Music Row North

Music Row North is an one day, intensive seminar presented by the Toronto Chapter of NSAI that will give you the inspiration and the insight to become a better songwriter. This year we have a great panel of guests listed below. The cost is $40.00 for NSAI, SAC, CMAO, CMA members and Trebas students, $50.00 for non-members.

You can buy your tickets at the door, but beware, this is one of our most popular events and sells out quickly. Don't be disappointed - get your tickets in advance at Ticket Window at http://tickets.ticketwindow.ca/eventperformances.asp?evt=1167

Date: Saturday, May 28th 2011
Location: TREBAS INSTITUTE, 2340 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON  M6P4A9

Schedule

930am	Registration and Sign-in
10am-11am 11am-12pm	Demo Production and Recording	Brian Allen and Danny Wells
10am-11am 11am-12pm	Craft of Songwriting	Frank Myers and Kerry and Lynn Chater
1pm	Presentations by CCMA and CMAO (20 mins each)	Brandi Mills and Heather Ostertag
2pm-3pm	Industry Panel Canadian Songwriters -- Making it in Canada, Making it in Nashville	Brian Allen, Publisher Barbara Sedun, EMI Music Publishing Heather Longstaffe Frank Myers Danny Wells Kerry and Lynn Chater Brianne Deslippe Brandi Mills, Heather Ostertag
315pm-5pm	Song evaluations by the panel

 

 

Brian Allen A veteran of the music business, Brian’s first successful venture was as a member and principal songwriter for the band Toronto in the ‘80s, logging 4 platinum albums. Following the band’s breakup, Brian saw success as a co-writer of “What About Love” which propelled Heart to a 10 million seller. Attic Records then recruited Brian as head of A&R, a post he held for 15 years. During his A&R tenure, Brian doubled as producer for a select number of artists on the Attic roster, which yielded 2 double platinum sellers each for Lee Aaron and Haywire. Brian worked with a wide array of artists while at Attic, including Jennifer Warnes, Paul Janz, Rita Coolidge, The Nylons, Michael Burgess, Grapes of Wrath, Raggadeath and Creed. Brian was promoted to Vice President, A&R and Music Publishing and attended 15 MIDEM events in France where he conducted business with labels and publishers from around the world. Following Attic’s acquisition by the Song Corporation, Brian spent a couple of calendars as Manager of the International Department at SOCAN where he oversaw the processing of SOCAN members’ royalties from 52 foreign countries. In 2002 Brian founded AMPLUS Productions, a recording production company, working with independent artists to bring them his production and music industry expertise at indie- friendly rates. In addition to his many production and songwriting ventures, Brian taught music business courses at Metalworks Institute, and frequently appears as a guest lecturer and expert panelist. Brian’s latest productions include Marshall Dane and Darrelle London. Currently in the oven are productions from Roveena and Mike Lynch. On the writing side, “What About Love” has been used in multiple TV ads, “Looking For Trouble” was featured in the film “Shania”, and two of Brian’s songs will be included in the forthcoming All About Maggie album on True North Records via Universal. Brian has earned 25 gold, platinum and special achievement awards as an artist, producer, songwriter and his A&R duties. He is a member of CCMA, CMAO, SOCAN, CMRRA, SAC, and the AF of M. He has served on committees for CIRPA (now CIMA), CCMA, CMAO, CARAS and chaired the Music Advisory Committee at Humber College. FACTOR has recruited Brian multiple times as a juror.

Brianne Deslippe Brianne Deslippe is the Director of National Promotions for the largest country music label in Canada, Open Road Recordings. Brianne studied at the University of Windsor and Trebas Institute before launching her entertainment career in Toronto in 2004. She gained her industry experience through working for a number of independent music companies (including E1 Music Canada, formally KOCH Entertainment), before joining the Open Road team in early 2009. Brianne’s current role is multi-faceted, with day to day responsibilities including: overseeing all national radio and video strategy, routing all regional and national promotional tours, radio single selection and release timing, creating and executing all album release and tour contesting, and accompanying artists on promotional visits, interviews and appearances). Open Road’s roster includes such renowned acts as Emerson Drive, Doc Walker, Dean Brody, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire and Taylor Swift.

Brandi Mills Don’t be fooled by her youthful smile and charming personality – as the Canadian Country Music Association’s Manager of Operations, Brandi Mills brings talent, professionalism and 6 years of CCMA expertise to the table along with a BA in Business Communications and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Relations. In her role at the CCMA, Brandi takes on the work of at least five people including seeking funding and sponsors, overseeing communications, events, marketing and promotional tasks and the general day-to-day operations of the office among other things. Originally from the thriving community of Barnaby River, New Brunswick, Brandi is a small town girl to the core which explains her love for all things country, so if you have a question about the Canadian Country Music industry, she’s likely got the answer…but if she doesn’t, she’ll know how to get it for you.

Heather Ostertag With over three decades of working in the not-for-profit sector of the Canadian music industry, Heather Ostertag has earned her respected Industry profile. She began her career in Canadian music in 1977 as the administration manager at the Canadian Talent Library (CTL). After CTL merged with FACTOR in 1986, Heather assumed several executive positions before being appointed President in 1999 and then CEO 2006. Currently, FACTOR operates with just over $16 million in annual funding. Heather serves as a member of the National Advisory Board for the Aboriginal Music Awards, and is the past chair of the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) currently she operates her own consulting company Heather Ostertag and Associates. In 2003, Heather was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of all the volunteer work she has done on behalf of the Canadian music industry.

Barbara Sedun In October 2009, Barbara Sedun returned to EMI Music Publishing Canada, a company she loves and spent 17 years helping to shape under the tutelage of her mentor, Michael McCarty. Sedun’s homecoming after two years in Winnipeg with Manitoba Film & Music was slightly bittersweet. She returned to head up a downsized office where all of her former colleagues, including McCarty, were gone. Earlier that year EMI had reorganized and streamlined its North American operations, leaving McCarty alone in Toronto. Soon even he made tracks to ole, where he accepted a job as president. Sedun was McCarty’s natural successor at EMI and she’s thrilled to be back at home with a roster she helped to build. “It’s a totally different job,” she acknowledges. “I’m doing the jobs of three people now so I have to be a lot more organized, a lot more focused.”