Ottawa as a Music City

A major announcement regarding the Ottawa music industry was made today during the “Ottawa as a Music City” panel, produced by the 2017 JUNO Host Committee. Mayor Jim Watson announced that the city will, in collaboration with the industry and the municipality, commit to the development and execution of a music strategy for the region. Mayor Watson’s announcement comes as a result of a dedicated effort led by the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC), Music Canada Live, other local stakeholders and Kitchissippi Ward Councillor Jeff Leiper, a long-time music advocate. “Momentum is strong in Ottawa’s music scene. Key to continuing that momentum will be capacity-building and long-term vision. The City’s announcement that it will develop a music strategy is another step building on the successes already achieved in this term of Council: the first of what I’m confident will be many more to come.” said Leiper, “The collaborative approach adopted by the City, the Mayor, and the music industry will ultimately help build a city that is more vibrant, attractive to tourists and companies, and creative.” Ottawa joins a growing number of municipalities looking to customize and build successful Music Cities with vibrant music economies capable of generating a wide array of benefits including economic growth, job creation, and increased spending to greater tax revenues and cultural development. “The Mayor has seized an important opportunity,” said Music Canada Live Executive Director Erin Benjamin, “to leverage and grow the value of the local music economy.  His leadership and support, as well as Counsellor Leiper’s, are what will ensure this strategy is a success and, no doubt, one that will inspire other cities to do the same.  This is an historic day made all the more meaningful by being able to share this with our national industry colleagues during this year’s JUNO celebrations.” “Music is one of Ottawa’s great assets. We have incredible music talent, dedicated music entrepreneurs, and vibrant music scenes. Developing a municipal music strategy is about bringing together industry and government to create an environment that nurtures music’s transformative potential. As a representative of Ottawa’s music industry, OMIC is excited and proud to have the opportunity to work with the City, in collaboration with leaders from connected sectors and organizations like Music Canada Live, to take this important step for our music industry, and for the continued growth of our amazing city.” said Andrew Vincent, Executive Director of OMIC. The strategy will be led by OMIC. To learn more about next steps, please visit ottawamic.com. To learn more about Music Canada Live, the voice of Canada’s national live music industry association, please contact Executive Director, Erin Benjamin at ebenjamin@musiccanadalive.ca.