News Article

Over the past 3 years Music PEI has received cuts from our various funders while we have been increasing our activities and services to our members. It has become increasingly difficult to maintain the same level of service while experiencing reduced revenues. In the current economic climate, the provincial government has advised us to expect more cuts in the future.

The Island’s music industry has shown tremendous growth since Music PEI began operating as a full-time music industry association representing the province of PEI since 2008. Since that time, the association has:

• Created a grant program that distributes close to $90,000 annually to PEI’s music industry and has created over one million dollars in private sector investment.
• Created Showcase PEI, the annual business development conference which has directly resulted in close to a million dollars in work for PEI artists.
• Developed Music PEI Week into a successful week-long event that celebrates the successes of the Island’s music industry while delivering high quality professional development workshops and created a nationally broadcast television tribute concert for Gene MacLellan along with numerous other radio broadcasts. Audiences for Music Week have grown from a few hundred to over 4,000.
• Music PEI has become a voice at the national table for PEI and an advocate for our industry and is a member of the Canadian Council of Music Industry Associations. We have actively participated in lobbying the federal government on issues such as the copyright laws.
• Music PEI is a hub and resource centre of industry news, information, business opportunities and events locally, regionally and internationally.
• Current paid members receive performance opportunities through lead distribution.

PEI now has more artists touring internationally than ever before and the future for the Island’s industry looks promising with the continual development of more exciting new emerging artists.
In order to maintain industry growth and continue to be proactive, Music PEI needs to replace lost funding and create new revenue opportunities. The Board of Directors and the newly established Fundraising Committee is looking at potential opportunities including fundraising events and other initiatives.

One area that you can easily help and show your support if you wish to see Music PEI to continue the work we do is to renew your membership. Of the more than 1,000 on the mailing list, only just over 300 are current members. If your membership has lapsed, we would encourage you to please renew. You have an option of renewing for more than one year at a time. Our membership fees are still among the lowest in the country for music industry associations, and in many cases we provide more services.

If you have a membership that has lapsed, it takes less than 5 minutes to renew. If you have not become a member already you can sign up online.

An increased membership provides the platform to maintain, in these tough economic times, current funding and to further lobby supporting financial partners for investment. It’s also the foundation of a vibrant healthy organisation, which in turn carries weight when pursuing partnerships. The larger the membership the more the credibility and significance Music PEI has with funding partners.

There are dozens of Island artists who have directly benefited from Music PEI’s support, initiatives, and resources in recent years; we’d like to help you reach your full potential – for your music and your career. As well as the many benefits you will receive that Music PEI offers, it will also allow you to vote on the upcoming Music PEI Awards.

The first event of our winter fundraising series will take place November 14th. An Island Affair at the Factory Cookhouse will be a great show featuring a wonderful mix of emerging and established songwriters doing their own material and covering other Island artists. We hope to see as many of you out as possible.

Thank You,
Music PEI Staff and Board of Directors