TORONTO, June 9, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) is looking forward to hosting its inaugural 2015 Awards Gala & 40th Anniversary Celebrations at Toronto's The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West) on Monday, June 15, 2015 . Hosted by the CBC's Grant Lawrence, the evening will feature a reception, dinner Gala, special performances and a Canadian Blast afterparty! Formally incorporated in 1975, CIMA - then called the Canadian Independent Record Production Association (CIRPA) - has served as the voice of the independent music industry for over forty years. The first organization of its kind in the world, CIMA has been a vital force in establishing the industry infrastructure that exists today, ranging from the creation of FACTOR to working with MuchMusic to establish VideoFACT to the launch of the Canada Music Fund. To mark the occasion, CIMA will be launching four new Awards - the Founders Award (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 (Pegi Cecconi, SRO-Anthem), the Entrepreneur Award (Jeffrey Remedios, Arts & Crafts Productions), and the Unsung Hero Award (Jack Long, Long and McQuade Musical Instruments). CIMA is excited to announce the talented artists who will be performing at the 2015 Awards Gala & 40th Anniversary Celebrations: Myles Goodwyn , Jason Collett , Ian Thornley , Hawksley Workman and Tomi Swick . The Canadian Blast afterparty, held immediately at the conclusion of the Awards Gala, will shift the spotlight towards showcasing some of the best emerging talent that Canada's independent music scene has to offer, featuring performances by CAIRO, Grand Analog , Ain't No Love and the OBGMs . "We're looking forward to celebrating this important milestone on June 15 with the help of this great Canadian talent," says CIMA President Stuart Johnston. "The Gala and our inaugural Awards show will give us plenty of opportunity to look back on the successes of our industry over the past 40 years, while also celebrating today's success stories. We couldn't ask for a better set of artists to help us celebrate this year's award winners." The 2015 Awards Gala & 40th Anniversary Celebrations wouldn't be possible without the generous contributions of the following partners and sponsors: the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR), MuchFACT, Slaight Music, Stingray Music, Molson Canadian, Constellations Brands, Recording Artists' Collecting Society (ACTRA RACS), the Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM), the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd (CMRRA), Musicians' Rights Organization Canada (MROC), Re:Sound, Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) and the Government of Canada. TICKET INFORMATION: The CIMA 2015 Awards Gala & 40th Anniversary Celebrations are officially sold out! We still have some tickets available for the Canadian Blast Afterparty - tickets are $10 and available for purchase through EventBrite. For more information about the 2015 Awards Gala & 40th Anniversary Celebrations, please click here. For more information, please contact: Lisa Fiorilli Research & Communications Coordinator Canadian Independent Music Association lisa@cimamusic.ca 416-485-3152, extension 223. 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.
Lisa Fiorilli Research & Communications Coordinator Canadian Independent Music Association 416-485-3152, extension 223.
