Latest news with #CanadianMusicWeek
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bryan Adams to help kick off Departure Festival, a reimagined Canadian Music Week
TORONTO – The inaugural Departure Festival gets underway today in Toronto. Formerly known as Canadian Music Week, the six-day event is moving forward with a new name, different owners and a broadened scope. While it once catered almost solely to the music industry with panels and events, this year's programming includes elements dedicated to standup comedy, fashion and technology. Canadian singer Bryan Adams appears as a witness at a Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick There will be appearances by music stars Bryan Adams, Tegan and Sara, Arkells frontman Max Kerman and Shaggy, who will sit down for fireside chats. Others on the bill include Pete Holmes and Dave Chappelle, who are part of the comedy program. The Departure Festival runs until Sunday, with most of its events happening at Toronto's Hotel X. Last week, the former president of CMW resolved a legal action he had launched against the new owners, accusing them of not following through with their side of a $2-million payment. Neill Dixon said a 'miscommunication' led him to file a notice of action in Ontario court in March against Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group. He now plans to attend the festival, where he will receive and accept a previously announced lifetime achievement award. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Bryan Adams to help kick off Departure Festival, a reimagined Canadian Music Week
TORONTO - The inaugural Departure Festival gets underway today in Toronto. Formerly known as Canadian Music Week, the six-day event is moving forward with a new name, different owners and a broadened scope. While it once catered almost solely to the music industry with panels and events, this year's programming includes elements dedicated to standup comedy, fashion and technology. There will be appearances by music stars Bryan Adams, Tegan and Sara, Arkells frontman Max Kerman and Shaggy, who will sit down for fireside chats. Others on the bill include Pete Holmes and Dave Chappelle, who are part of the comedy program. The Departure Festival runs until Sunday, with most of its events happening at Toronto's Hotel X. Last week, the former president of CMW resolved a legal action he had launched against the new owners, accusing them of not following through with their side of a $2-million payment. Neill Dixon said a 'miscommunication' led him to file a notice of action in Ontario court in March against Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group. He now plans to attend the festival, where he will receive and accept a previously announced lifetime achievement award. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
01-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Former CMW president resolves ‘miscommunication' with buyers that led to legal action
TORONTO - The former president of Canadian Music Week says legal action he launched over what he characterizes as a 'miscommunication' with the festival's new owners has been resolved. Neill Dixon filed a notice of action in Ontario court in March against Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group, which purchased Canadian Music Week last year and renamed it Departure Festival and Conference. Dixon alleged the companies didn't live up to their side of the $2-million deal, but now says that was based on a miscommunication. With the spat over, Dixon says he'll attend the festival where he'll receive and accept a lifetime achievement award. The inaugural Departure event is set to begin Tuesday and run for six days, with celebrity speakers including pop duo Tegan and Sara, Arkells frontman Max Kerman and rocker Bryan Adams. A representative for Departure says in an emailed statement that Dixon and the festival owners are 'in complete agreement on the sale and transition of the business.' 'All parties agree that what matters is the amicable solution that we have collectively arrived at,' the statement reads. Loft Entertainment was co-founded by Randy Lennox, the former head of Bell Media and past Canadian record label executive. Oak View is a Denver-based company that recently opened offices in Toronto. The four-day CMW launched in the early 1980s and built a reputation as one of the music scene's leading industry events, hosting conferences, awards shows and live performances. Since buying CMW last year, the event's new owners have rebranded it as Departure Festival and Conference and expanded its scope to include standup comedy and technology. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
01-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Former CMW president resolves ‘miscommunication' with buyers that led to legal action
TORONTO – The former president of Canadian Music Week says legal action he launched over what he characterizes as a 'miscommunication' with the festival's new owners has been resolved. Neill Dixon filed a notice of action in Ontario court in March against Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group, which purchased Canadian Music Week last year and renamed it Departure Festival and Conference. Dixon alleged the companies didn't live up to their side of the $2-million deal, but now says that was based on a miscommunication. With the spat over, Dixon says he'll attend the festival where he'll receive and accept a lifetime achievement award. The inaugural Departure event is set to begin Tuesday and run for six days, with celebrity speakers including pop duo Tegan and Sara, Arkells frontman Max Kerman and rocker Bryan Adams. A representative for Departure says in an emailed statement that Dixon and the festival owners are 'in complete agreement on the sale and transition of the business.' During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. 'All parties agree that what matters is the amicable solution that we have collectively arrived at,' the statement reads. Loft Entertainment was co-founded by Randy Lennox, the former head of Bell Media and past Canadian record label executive. Oak View is a Denver-based company that recently opened offices in Toronto. The four-day CMW launched in the early 1980s and built a reputation as one of the music scene's leading industry events, hosting conferences, awards shows and live performances. Since buying CMW last year, the event's new owners have rebranded it as Departure Festival and Conference and expanded its scope to include standup comedy and technology. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2025.
