Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Creative Industries Week at the Legislature is celebrating the music and sound recording industry in British Columbia, bringing industry associations, businesses, artists, key stakeholders, and creators together with government for a showcase event. B.C. is Canada’s third-largest center for music production, with a large diverse talent pool of artists, business-minded professionals, recording studios and labels.
B.C.’s music and sound recording industry plays an integral role within B.C.’s creative sector, threading the sector together through its soundtracks, stages and synergies with film, TV, and digital media. The vast industry ecosystem is proving its value delivery to culture, identity, community, and more through its award-winning artists and labels.
Vancouver Folk Music Festival
About Music + Sound Recording in British Columbia
B.C.’s music industry is a vibrant and diverse scene, encompassing a wide range of genres from indie, folk, pop, rock, electronic, hip-hop, classical, blues, jazz, and beyond. B.C. hosts multiple cultural hubs across the province, serves as a focal point for emerging artists and hosts numerous music festivals, contributing to the region’s rich musical tapestry. Top talent coming out of B.C. include Michael Buble, Diana Krall, Carly Rae Jepsen, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Mother Mother, Bryan Adams, Grimes, Mauvey, Tegan and Sara, Nickelback, and many more.
Did you know?
In 2022, B.C. Music + Sound Recording contributed $341M Total GDP to the provincial economy and generated $411M in Direct Output. Over 13,000 people work in the industry and there are over 6,000 full-time and equivalent jobs across the province.
B.C. is home to 150+ music festivals, 100+ recording studios, 130+ venues and rehearsal spaces, and 80 record labels. See a list of music and sound recording companies and related businesses in Creative BC’s Knowledge Hub.
Recording in these studios are thousands of B.C.’s emerging and established artists, and supporting these activities are hundreds of industry professionals, service providers, promoters, venues, festivals, producers, agents, and managers, all of whom drive B.C.’s music economy. The discoverability of B.C.’s talent and creative product is at the top of the agenda for this industry’s future success. Read the Amplify BC 2019/20 – 2020/21 Impact Report: Adapting and Moving Forward to learn about the impacts of the province’s investment through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Celebrate our Music Industry in Victoria with Music BC and Let’s Hear It!
Let’s Hear It! is back in Victoria celebrating Creative Industries Week with an evening of music discovery. Now in its sixth year, Let’s Hear It has evolved into a platform for emerging artists from British Columbia to connect and grow with their local fanbase and industry connections through live performances. The series has featured over 100 new and emerging artists from across BC with concerts in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna. On April 24, join the celebration at The Duke Saloon in Victoria and enjoy live music performances by JAXXEE, Mikey Jose, and The Bankes Brothers. Advance tickets can be purchased through Evenbrite. Limited tickets will be available at the door for $10.
About Music BC
Music BC is the organizer of Creative Industries Week celebrations for the music and sound recording industries. Music BC is the industry’s membership association, serving the for-profit and non-profit music industry, with a broad membership including artists, industry professionals, service providers, studios, promoters, venues, festivals, producers, agents, managers and educational institutions. An essential part of the province’s creative economy and industry, Music BC provides opportunities to further the careers of B.C.’s music creatives and professionals. The association is the voice of the B.C. music industry locally, domestically and internationally, through active advocacy.
Rickshaw Theatre
Share the excitement!
Celebrate our province’s diverse and outstanding musical scene and shoutout your favourite BC musicians, record labels, companies, and events by using the hashtags #BCCreates #CreativeIndustriesWeek #ListenBC and #BCMusic.
Are you looking to discover your new favourite song or listen to one you already love? Celebrate and enjoy B.C.’s vibrant music industry in a frequently updated Spotify playlist, #ListenBC. Discover a collection of new released from artists based in British Columbia from a variety of genres such as folk, pop, rap, hip hop, electronic, Latin, and everything in between.
Discover unique B.C. stories from the Music + Sound Recording world:
- 2024 Juno Awards Winners from British Columbia
The 2024 Juno Awards concluded on Sunday evening, leaving a memorable mark with some notable highlights. Surrey, B.C., artist Karan Aujla won the TikTok Fan Choice Award, making him the first racialized person to ever win in that category. Additionally, Tegan and Sara were honoured with the Humanitarian Award for their impactful work in supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community through the Tegan and Sara Foundation. - Jumpstart Your Music Career with Music BC
Music BC is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a thriving and sustainable music ecosystem in British Columbia. Their mission involves supporting and empowering musicians, industry professionals, and the wider music community in the region. - Music Festivals to Catch this Summer
The anticipation of spring has us dreaming about the beautiful warm summers in B.C., our minds turn to the upcoming season filled with eclectic music festivals scattered throughout the province. Here’s a preview of some upcoming festivals to anticipate, inviting you to revel in the sunshine, absorb the melodies, and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of these highly anticipated musical celebrations. - B.C. Artists Celebrated at Breakout West in Kelowna
Organized by the Western Canadian Music Alliance, BreakOut West is a yearly music gathering comprised of an immersive music development conference, music festival and award ceremonies. The 2023 edition of the BreakOut West Festival took place from October 11 to 15 in Kelowna.
