Global Toronto’s Dave Trafford reports on efforts underway to grow Toronto’s music sector, speaking with Mike Tanner, Toronto’s Music Sector Development Officer, about the opportunities for live music in Toronto.
In the segment, Josh Grossman, Artistic Director of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, spoke about what he hopes the upcoming Music Office at City Hall will achieve. “Make it easier to shut down streets when necessary, make it easier to load gear in and out of venues when necessary. I think that’s what I’m most excited about with this new position at city hall, the anticipation that some of this stuff will be getting easier.”
Speaking of Toronto’s brand of live music, Cameron House’s Cosmo Ferraro said our diversity is our strength. “It’s nice to go to one bar, hear rock ‘n’ roll, you go to the next bar: folk, the next, hip-hop,” said Ferrero. “It’s nice to have that diversity, it speaks to the diversity of Toronto.”
The full segment is available on Global’s website, and is embedded below.
Toronto may have already experienced its first flurry of the season this weekend, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to get excited about the summer-to-come!
Today, North By Northeast announced the dates for the 2015 edition of the festival, taking place June 17-21 across Toronto’s premier music venues. NXNE 2015 marks the 21st anniversary of the festival and the start of two new partnerships with MaRS Discovery District and popular international music blog Pitchfork
NXNE will house delegate registration, exclusive parties and all NXNE Interactive panels, presentations and keynote addresses at MaRS (101 College Street), a 1.5-million-square-foot complex in the heart of Canada’s largest research cluster in downtown Toronto.
“MaRS is thrilled to host the 2015 NXNE Festival and its performers, presenters and attendees,” said MaRS VP Partnerships Karen Greve Young. “The intersection between technology and the arts inspires innovation, and we welcome the opportunity to bring business, technology, arts and culture leaders together to share ideas and make vital connections.”
Pitchfork President Chris Kaskie also commented on the partnership and his time in Toronto for NXNE 2014:
“Participating in last year’s NXNE was both rewarding and eye opening. I was able to see first hand what a truly amazing city Toronto is, and more so, what a unique and forward thinking festival NXNE is and is building.We’re excited to bring in our unique perspective, and we’re thrilled to be working alongside such good people to figure out how that will look.“
Simply tweet a photo that you took at a Toronto concert to @4479toronto using the hashtag #4479TixForPix to be entered in a draw to win! We’ll also publish some of the best photos on our site.
We’ll draw one winner by Wednesday, November 5th at 10 AM. Best of luck!
On Thursday October 23, 2014, Mongrel Media & 4479 proudly present WHIPLASH, and an evening of Canadian Music in support of the charity MusiCounts. A favourite among festival goers this year, Whiplash tells the story of Andrew Neyman (played by Miles Teller), an aspiring young jazz drummer whose ambitious instructor (J.K. Simmons) helps push his ability using unorthodox (but effective) training methods.
Following the screening, we’ll head on over from Scotiabank Theatre to Adelaide Hall for the official after party!
Want to go? Simply retweet our tweet below by Wednesday October 22 at 12 PM and you’ll be automatically entered to win a pair of tickets to the screening and after party. You must be 19+ to enter.
The City of Toronto has announced that Mike Tanner has been hired as Toronto’s new music sector development officer. Tanner will begin the newly created position on October 21.
“The City is moving forward in developing lasting relationships with the music industry in Toronto and internationally,” said Zaib Shaikh, the City’s Film Commissioner and Director of Entertainment Industries. “Mike, an admired member of Canada’s music industry, is joining a team that’s ready and excited to help the City and its great music community grow closer together while our alliance representatives bring a wealth of industry experience in Toronto and in Austin that will greatly benefit the city now and in the future.”
Tanner has spent seven successful years with North by Northeast (NXNE), with roles in overseeing festival logistics and operations, as well as managing relations with government and other music industry organizations.
“Only a unique opportunity like this could have pulled me away from NXNE,” says Tanner. “I’m leaving behind an extraordinary organization run by wonderful people whom I’ll miss very much. But I am excited to join the new Entertainment Industries and do whatever I can to help bring the music industry and City Hall together to make Toronto the best place possible to work in music while growing our city’s reputation as one of the world’s top music cities.”
The City also announced the Austin-Toronto Music City Alliance representatives, which continues the progress of world’s first Music City Alliance, which was made official last October. Representatives will include the to-be-appointed Chair of the Economic Development and Culture Committee, as well as an additional member of the committee. Industry representatives announced today include:
Jeff Cohen (Owner, Collective Concerts and Toronto music venues the Horseshoe Tavern and Lee’s Palace);
Graham Henderson (President, Music Canada);
Jesse Kumagai (Vice President of Talent, Live Nation Canada); and
Sari Delmar (CEO and Founder of Audio Blood).
Shaikh and Tanner will join the group as representatives of the City.
Austin announced its representatives to the Alliance earlier this year.
4479 congratulates Mike Tanner and the announced representatives on their new appointments, and we look forward to continuing to work together to grow Toronto’s music sector.
