EARNS MUSIC OF AWARD

by jay kana | photo by rock the coliseum

I’ve often said that Mississauga is regrettably overlooked for our bustling music scene, filled with remarkable musicians and artists for geographic-only reasons. Specifically, we’re next door to Toronto, a longtime hub of music. That’s all changed with our marvellous city earning the distinction of being the 2023 Music City of the Year, as awarded by the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) and Canadian Music Week (CMW).

A major factor is sharply attributed to establishing a solid Music Strategy, with a goal of positioning Mississauga as an incubator for musical talent and to become national destination for live music, events, and festivals.

In it’s seventh year, the Canadian Live Music Industry Awards brings together the Canadians behind live music for a night of celebration and recognition. The awards celebrate the ingenuity, perseverance and excellence demonstrated by live music companies, individuals and organizations over the past year. Finalists and awards are based on a vote by workers in the live music industry. The 2023 awards were presented during a ceremony held on June 9.

Demetrius Nath, the Founder of Mississauga Music, says “We are thrilled to finally see this kind of industry attention for Mississauga. There has been a lot of people chipping away behind the scenes for years now and this recognition is a much needed boost in our morale, indicating we are moving in the right direction. Mississauga Music is happy to have played a small part in this success & we plan to forge ahead so that these types of milestones are the norm for our city!”

“It is an honour to receive this award! This award showcases the strides we’re making. Our city is already home to world-class, diverse musicians and wonderful live music, but through continued efforts and investments in this sector, we are unlocking even greater economic and social benefits.” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie.

In 2022, Mississauga unveiled their debut Music Strategy: 20222026, which outlines 32 actions over the next five years to support the growth and development of Mississauga’s music industry. The four pillars are: amplifying Mississauga’s artists, creating a favourable environment for live music, supporting underrepresented people and groups and celebrating Mississauga’s history and success.

What’s the criteria to earn a Music City of Year award?

The winning city has to make a demonstrated commitment to leveraging the power of live music locally, to rebuild, recover and grow thanks to live music. With our music scene ever-evolving with both emerging and existing talent, Mississauga has earned this; let’s keep composing the next score of our musical journey.