New advisory council eager to drum up support for local music
A new advisory council hopes to turn up the volume on the local music scene.
The group, supported by the Windsor-Essex Economic Development Corporation, contributed to a report released Friday that lays out 13 strategies to boost local music.
“We have a vibrant music community in Windsor-Essex,” said Adam Castle, who put together the 18-page Music Windsor-Essex report with Natasha Marar, who both work for the economic development corporation. “We just have to make sure people know about it.”
Besides creating the Music Advisory Council, some of the report’s suggestions include: accessing provincial and federal programs more, such as Music Canada, Factor Canada and the Toronto Music Office; developing a “live music corridor” where bands can tour between Windsor and Toronto; enhancing opportunities in Detroit and Michigan; and promoting music more through Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island.
The report notes that, according to Statistics Canada, about 2,000 people work in the Windsor-Essex music industry. But the idea is, the more the merrier.
“We want to make the local music scene even better,” Castle said.
“So the council will serve as an advocate for the entire music ecosystem in the region, to provide one point of contact.”
Castle said plans include pushing for uniform bylaws across the region regarding venues, noise ordinances and bill posting. Also, the economic development office would like to help more musicians access grants, which amounted to about $100,000 locally over the last year or so. And he said he hopes to come up with better statistics in the future, such as on economic impact, to better assess local needs.
“Not only does the music industry increase the cultural capital of Windsor-Essex, it also encourages young people to locate here,” he said.
Local live-music promoter Tom Lucier, who hosted one of the industry events that helped produce the Music Windsor-Essex report, thinks the area should go a step beyond developing an advisory council. He likes the idea of creating a local music office.
He also suggests occasionally inviting agents from Toronto, Montreal and elsewhere to Windsor for a showcase of local talent.
“If we had an office that was employing people and encouraging musicians and bands to get work visas and to tour here that would help,” said Lucier, who owns Phog Lounge and co-owns The Rondo, both downtown live-music venues. “We could develop an industry here.
“The education and inspiration Windsor bands would get from that would be amazing.”