Item - 2017.MA7.5

The Toronto Music Industry Advisory Council:

1.  Requested the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to consider, as part of the Council requested report on Item MM22.5, the following actions for the City to take to help protect music venues:

a.  Recognize Music Venues by creating a Live Music Venue Registry that would identify current music venues meeting clearly defined criteria in order to:

1. Recognize businesses as Music Venues independently of their primary license type.

2. Legitimize the operation of live music venues by working with Municipal Licensing and Standards to remove restrictions around floor space and seating.

3. Allow registered venues to apply for designation of municipal significance to selectively permit extended hours for the sale and service of alcohol.

b.  Encourage music sector growth with improvements to Toronto By-laws:

1. Re-evaluate “Employment Lands” zoning to identify potential new areas for music venues and entertainment.

2. Review the Noise By-laws to encourage the successful operation of music venues, including reasonable, objective dB limits, clearly defined point of measurement, ambient noise, and mitigation of the enforcement process.

c.  Protect Music Venues as important cultural assets:

1. Develop a Toronto-specific adaptation of the Agent of Change principle in coordination with Planning and Building Standards to protect existing live music venues from conflicts with newer developments.

2. Encourage music venues with cultural merit to apply for protection using all tools available under the Heritage Act.

3. Create financial incentives using all revenue tools available, such as property tax reductions for property owners to encourage renting premises to music venues.

4. Create a Music Venue Task Force to monitor and mitigate against the continued risk of music venue closures.

d.  Promote Toronto’s vibrant Music Culture:

1. Create a Music Tourism Strategy to promote the live music as one of Toronto’s greatest cultural assets.

2. Endorse special events that reflect the diversity of music in Toronto.

3. Facilitate event organizers who bring international music artists to ensure Toronto continues to be a world-leading destination for live music.

4. Create financial incentives for residents and visitors to experience music, such as transit discounts.

2.  Requested the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to consider the public input provided as part of Item MA7.5 in the report requested by City Council on Item MM22.5 - Protecting Music Venues in Toronto.

The Chair and City staff will share information on work the City is doing to mitigate the threats to music venues in Toronto.

Toronto Music Industry Advisory Council (TMAC) members will identify immediate actions that TMAC can take to address threats to music venues.

The Branding Marketing and Tourism working group will propose a public position statement on behalf of TMAC regarding venue closures.

Spencer Sutherland will provide an update on TMAC’s November 2016 “Night-time Economy” recommendation.

City staff will advise on TMAC venue-protection objectives identified in the work plan for the music unit of the Film and Entertainment Industries section, Economic Development and Culture Division.