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FYI

Prism Prize Video: Arkells - People's Champ

Tonight (May 13), the biggest prize for Canadian music videos will be handed out in Toronto. We are profiling some of the Top 20 nominees before the big night, including this clip from the pride of Hamilton. Slaight Music is Patron Sponsor for the Prism Prize.

Prism Prize Video: Arkells - People's Champ

By External Source

Tonight (May 13), the biggest prize for Canadian music videos will be handed out in Toronto. We are profiling some of the Top 20 nominees before the big night, including this clip from the pride of Hamilton. Slaight Music is Patron Sponsor for the Prism Prize.


Arkells - People’s Champ

The video for People’s Champ proved to be somewhat therapeutic for Arkells. The band was naturally disturbed and disappointed by the recent political landscape in the US, and the song, while energetic and lively, acts as an indictment of politicians such as Donald Trump. While the lyrics are rooted in anger and frustration, the band felt it necessary to counter that natural reaction with a bit of levity for the music video.

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Cue in: Hamilton, Ontario - their hometown, which serves as the perfect background for the song’s visual. The band teamed up with renowned director Matt Barnes to revel in celebratory nostalgia while exploring the old haunts - including Grandad’s Donuts and Martin’s Bowling Alley - where they spent their time growing up and also features familiar Hamiltonian faces. And just what was the purpose behind the video? Celebrate the joy in everyday, mundane things. What the band offers up is a full-on town-wide party, meant to help dance the blues away - mission accomplished.


Credits:

Director: Matt Barnes

Producer: Natalie D'Urbano

DOP: John Ker

 

 

 
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Kristy Fletcher

Kristy Fletcher

Business

Kristy Fletcher On Supporting Canadian Music 'From Birth to Myth' at CARAS and MusiCounts: Interview

Amidst a record $1.4 million donation to support music education in Canadian schools, the president of MusiCounts and chief operating officer of CARAS will accept the Impact Award at Billboard Canada Women In Music 2026.

In her dual role as the president of MusiCounts and the chief operating officer of CARAS, the organization behind the Juno Awards and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Kristy Fletcher influences every stage of a Canadian musician's career.

Through music education charity MusiCounts, she's there at the beginning, providing access to instruments and musical education to give youth a chance to make music in the first place. At CARAS, she's able to foster and develop the industry and recognize artists at the Juno Awards. That continues all the way until the later stages of their career, when they become Hall of Famers.

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