CMRRA

Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency

SPOTLIGHT: FACTOR’s New Leader: Meg Symsyk’s Mission to Revolutionize Music Funding

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By Isabelle Speerin Originally from St. Catharines, Meg Symsyk has helped shape the success of countless local and global artists in her 25-year career as a Canadian music industry trailblazer. She spent her formative years listening to Canadian band Rush and rock station 97.7 HTZ FM, broadcast from a historic building known to locals as […]

Writers on Track Featuring Ian Kay

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This month we feature Ian Kay. Hailing from the European punk and garage scene, Ian brings a fresh perspective to the music world. With his debut solo album, “Walk That Road Again,” produced and mixed by Jeremy Yeremian in Los Angeles, he adds a touch of pop while drawing influences from iconic bands like The […]

Front of House with Mike Skelton

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This month’s Front of House is Mike Skelton. Learn about his 10-plus years of experience at CMRRA, his day-to-day responsibilities and his favourite memories from summer festivals such as Heavy T.O. and OVO Fest. You work as our Major Label Liaison, can you elaborate on what this means and what your responsibilities include? My day-to-day […]

SPOTLIGHT: Ishkōdé Records co-founders ShoShona Kish and Amanda Rheaume aim to amplify Indigenous artists and songwriters

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By Tabassum Siddiqui For years, musicians ShoShona Kish and Amanda Rheaume would cross paths on tour and at other music events, becoming fast friends and collaborators in their desire to support and advocate for fellow Indigenous artists. In recent years, Kish had floated an ambitious idea: what if they started their own record label to […]

Writers on Track Featuring The Bros. Landreth

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This month we feature Canadian songwriters/alternative country and folk music group, The Bros. Landreth, formed by brothers Joey and Dave Landreth. Their recent album Come Morning won a JUNO Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year. In 2022 American blues singer and guitarist Bonnie Raitt recorded her own version of their standout track “Made […]

Front of House with Brittany Chin

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June’s Front of House features Brittany Chin, CMRRA’s Quality Assurance Analyst. Brittany was the recipient of the Quality Assurance Developmental Opportunity, a program that supports professional growth within CMRRA. Learn about her behind-the-scenes work, passion for technology and how she came to work in the music industry. You just celebrated your 5-year anniversary of working […]

Front of House with Andrea England

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May’s Front of House features Andrea England, Associate Director of Publisher Engagement and Strategy. Andrea is deeply involved in both the artistic and business aspects of the music industry and is the founder of the event Four Chords and The Truth. Last year you were promoted to Associate Director, Publisher Engagement & Strategy, how is […]

SPOTLIGHT: As SoundExchange turns 20, President and CEO Michael Huppe reflects on how the company – including affiliate CMRRA – supports music-creators

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by Tabassum Siddiqui Upon being congratulated on the 20th anniversary of U.S.-based music tech organization SoundExchange, instead of basking in the milestone, the company’s President & CEO, Michael Huppe, immediately muses about the future – rather than the past. As the driving force behind SoundExchange, which acquired CMRRA in 2017 and includes affiliate SX Works […]

SPOTLIGHT: Industry legend, James Campbell, shares his path to publishing at Slaight Music

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By Isabelle Speerin From jamming on the Festival Express to lifelong label executive, James Campbell is one of the industry’s most respected champions of emerging Canadian musical talent. A former artist himself, he spent his teenage years as frontman of the Spasstiks, a band who made a name for themselves in Toronto’s vibrant Yorkville music […]

Front of House with Paul Gills

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April’s Front of House features Paul Gills, Senior Vice President of Operations & Client Engagement at SX Works and CMRRA. His day-to-day work includes managing CMRRA operational activities, working with the CMRRA and SX Works teams, talking to clients and participating in industry groups. In June of 2022, it was announced that you would be […]