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

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Desiree Dorion
Desiree Dorion
Eagle and Hawk
Indian City
Jade Turner
Rising Sun Productions Inc.
Vince Fontaine

Manitoba Music's Aboriginal Music Program (AMP) is heading up a trade mission to Los Angeles and Las Vegas to connect with some of North America's major players in the U.S.-based Indigenous music scene, March 13-17. Four Manitoba-based artist entrepreneurs will make the trip for business meetings in conjunction with the massive National Reservation Economic Summit (National RES), which plays host to tribal leaders, talent buyers, media, representatives from Native American casinos, and business leaders from across America.

The Manitoba delegation includes country singer/songwriters Desiree Dorion and Jade Turner, acclaimed singer/songwriter and MC Leonard Sumner, and Vince Fontaine of artist representation company Rising Sun Productions and multi award-winning bands Indian City and Eagle & Hawk.

The mission includes three days of meetings with representatives from Native Public Media, Houston Productions, American Indian College Fund, Red Sky Agency, Native American Music Awards, and many others during the National RES. Manitoba Music is also partnering with the Beyond Buckskin Boutique to host a networking reception under the “Indigenous Arts” banner on March 14 at The Palazzo. The second leg of the mission will focus on connecting participants with music supervisors in Los Angeles and the Consulate General of Canada Office.

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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