MPC Hosts Reception with IMPF and Inside the Song with CMRRA and CARAS/JUNO Awards

On June 6th, Music Publishers Canada hosted Inside the Song at The Great Hall in Toronto in partnership with CMRRA and CARAS/The JUNO Awards. The event featured a night of intimate performances and conversations celebrating Canadian songwriters, producers, and music publishers. Music Publishers Canada also hosted a pre-reception with Independent Music Publishers International Forum (IMPF) to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. 

“Music Publishers Canada seeks to create opportunities for music publishers to come together to meet with each other, the rest of the music industry, and with the film and television and gaming industries to celebrate the songwriter and the song and create new b2b opportunities,” said Margaret McGuffin, CEO of Music Publishers Canada. 

To mark the occasion of the IMPF’s 10 year anniversary, Music Publishers Canada and IMPF also co-hosted a reception prior to Inside the Song and following Music Publishers Canada’s AGM. Founded in Brussels in 2013, IMPF was created as a networking collective for independent music publishers globally. It was formed to represent the interests of its community; share experiences and best practices; exchange information; support relevant projects; and promote a favourable environment for artistic, cultural, linguistic, and commercial diversity for composers and music publishers.  

IMPF is an important international partner for Music Publishers Canada in representing the interests of music publishers and their songwriters worldwide. IMPF was represented at the event by Ger Hatton, Counsel, who gave a welcome speech to IMPF and MPC’s guests. 

“What a great opportunity to meet with Canadian IMPF members and friends and acknowledge the importance of the partnership Music Publishers Canada has built with IMPF over its 10-year history. We are particularly pleased that the “Creative Europe” network project of the European Union has assisted with the recent valuable exchanges between songwriters and publishers in Europe and Canada,” said Ger Hatton, IMPF Counsel. 

“Canada is home to an incredibly successful, creative, and influential music publishing sector. We really value the relationship that we have with Music Publishers Canada, and we look forward to continuing our work together for the benefit of the wider music publishing community globally and the songwriters we represent,” said IMPF President Annette Barrett. 

The Hon. Neil Lumsden, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport also joined the reception and commented on the importance of a vibrant creative industries sector in Ontario. 

“I want to congratulate the award recipients and thank everyone who contributes to Ontario’s vibrant music scene,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “Ontario is the largest cultural producer and employer across Canada and our government will ensure that the province remains an economic and cultural powerhouse.”

Inside the Song was hosted by JUNO Award-winning recording engineer, producer, songwriter, composer, mixer, multi-instrumentalist, artist and director, Hill Kourkoutis. Aaron Paris (who has worked with major artists such as Drake and DJ Khaled), Brad Rempel (lead vocalist and guitarist of the four-time CCMA winning band, High Valley), Dax (Billboard chart-topping Canadian rapper and songwriter), and Digging Roots (two-time JUNO Award winners) joined Kourkoutis to talk about their songwriting process and perform for the audience. Music throughout the evening was provided by DJ Obuxum, alumna of Music Publishers Canada’s Women in the Studio National Accelerator. 

“We were thrilled to once again partner with Music Publishers Canada and the JUNOS for the return of Inside the Song and bring all sectors of the music business together to celebrate our music publishers and self-published songwriter community,” said Paul Shaver, President of The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA). “Canadian songwriters are contributing and being recognized globally for writing some of the biggest hits in the world and this event highlights our incredible talent.”  

Music Publishers Canada would like to thank FACTOR/Government of Canada, Ontario Creates, and CMRRA for their support of Inside of Song.