TORONTO, April 27, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) is thrilled to be celebrating 40 years of representing Canada's independent music industry. Founded in 1971 and incorporated on July 4, 1975, CIMA - then called CIRPA (Canadian Independent Record Producers Association) - was the first independent music organization of its kind in the world. For the last 40 years, CIMA has been proudly serving as the voice of the Canadian independent music community. Our lobbying and advocacy efforts have focused on vital issues like copyright, funding, broadcasting and Canadian content requirements, while we've been engaged in exporting Canadian music for over a decade through our Canadian Blast brand. From administering FACTOR in its earliest days to working alongside MuchMusic to establish VideoFACT to the creation of the Canada Music Fund, CIMA's work over the past forty years has had a hand in building the vital industry infrastructure that exists today. Without the vision, tenacity and hard work of the independent music community, none of this would have been possible. To celebrate CIMA's legacy as well as to look towards the future, CIMA is proud to be launching the inaugural CIMA Awards Gala as part of our anniversary celebrations. The 2015 Awards Gala and 40th Anniversary Celebrations will be held on Monday, June 15, 2015 at The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West) in Toronto. The evening will showcase the strength, diversity and breadth of Canada's independent music sector by honouring the companies and personalities that have been instrumental to building its past, present and future. The Gala will be hosted by the CBC's Grant Lawrence, and will feature special performances, highlighting the great talent across the industry. "This is an exciting milestone for our organization, as it gives us the opportunity to look back and truly recognize the efforts of our industry's forefathers -- the trailblazers who, through talent, skill, entrepreneurship and sheer force of will, shaped the the industry and CIMA into what it is today," says Stuart Johnston, President of CIMA. "Of course, the Gala and our inaugural awards will also give us the opportunity to recognize the success of today's influential players in the industry. Plus it's a great excuse to have a fun party filled with great Canadian music too." The inaugural edition of the Awards Gala and 40th Anniversary Celebrations will see the creation of four award categories: the Founders Award, the Brian Chater Leadership Award, the Entrepreneur Award and the Unsung Hero Award. The award recipients were selected by an independent jury of industry experts and tastemakers. The Founders Award is designed to spotlight outstanding individuals (or organizations) who have made a significant, influential and longstanding contribution to the Canadian independent music industry. For our 40th Anniversary Gala, we will be formally honouring the original, founding members of what would become CIMA - those key, trailblazing individuals whose meeting in December 1970 at the Inn on the Park set the stage of the first trade association for the independent music community in Canada. These individuals are: Bernie Finkelstein, Stan Klees, Terry Brown, Frank Davies, Tommy Graham, Greg Hambleton, Jack Richardson, Allan Macmillan, Ben McPeek, Art Snider and Paul Clinch. The Brian Chater Leadership Award goes to individual(s) in the music field who demonstrate success through a culture of innovation, market knowledge and artist development, while demonstrating exceptional vision and true industry leadership. The inaugural Brian Chater Leadership Award will be presented to Pegi Cecconi, Vice-President at SRO-Anthem . The Entrepreneur Award celebrates the risk takers, trendsetters and those who drive successful businesses with an ethical approach and a true indie spirit! Focusing on the contribution(s) of a dynamic, creative and visionary leader, the Award recipient(s) is driven by their love and passion for music but with the business chops to turn their vision into a reality! The inaugural Entrepreneur Award will be presented to Jeffrey Remedios, President and Co-Founder of Arts & Crafts Productions. And finally, the Unsung Hero Award will recognize an unwavering commitment and outstanding support to the Canadian independent music industry. The Award is intended to recognize any individual, group or organization that may not necessarily be on the industry's 'awards radar' but has made an outstanding and exceptional contribution to the independent music community in Canada. We are proud to announce that the inaugural Unsung Hero Award will be presented to Jack Long, Co-Founder and CEO of Long & McQuade Musical Instruments . The 2015 Awards Gala & 40th Anniversary Celebrations will feature a reception, dinner gala with special performances, as well as a Canadian Blast afterparty. Tickets for the Gala are $75 and tickets for the Canadian Blast afterparty are $10, and both can now be purchased online at www.cimagala2015.eventbrite.ca . Additional performance details to follow. The 2015 Awards Gala & 40th Anniversary Celebrations would not be possible without generous suport from the following sponsors: the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), FACTOR, MuchFACT, Slaight Music, ACTRA RACS, CFM, CMRRA, MROC, Re:Sound, SOCAN, the Government of Canada and more!
ABOUT CIMA: Celebrating its 40th year in 2015, CIMA is the not-for-profit national trade association representing the English-language, Canadian-owned sector of the music industry, and is the first organization of its kind in the world. CIMA represents a diverse membership consisting of Canadian-owned companies and their ambassadors, all of whom are involved in every aspect of the music, sound recording and music-related industries. They are exclusively small businesses which include: record producers, record labels, recording studios, managers, agents, licensors, music video producers and directors, creative content owners, artists and other professionals involved in the sound recording industry. CIMA's mandate is to develop and advocate policies and services that serve to support a strong and economically stable Canadian independent music and sound recording industry, ensuring the long-term development of the sector and to raise the profile of Canadian independent music both in Canada and around the world. www.cimamusic.ca
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For more information, please contact: Lisa Fiorilli Research & Communications Coordinator Canadian Independent Music Association 416-485-3152, ext. 223
