Manitoba Music's Aboriginal Music Program Heads to California and Las Vegas for Trade Mission

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Errol Ranville
C-Weed Band
Don Amero
NCI FM - Manitoba
Rising Sun Productions Inc.

Manitoba Music's Aboriginal Music Program (AMP) is in Southern California and Nevada this week for a trade mission to connect with some of North America's major players in the U.S.-based Indigenous music scene, March 20-24. Five Manitoba-based artists entrepreneurs and music company reps have made the trek, that also includes the massive National Reservation Economic Summit, which plays host to tribal leaders, talent buyers, media, representatives from Native American casinos, and business leaders from across America.

The Manitoba delegation includes 2016 JUNO Award nominee Don Amero, NCI FM CEO David McLeod, acclaimed singer/songwriter and emceee Leonard Sumner, music legend and industry veteran Errol Ranville, and artist representation company Rising Sun Productions' Vince Fontaine (also of multi award-winning bands Indian City and Eagle & Hawk).

The mission includes site visits to the casino properties owned by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and meetings with representatives from First Nations Experience (FNX), L.A. Skins Fest, SOCAN House Los Angeles, and Angry Mob Music along with delegates at the National Reservation Economic Summit.

Manitoba Music's Aboriginal music development manager, Alan Greyeyes, will join Ranville and McLeod on a panel at the National Reservation Economic Summit about the return on investments in music training and export for Aboriginal people in Manitoba.

With the support of FACTOR and Canada's private radio broadcasters, this pilot project was expanded from three to five days for five participants. The trip is part of AMP market development initiatives, working to promote and raise the profile of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists from Manitoba on a national and international stage. Through events like these, Manitoba Music is able to increase the level of awareness and connection between our province’s music industry and the broader national and international industry, which is vital to the career advancement of Manitoba's Indigenous artists and industry professionals.

Manitoba Music's Aboriginal Music Program was launched in 2004 to help First Nation, Inuit, and Métis people in Manitoba develop sustainable careers in music by connecting them with opportunities within Manitoba Music and beyond. Manitoba Music would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Province of Manitoba, Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Film & Music, and FACTOR with support from Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

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