October 20, 2022

SaskMusic's Latest
 

ED

Executive Director Mike Dawson Departs SaskMusic

After eight years of exceptional leadership, SaskMusic said goodbye to current Executive Director, Mike Dawson, on October 15th, 2022. Mike has accepted the position of Executive Director at the Western Canadian Music Alliance/BreakOut West and, while we are sad to see him go, we are also thrilled to congratulate Mike on this wonderful new opportunity.

Mike has long been a staunch supporter of the Saskatchewan music industry and has been a leader in innovation and advocacy throughout his time at SaskMusic. We especially thank him for his leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped to ensure the ongoing health of our organization.

The SaskMusic Board of Directors will begin the search for a new Executive Director within the next few weeks. In the meantime, we are happy to announce that Lorena Kelly has accepted the role of Interim Executive Director. Lorena is currently SaskMusic’s Communications & Operations Manager. She has an extensive knowledge of the organization and a wide breadth of industry experience including programming, event management, economic studies, and marketing initiatives. We are excited to welcome Lorena to this new role and thank her for her help during this transition period.

"Having the opportunity to work with SaskMusic over the last seven and a half years has been such an incredible experience. It’s such an inspiring team to be a part of and I think that together we accomplished some great things," noted Mike Dawson. "Lorena is a proven leader. She has profound organization and industry knowledge, and I’m continually amazed by her work ethic. As I move on to Breakout West I look forward to following along with the continued growth and success of the organization under her direction as Interim Executive Director."

  
 

SMA

Join us for the Nominee Announcement, 2022 Saskatchewan Music Awards

SaskMusic will announce the nominees of the 2022 Saskatchewan Music Awards at 11:00am SK time, Thursday October 27/2022 via our social media, www.facebook.com/SaskMusic1/ and www.youtube.com/saskmusic.

The announcement will reveal nominees in numerous artistic and industry categories.

The awards are intended to honour excellence and celebrate the achievements of our Saskatchewan music industry members over the past year. The 2022 awards event will take place at Darke Hall in Regina on Sunday, December 11/22. Information on tickets, and registration for the Very Prairie Music Summit being held in conjunction with the awards, will also be announced. Very Prairie is an educational event for the Saskatchewan music industry, being held in Regina December 8-11/2022. Please follow SaskMusic’s social media accounts and www.saskmusicawards.com for updates.

SaskMusic sincerely thanks Creative Saskatchewan and FACTOR (The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings) for their support of these events.

  
 

BOW

Western Canadian Music Awards and Breakout West

SaskMusic was in Calgary alongside many SK artists to celebrate the 20th anniversary Western Canadian Music Awards and BreakOut West.

Congratulations to 2022 SK winners:

Francophone Artist of the Year – Étienne Fletcher
Spiritual Artist of the Year – Elenee
Global Artist of the Year – Andino Suns
BreakOut Artist of the Year – The Garrys
Video Director of the Year - Amy Mantyka for Megan Nash, Chew Quietly / Clean Slate

Artistic winners were announced on September 23 via a livestreamed broadcast. You can watch the saved broadcast here: www.facebook.com/breakoutwest/videos/621679252800425
 
Industry winners were revealed on Saturday, October 1 at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre. A full list of 2022 WCMAward nominees, in both the artistic and industry categories, can be found here: breakoutwest.ca/awards

Great job from all our showcasing artists - Amy Nelson, Gunner & Smith, Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys, Marissa Burwell, Megan Nash, The North Sound, and TOVA.

  
 

Very Prairie

Very Prairie: Saskatchewan Music Summit Save the Date!

The Very Prairie: Saskatchewan Music Summit is back! Taking place December 8-11/22 for the first time in Regina, SK! We wanted to share some preliminary details with you, so you can plan to join us! This year we'll be kicking things off with a concert on the evening of Thursday, December 8. Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10 will see two full days of conference panels, workshops, one on ones and networking opportunities followed by concerts in the evening. We'll wrap the weekend on Sunday, December 11 with a brunch panel to close out Very Prairie and celebrate the Saskatchewan Music Awards that evening. 

The Hotel Saskatchewan is playing host to delegates and artists all weekend and bookings are currently open for the SaskMusic block at a room rate of $165/night. Please use the following link to book now > https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1663781739632&key=GRP&app=resvlink

More details coming soon! VeryPrairie.ca

  
 

Saskatchewan's Katie Tupper selected for JUNO Master Class 

The list of artists selected for the eighth annual Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class, in partnership with Slaight Music, has been announced.

Three artists will join Chad Price (admitted into the Master Class as the 2022 winner of CBC Music's Toyota Searchlight) to receive crucial tools to help them become “JUNO ready."

Anna Sofia, Toronto ON
Aysanabee, Sandy Lake First Nation ON
Chad Price, ​London ON
Katie Tupper, Saskatoon SK

The artists will participate in a customized mentorship week in Toronto ON, October 24-28/2022 in collaboration with Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI). This year’s program will provide mentorship opportunities 'to help artists succeed in today’s climate.' Additionally, participants will receive an all-inclusive trip to attend JUNO Week and the 52nd annual JUNO Awards in Edmonton AB in March 2023, where one artist will be invited to perform at the JUNO Opening Night Awards for the Canadian music industry.

Read More

  
 

junos

JUNO Submissions Now Open! Deadline Oct. 28/22

Submissions for the 2023 JUNO Awards are open! Final deadline is Oct. 28, 2022 11:59pm ET. Details & submit: https://junosubmissions.ca/en

Financial support is available to help you apply! The TD JUNOS Submissions Access Program was created by CARAS to support independent Canadian artists, from underrepresented communities, to help cover the cost of submission fees for the 2023 JUNO Awards in up to five JUNO Award Categories. Approved applicants will have their submission fees waived. New this year, successful TD JUNOS Submissions Access Program applicants who become JUNO Award nominees are eligible to receive $1500 CAD from TD, to help offset expenses associated with traveling to and attending The 2023 JUNO Awards. For more information and to apply click here.

For those who don't qualify for the above program, SaskMusic will help by reimbursing members' cost of submissions! Check out our bursary program here https://saskmusic.wufoo.com/forms/m1qb82e00as2363/ and get those JUNO nominations in!

  
 

CS

Creative Saskatchewan's Music Video Production Grant

This grant supports emerging Saskatchewan filmmakers with the production of a music video for a Saskatchewan musician at any stage of their career.

Filmmakers will be paired with a mentor throughout the music video production process, and both parties will participate in professional development workshops. 

More info

  
 

Gigs

Regina Retail Location Seeking Musicians

Retail location is looking to book folk, singer-songwriters, and coffee house style/genre musicians for performance nights in store in Regina. Wednesday evenings, two sets. Probable start time will be between 4-4:30 and end at around 7, 7:30pm. This is a paid engagement which will be marketed by the booker. Looking for musicians local to the Regina area or musicians traveling through. Please no minors, and only solos and duos. Please email jacob@mcwilliampowell.com for inquiries and include your artist, bio, social links, contact information, etc.

  
 

earshot

50% off !earshot-Distro For SaskMusic Members

SaskMusic members can access a 50% off discount code to the !earshot Digital Distribution System, now through December 31!

To access the code and how-tos, login to your SaskMusic account (www.saskmusic.org/login) and visit the Member Resources section of your Backstage area.

!earshot-Distro is an online platform allowing the Canadian music industry to upload musical recordings to be searched, reviewed, and downloaded by campus and community radio stations across Canada. It saves on the cost of mailing out CDs and the hassle of sending unsolicited emails with large attachments. You can upload your new releases and your whole back catalogue for programmers to access, including all the necessary details that they need.

The regular price of uploading into the system is $7/song or $50/Album (8-20 songs) Canadian +tax, and that is a one-time fee.

 

Workshops
 

New workshops and webinars are being added at www.saskmusic.org/workshops!

  

SaskMusic's Latest
 

new colossus

Showcase Opportunity: The New Colossus Festival 2023

We will be presenting artists at this New York showcase festival. Artists accepted into New Colossus will be supported on the ground by SaskMusic and may be able to access funding support from Creative Sask and FACTOR. If you're export-ready and interested in applying, we encourage you to contact Kaelen in our office first to discuss the opportunity and its potential for you.

More info

  
 

TGE

Showcase Opportunity : Canada House at The Great Escape 2023

SaskMusic will once again be co-presenting artists at this U.K. showcase festival. Artists accepted into TGE will be supported on the ground by SaskMusic and may be able to access funding support from Creative Sask and FACTOR. If you're export-ready and interested in applying, we encourage you to contact Kaelen in our office first to discuss the opportunity and its potential for you.

More info

  
 

Award & Grant Opportunity: The Black Canadian Music Awards 

The Black Canadian Music Awards are made possible through a joint partnership with SiriusXM Canada and SOCAN Foundation. This award is designed to celebrate extraordinary Black music creators that are Canadian.

Submissions to the talent competition can be from all genres of music, such as folk, blues, rock, hip-hop, R&B, etc. Candidates must be Canadian citizens, identify as Black, and the original creators of the musical submission. In the case of a collective, all music creators must meet the eligibility criteria.

Up to five awards valued at up to $5,000 each will be granted to the finalists. All submissions will be reviewed by a jury composed of Black artists/industry leaders in the Canadian music industry.

What is Black Music? It is music created, produced, or inspired by Black people, people of African descent, including African music traditions and African popular music as well as the music genres of the African diaspora, including Afro-Caribbean music, Afro-Latino music, Afro-Brazilian music and African American music.

More info

  
 

National Music Centre Announces Call for Applications for 2023 OHSOTO'KINO Recording Bursary for Indigenous Artists

Blackfoot phrase, meaning ‘to recognize a voice of;’ the title OHSOTO’KINO acknowledges the Blackfoot people and the territory on which Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, resides. With support from TD, OHSOTO’KINO initiative creates opportunities for Canadian Indigenous artist to produce new music and develop their skills, and amplifies the stories of Indigenous musicians and their contributions to Canadian culture.

A new national call for applications for the National Music Centre's 2023 OHSOTO'KINO Recording Bursary has been announced. First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists from communities across Canada are encouraged to apply.

The OHSOTO'KINO Recording Bursary provides two opportunities per year (one for contemporary music, one for traditional genres) for Indigenous artists to create a commercial recording (LP or EP) inside National Music Centre's world-class recording facility in Calgary, Alberta. The program provides access to recording studios and a "living collection" of musical instruments, spanning 450 years of technical innovation.

Interested in using history to make history? Apply at studiobell.ca/ohsotokino by October 27, 2022 at 11:59 pm MT.

More info

  
 

NXNE

SHOWCASE OPPORTUNITY: NXNE 2023 in Toronto

5 days — and nights — of live music. Over 200 bands and performers. 18 of Toronto’s best clubs. Hundreds of gigs!

The festival returns to its roots, embracing its initial concept — developed with our partners at SXSW — to create a discovery music festival where emerging artists are valued and presented under optimum conditions at tightly run shows in Toronto’s best live music venues. All acts presented at an affordable price with clear showtimes to encourage audiences to club hop and discover new artists. We sold more full festival passes than ever, meaning the majority of NXNE attendees went to multiple venues, often over multiple days.

NXNE remains committed to being an accessible festival with few financial barriers to perform or attend. They are also committed to diversity and gender equity in selecting NXNE artists and hope audiences feel their lineup reflected this. NXNE will continue our efforts to be a welcoming festival for all marginalized communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQ.

More info

  
 

podcast school

The NCRA/ANREC is bringing the Podcast School back! From October 18th to Nov. 24th, twice a week for 6 weeks learn all things podcasts! Visit https://podcast.ncra.ca and register today, read more about the courses and presenters.

  
 

EDUCATION & MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITY

 Applications are now open for the 2022 Women In Music Canada Entrepreneur Accelerator Program. The program runs online between Nov through mid-Dec 2022. Deadline to apply is Oct 24. 

More info

  
 

Jurors

Call for SaskMusic Jurors!

Would you like to participate in future SaskMusic juries? 

Selection for any given jury (which might include showcase events/opportunities; awards; or other) will be dependent on the number of people interested, a pool drawn from local and national industry members, our desire to achieve a jury representative of our music community, and the experience you indicate.

Sign up at: https://saskmusic.wufoo.com/forms/saskmusic-juror-signup-2021/

  
 

Features

Featured Singles/Videos: https://saskmusic.wufoo.com/forms/p1b5aft60baybgl/

Submit Albums/News: https://saskmusic.wufoo.com/forms/p1j5txnh11l7bht/

Have you recently released or will soon be releasing an official single, music video, or album, in any genre? Have some exciting music news to share? We want to know what you've got going on! Even if we follow your socials, we (and media outlets) don't see, or catch everything you post about. Please let us know your release date and/or other activities. Just follow the links above!

  
 

directory

Musician Seeking Gigs?

The Saskatchewan Music Directory provides listings of freelance players available for live shows and studio recordings, and is our main referral point to those who call looking to hire musicians/singers. We want to know about you! Visit www.saskmusic.org to login to your existing account, or to join (free 'subscriber' option available) and add your listings. (Sask-based players only.)

The more information the better! Remember to include your specific instrument, styles you specialize in/techniques (ie fingerstyle, rhythm, lead), location, description of experience, and links to videos/examples if available for best results. You can create multiple listings with different descriptions if you play multiple instruments! Think about what people would want to know before reaching out to a player, and include that information in your entry.

  

SaskMusic's Latest
 

Got gigs? Whether they're streaming concerts or live shows as things begin to open up - pls send your show details to gigs@saskmusic.org so we can add them to our calendar!

  
   
 
 

Phone: 306-347-0676. Toll-Free in Sask: 1-800-347-0676.
Email: info@saskmusic.org
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