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Politics
Canadian Live Music Association's Erin Benjamin Calls Music a 'Cornerstone of our Cultural Identity' in New Open Letter
Ahead of the federal election on April 28, Benjamin emphasizes the importance of Canadian music amidst "growing uncertainty and instability" in Canada. She also encourages readers to write to their federal candidates about the future of live music.
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Canadian music is good for more than just the economy — it's central to our national identity.
That's the crux of a new open letter written by Erin Benjamin, president and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association. The letter anticipates the Canadian federal election on April 28, advocating for elected officials to understand the cultural significance of music to the country.
The letter doesn't mention the U.S. President by name or refer explicitly to tariffs or talk of Canada as the "51st state," but it situates the country in a moment of national uncertainty, reflecting on what it means to live in Canada and what the country will look like going forward.
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Within that context, Benjamin writes, it's crucial that policymakers understand both the economic and cultural benefits of Canada's live music sector.
"In the face of today’s generational challenges, on the doorstep of our nation’s future, the time has come to fully integrate and interlace this formidable industry into the systems and policies that shape our society, for the benefit of all Canadians," Benjamin writes.
The letter cites CLMA's recent Hear and Nowstudy, the first-ever economic impact assessment of live music in Canada, which found that live music contributed $10.92 billion to Canada's GDP in 2023 and supported over 100,000 jobs. But music's impact can't just be measured monetarily.
"It’s central to our cultural fabric, shaping how we connect and define ourselves as Canadian. As we face growing uncertainty and instability — we risk losing not just critical economic opportunities but the very essence of our national identity," Benjamin writes.
"Who are we if our artists can't continue to create and perform due to financial pressures brought on by the cost of touring, access to performance opportunities, and shrinking resources and supports? What happens to our sense of community, our shared experiences, if we lose our cultural infrastructure… the venues, festivals, and spaces that live music provides?"
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Benjamin's letter is part of a broader conversation happening amidst a swell in national pride, in the face of threats from the U.S. The music industry has tapped into that pride, which was on display at the 2025 Junos.
Beyond hockey slogans and beer ads, Canadian cultural leaders are emphasizing the importance of the arts and culture sector in maintaining Canadian sovereignty.
"Canada’s arts, culture, and heritage had a direct impact on GDP of almost $61 billion in 2023. There were 645,900 full-time and part-time jobs," writes Ana Serrano, OCAD University President, in a recent Toronto Star op-ed.
"These industries are both economic and civic engines. They help build community resilience, promote global recognition, and reflect Canada’s diversity back to itself."
Musicologist Rosheeka Parahoo is explicit about the role Canadian music can play in identity-building. "The need to define, refine and reassert what it means to be Canadian has never been stronger," she writes inThe Conversation.
She looks back at conversations in the '60s and '70s about British and American music dominating Canadian radio, which led to the establishment of the CRTC and Canadian content rules that have helped foster careers for homegrown talent. In the current moment, she warns, arts funding is shrinking, making it harder for local and regional stories to be told.
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"Now is the moment to invest in the arts and Canadian music industry, not just to preserve its past, but to ensure we continue telling bold, complex and uniquely Canadian stories," Parahoo concludes.
Cultural nationalism can also have its pitfalls, when considering who has been historically excluded from the definition of 'Canadian,' and how that identity has been used to legitimize colonial violence. Anishinaabe scholar Riley Yesno wrote about the concerning experience of noticing nationalism on the rise in the Toronto Star.
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"It’s not that I think most Indigenous people would be pro-Trump by any means. It is more that, from this position, it is a lot to live in this patriotic moment — to be asked to embrace one celebrated colonial power for fear of another."
Beyond a broader nationalist purpose, investing in Canadian music also means supporting local artists, venues and festivals, giving emerging talent the chance to rise and communities the opportunity to gather at events.
"The story of live music matters to Canadians — our cherished artists, and our data, are evidence of that," Benjamin concludes.
Her note ends with a call to action, asking supporters to send a letter to electoral candidates calling on them to leverage live music for Canada's future. That call includes policy actions like investing in the Canada Music Fund; creating a new program dedicated to growing Canadian festivals; and allocating 1% of overall spending to arts and culture.
Read the full letter here.
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