SOCAN and The JUNO Awards are partnering with the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) for Episode Seven of the online roundtable discussion series “Breaking Down Racial Barriers,” which will examine “Black Representation in the Corporate & Organizational Entertainment Industry: Record Labels, Streaming Companies & Industry Associations.”
The event, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6:00 p.m., will feature discussion from:
- Erin Ashley Lowers, Culture & Music Journalist / DSP Content Programmer
- Joel Naga, Marketing Manager, Warner Music Canada
- Chris Smith, Manager & Agency Owner, Chris Smith Management / 21 Entertainment
- Bushra Junaid, Outreach and Development Manager, Ontario Arts Council
- Kardinal Offishall, Rapper, Executive, Philanthropist
- Katrina Lopes, Artist Manager, KL Management
It will be hosted, as always by Ian Andre Espinet, of Iconic Arts & Entertainment x Black Star Graphic Design, and David “Click” Cox, Artist Manager & Consultant, CLK Creative Works.
For more info, click here, and to register, click here.
CIMA recognizes this moment in time as a movement, and is seizing the opportunity to have difficult, yet critical conversations in an effort to identify the structures and behaviours that perpetuate anti-Black racism within the music entertainment industry. These Black-led discussions – presented by CIMA with supporting partner ADVANCE, Canada’s new Black music business collective – will provide the larger industry with a forum to listen, and challenge existing ways of thinking, explore unconscious bias, and examine the collective role played in perpetuating anti-Black racism in the music industry. The accumulated knowledge therein will be used to compile a report containing actionable suggestions for change.