Manitoba Music and Canada Council Launch Third Edition of Market Builder Residency for Indigenous Artists and Industry in Toronto

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Vince Fontaine
Sebastian Gaskin
Riit
Renee Lamoureux
Mamarudegyal MTHC (Photo: Alistair Henning)
Kelly Fraser
Drezus
Celeigh Cardinal
Bebe Buckskin (Photo: Francis A Willey)
Alan Greyeyes (Photo: Indigo Arrows)

Export-Ready Music Entrepreneurs from Across Canada to Connect with Industry Leaders and Exceptional Creators, March 25-31

Manitoba Music and the Canada Council for the Arts are set to launch the third edition of the groundbreaking music business project, the Market Builder Residency for Indigenous Artists and Industry. Running March 25 –31, 2019 in Toronto through the Indigenous Music Development Program (IMDP) at Manitoba Music, Market Builder provides a unique opportunity for export-ready music entrepreneurs from across Canada to connect with industry leaders and exceptional creators.

Participants are export-ready artists and mid-career music companies gathering from across the country, selected by a jury of industry professionals: artist manager and festival director Alan Greyeyes (Ogichidaa Arts); rock n roll/blues/roots act Danielle Richard (Bebe Buckskin); soul/folk songstress Celeigh Cardinal; hip hop artist Jeremiah Manitopyes (Drezus); Inuk pop singer/songwriter Kelly Fraser; Diana Hellson (MamaRudeGyal MTHC); motivational pop/country artist Renée Lamoureux; songwriter, throat singer and accordion player Rita Mike-Murphy (Riit); songwriter/producer Sebastian Gaskin; and JUNO-winning musician/composer/producer Vince Fontaine (Rising Sun Productions, Eagle & Hawk, Indian City).

The Market Builder schedule will include one-on-one mentor meetings, panel discussions on key music business topics, and opportunities to network and build crucial business relationships. Participants will have the rare opportunity to connect with and learn from heavy hitters in Canada’s Toronto-based industry through mentor sessions and meetings. This year’s panelists and mentors include: Amy Eligh (Arts & Crafts), Emily Smart (Six Shooter Records), Evelyn Cream (FACTOR), Helen Britton (Six Shooter Records), Jeff Leake (Sirius XM), Kiana “rookz” Eastmond (Sandbox Studios), Marcelino DaCosta (Full Step Saga), Matt Maw (Six Shooter Records), Mikaila Simmons (Instinct Entertainment), Nathan Wiszniak (Spotify Canada), Nicole Rochefort (AIM: Artists In Motion), Rich Brisson (Cadence Music Group), Selena Mills (Roar Creative Consulting), ShoShona Kish (Digging Roots), Stefanie Purificati (APA Canada), Stephen Mcgrath (Massey Hall/Roy Thompson Hall), and Tyler Tasson (Endemic Marketing), and more.

Music industry activist and writer Brian Wright McLeod will help welcome the group to Toronto and start the week off in a good way.

Market Builder will host an open mic and mixer for artists that identify as Indigenous on March 26 at The Burdock, featuring project participants, panelists, and mentors, as well as Toronto-based artists. 

Market Builder is made possible through the partnership of the Canada Council for the Arts.

IMDP was launched in 2004 to help First Nation and Metis people and Inuit develop sustainable careers in the music industry. The program delivers projects and services that respond to the needs of the industry as identified by a steering committee. IMDP is supported by the Province of Manitoba and Manitoba Film & Music, and FACTOR through the financial support of the Government of Canada and Canada's private radio broadcasters.

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