Music P.E.I. announces Canadian Song Conference

Music P.E.I. has announced programming for the 2020 Canadian Song Conference (online), a two-part initiative that aims to support musicians in developing diverse and multiple revenue streams while fostering collaboration between P.E.I. and Canadian songwriters.

As a result of Covid-19, this year’s CSC will happen exclusively online, taking advantage of digital platforms to offer virtual panels, workshops and listening sessions. Among this year’s delegates are renowned producers and music supervisors.

The CSC, which got underway May 20-22 and continues May 25-26, includes a unique program called the Canadian Songwriter Challenge, which gives songwriters from partnering provincial music industry associations the opportunity to collaborate with P.E.I. artists by co-writing and recording brand new music. This year, these collaborations will happen online, respecting current health and safety restrictions.

Artists will use virtual platforms to write, communicate, and record from their respective homes. Each pair of artists will be paired with a producer. After co-writing and recording, artists will present their songs to participating CSC delegates (music supervisors, publishers, labels, broadcasters, and more) in online listening sessions.

This year, 14 songwriters from across Canada are participating in the Songwriter

Challenge.

The selected artists from P.E.I. are Brielle Ansems, Dylan Menzie, Mathew Hannah, Logan Richard, Nikkie Gallant, Vince the Messenger and Karen Penton. Also participating are Hilary Ladd, Music NB; James Wilson Music, Ontario; Valerie Raye MacLeod, Sask Music; Peter Stone, Alberta Music; Desiree Dawson, Music BC; and Sophie Noel, Music Yukon. The participant from Manitoba Music is to be determined.

The Canadian Songwriter Challenge has had a positive impact on songwriters’ careers since its inception in 2015.

“The Canadian Songwriter Challenge not only provided a unique lesson in collaboration, it left me with a new single that is now being played across Canada. It was an invaluable experience,” says Alicia Toner, referring to her latest single, Dangerous Home, which she cowrote with Newfoundland’s Sean Panting during the 2018 CSC.

Participants also gain valuable business connections and music placement opportunities. For example, 2018 participant Russell Louder was signed to Montreal’s Lisbon Lux Records as a result of the CSC, adding management and booking representation to their team.

To hear music created by past Canadian Songwriter Challenge participants, please visit Music P.E.I.’s playlists on Soundcloud.