, Universal Music Canada, Return To Analog Records, Org Music, IDLA, Megaforce Records, Unidisc Music, Aquarius Records, Tacca Musique, and Redeye Distribution.

“So many Canadians have had the great pleasure of growing up with the music of Our Lady Peace,” says Ryan Kerr from Record Store Day Canada.  “As one of Canada’s most successful alt-rock bands, they bring a unique perspective on the importance of supporting independent record stores.  They are a fan favourite, and I know everyone will join me in congratulating them on the new vinyl collection."

“We’ve been big fans of Record Store Day since its inception,” adds OLP frontman Raine Maida and “it’s an honour to be (this year’s) ambassadors.”

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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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