Australia chosen as Canadian Music Week’s ’Spotlight Country’

Australia’s strong domestic music landscape has prompted Canadian Music Week organisers to name us the ’Spotlight Country’ for next year’s edition.

Australia’s export initiative Sounds Australia has played an integral part in the success, facilitating showcase events overseas with Kate Miller-Heidke, The Beards, You Am I, Busby Marou and DZ Deathrays, among others, over the past five years. This year alone Sounds Australia produced three events in one week: Sound Gallery, Beat Pie and The Aussie BBQ.

Millie Millgate, Executive Producer of Sounds Australia says, “[…] the time is ripe for us to proudly wear the ’Spotlight Country’ mantle in 2015. We look forward to consolidating the partnerships and networks already developed with our kindred music nation, whilst forging new opportunities and greater access for more of the incredible talent that’s exploding out of Australia.”

CMW President Neill Dixon adds, “Australia has a unique musical ecosystem which does not have to rely upon global sales, global distribution or artist success abroad in order to be successful. Their labels are successful and their distribution foundation is strong. The amount of profitable festivals and music venues remains the highest in the world.”

City and Colour, Justin Bieber, Michael Buble and Carly Rae Jepsen are just a few of the Canadian artists who have found success in Australia – something Dixon puts down to our ‘somewhat stable’ financial market.

“The continent is an excellent outlet for Canadian bands to remain active in otherwise down seasons,” he said. “The economy is motivated, the Australian dollar is climbing and somewhat stable, so people can part with discretionary spending. There is a lot that we can learn from Australia and we plan to explore and uncover as much of it as we can at CMW 2015.”

Canadian Music Week 2015 will see Sounds Australia partner with BIGSOUND, CAAMA, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Development Canada to support the venture. CMW 2015 runs from May 5–9 in Toronto.