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FYI

Stephen Stanley Sees Hope In Initiatives Like Music City

I'm an optimist though, so I hope that through initiatives like Music City, there will be a new focus on the importance of the small music venue as a building block for a vibrant music and cultural scene. Songwriters, bands, artists... they don't just fall out of the sky into Massey Hall, they need lots of places to grow.

Stephen Stanley Sees Hope In Initiatives Like Music City

By External Source

I think the current state of the bar scene is fact more than opinion. It's difficult, likely too difficult. You try and run a small room where your only revenue stream is alcohol, and that's a tough go.


You may get a nice full room on the weekend, but you need full rooms throughout the week to make up for the city's radical rise in storefront rentals, and the trend seems to be that people are drinking less. Then add in laws that allow one angry person who moves into your neighbourhood and decides that your venue is too noisy, to tie you up with court and other legal fees for years. You have a recipe for throwing in the towel. This has happened to more than one barkeep that I know.

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I'm an optimist though, so I hope that through initiatives like Music City, there will be a new focus on the importance of the small music venue as a building block for a vibrant music and cultural scene. Songwriters, bands, artists... they don't just fall out of the sky into Massey Hall, they need lots of places to grow.

– Stephen Stanley, in an interview with Jason Schneider, as published in FYIMusicNews

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Cameron Whitcomb
Courtesy Photo

Cameron Whitcomb

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Cameron Whitcomb, Josh Ross Top 2025 Canadian Country Music Awards Nominations

Other CanCountry stars figuring prominently on the nominations list include Owen Riegling, Brett Kissel, Jade Eagleson and Madeline Merlo. The CCMA Awards will be held in Kelowna on Sept. 13.

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The nominees for the 2025 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) have been announced by the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA). Ross and fast-rising 22-year-old B.C. artist Whitcomb lead this list with six nominations each. Last year, Ross won five CCMA Awards, including entertainer of the year. Whitcomb, meanwhile, has been steadily charting on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and Canadian Airplay charts over the last year.

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