Item - 2015.MA1.2

The Toronto Music Industry Advisory Council:

1.  Formed six working groups with the following membership, group leads and priorities with the expectation that a music strategy will be presented for City Council's consideration in the Fall of 2015:

a.  Business Development Working Group 

Membership:

Spencer Sutherland - Group Lead

Adam Gill
Che Kothari
Drex Jancar
Jay Douglas
Jeffrey Remedios
Jesse Kumagai
Patti-anne Tarlton
Vivian Barclay
Councillor Josh Colle 

 

Priorities:

- Create a music friendly environment

- Identify physical assets to set benchmarks and identify impediments to assets

- Identify business case for changes in the City to support sustainability of the industry

b.  Branding, Marketing and Tourism Working Group

Membership:

Justin Erdman - Group Lead

Alexander Mair
Andrew Weir
Roberta Smith
Jeffrey Remedios
Mervon Mehta
Noah Mintz
Patti-anne Tarlton
Vivian Barclay
Councillor Gary Crawford
Councillor John Filion

 

Priorities:

- Ask "How are we a Music City?", need a tag line and a brand to represent it

- Put a value on the impact of the industry to city

- Put together a utility tool kit

c.  Advocacy Working Group

Membership:

Jeff Cohen - Group Lead

Daniel Broome

Derek Andrews

Eric Alper

Errol Nazareth

Roberta Smith

Graham Henderson

Miranda Mulholland

Murray Foster

Rob Lanni

Rodney Murphy

Councillor Mike Layton

 

Priorities:

- Improvements to artists' standard of living

- Business decisions

- Help fans that go to events

d.  International Alliances and Partnerships

Membership:

Sari Delmar - Group Lead

Derek Andrews
Drex Jancar
Errol Nazareth
Graham Henderson
Jeff Craib
Miranda Mulholland
Councillor Josh Colle
Councillor Gary Crawford
Councillor Shelley Carroll
 

Priorities:

- Study best practices in other cities and creating new alliances

- Creating tourism

- Connecting musicians

e.  Financing, Funding and Sponsorship

Membership:

Andreas Kalogiannides - Group Leader

Adam Gill
Che Kothari
Eric Alper
Jay Douglas
Jeff Craib
Murray Foster
Noah Mintz

 

Priorities:

- Acting as a conduit for public and private funding

- Explore tax breaks for studios, events and organizations and city matching program

f.  Strategic Planning Working Group

Membership:

Mary An Blom - Group Lead

Alexander Mair
Amanda Martinez
Andrew Weir
Daniel Broome
Jesse Kumagai
Mervon Mehta
Rob Lanni
Rodney Murphy
Councillor Carroll
Councillor Filion

 

Priorities:

- Create a database of statistics

- Hold a public town hall in September to collect public input on music strategy

- Review provincial music strategy

The Film Commissioner and Director of Entertainment Industries, and the Music Sector Development Officer gave an update on the priorities and workplan for the Toronto Music Industy Advisory Council.