CIMA is thrilled to announce the recipients of the inaugural Make It Music Awards, a component of Make It Music – A Futures Thinking Summit, taking place April 25-26 at Offworld in Toronto! The Make It Music Awards is an evolution of CIMA’s previous Gala Awards, carrying on that spirit of recognition of our members and community, leaders, innovators, and champions in Canada’s independent music sector. 

"We are proud to celebrate this inaugural slate of Make It Music honourees, each of whom uniquely creates a stronger, richer, and more vibrant Canadian music industry in their work and communities,” says  Andrew Cash, President and CEO of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA). “These recognitions are deeply deserved, and we are humbled to honour our peers as part of this first Make It Music Summit.”

These awards cap off the 2-day Summit of highly curated content and speakers, designed to engage, rattle, and inspire music industry professionals, regardless of discipline or career stage. 

The full schedule is available here.

The 2023 Make It Music Award Honourees: 

▪  STRONGER: Amanda Rheaume & ShoShona Kish (Ishkōdé Records)

(Formerly the Brian Chater Leadership Award)

▪  FEARLESS: Laura Simpson & Dan Mangan (Side Door Access) - Presented by Gowling WLG

(Formerly the Entrepreneur Award) 

▪  CHAMPION: Farley Flex Nwaigbo (Plasma Management & Productions Inc.)

(Formerly the Unsung Hero Award)

▪  BOLD: Monstercat & WHIPPED CREAM for “SOMEONE YOU CAN COUNT ON”

(Formerly the Marketing Award)

▪  CHANGE: Jake Gold (The Management Trust)

(Formerly the Builder Award)

▪  QUEEN OF FUCKING EVERYTHING: Pegi Cecconi (SRO Management)

(An extension of the Builder Award)

The Make It Music Awards is the finale of the Make It Music summit and is part of attendees two day badge package. The Summit kic

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