The proprietors of the renamed Departure — the festival and conference that was previously known as Canadian Music Week (CMW) — are facing a lawsuit from its original founder and president for breach of contract and unpaid sale commissions.
A notice of legal action was submitted to the Ontario Court of Justice this week (March 17), where Neill Dixon has initiated a lawsuit against the Departure owners, which include Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group (OVG) Canada.
Dixon alleges that the companies have breached their contract, been unjustly enriched, and failed to pay a fair fee for work completed, seeking damages totaling $435,428 along with $50,000 in punitive and aggravated damages. The lawsuit claims that the new owners have not fulfilled the complete sale payment of $2,000,000 that was agreed upon in June 2024.
“After 42 years contributing to a globally respected Canadian music enterprise, I took the challenging step to sell and retire, relying on the buyers to meet their obligations outlined in our agreement,” Dixon shared with Billboard Canada in an official statement. “I’ve been compelled to launch this lawsuit to ensure they adhere to their commitments. It’s disheartening to see years of dedication and effort met with such treatment.”
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In a response to Billboard Canada, Loft and OVG confirmed they received the lawsuit notification and stated that they have been in discussions with Dixon regarding the terms.
“LOFT Entertainment and Oak View Group acknowledge receipt of the formal claim from Neill Dixon,” they stated. “We have been engaged in negotiations with Neill and his attorney for an extended time to finalize our mutually agreed terms. If we cannot reach an accord, we will consider alternative courses of action.”
Dixon made public his retirement and the sale of CMW to Loft and U.S.-based OVG (which has opened a Canadian office) on the day of the conference opening last summer. In a surprising pivot before the close of 2024, the new proprietors proclaimed their intention to rebrand the event as Departure. The festival operated as Canadian Music Week since 1982, encompassing Dixon’s entire tenure as president, during which it gained prominence as one of Canada’s key music industry conferences.
The new management team announced the name change at a promotional event in November at the new headquarters of the conference, Hotel X in Toronto. The new Departure leadership team — featuring Loft co-founder Randy Lennox, CEO Jackie Dean, and executive producer Kevin Barton alongside OVG Canada president Tom Pistore — presented an innovative vision for the festival, broadening the music event’s scope to encompass comedy, technology, food, and more. Among the confirmed speakers for this year are Matty Matheson, Bryan Adams, and Dallas Green.
Dixon attended the launch event, where Lennox and Barton declared they would honor the former CMW co-founder with a lifetime achievement accolade at the upcoming festival, scheduled to be held from May 6-11, 2025.
However, Dixon now asserts that the new proprietors have failed to meet their financial obligations to him.
Full story here. – Richard Trapunski
IFPI Global Music Report 2025 Highlights Canadian Revenue Growth, International Punjabi Music Initiative
Canada’s music market remains robust, with revenues climbing to $660.3 million USD in 2024.
This is according to the IFPI, representing the global recording sector. The IFPI’s 2025 State of the Industry report reiterates Canada’s position as the 8th largest music market globally.
Canada’s revenue growth for 2024 shows a modest increase of 1.5%, yet the report indicates that this year’s figures relate to an exceptionally high 2023, which experienced a significant one-time revenue from performance rights.
Meanwhile, Canada’s leading artist, Drake, saw his global reputation improve. Despite a challenging year for the superstar’s image, his international popularity surged, moving up from No. 4 to No. 2 in the IFPI’s artist rankings, surpassed only by Taylor Swift.
The report also acknowledges the collaborative venture of Warner Canada and Warner India, 91 North, which has been successfully enhancing the visibility of South Asian music in Canada and internationally. In the report, Warner India’s Jay Mehta and Warner Canada’s Kristen Burke talked about how this collaborative label formed. Mehta mentions that the concept stemmed from his observations during lockdown when he saw the surge of Punjabi talent emerging from Canada.
“While it was already a significant consumption market, Canada was increasingly evolving into a significant creator market, consistently producing impressive Indian sounds,” Mehta remarked. He collaborated with Burke to establish a label that could support South Asian artists in Canada with substantial followings in India.
“Jay and I quickly came together and recognized that there was a genuine opportunity to be the inaugural label dedicated to truly supporting these artists,” Burke added.
Read more about Canadian insights in the IFPI Global Music Report here. – Rosie Long Decter
Canadian Country Music Association Introduces Francophone Artist of the Year Category for 2025
The Canadian Country Music Association has introduced a new accolade for Francophone Artist of the Year.
The first award will be bestowed during Country Music Week in Kelowna, B.C., this September. This addition signifies an important milestone for the CCMA Awards, acknowledging the growing presence of Francophone artists in Canadian country music and the genre’s popularity in Quebec.
“The introduction of the Francophone Artist of the Year category marks a vital advancement in recognizing the diversity within Canadian country music,” stated Amy Jeninga, CCMA President, in a statement. “We are excited to offer a dedicated platform that celebrates and supports Francophone country artists, ensuring their contributions gain the recognition they warrant.”
The eligibility period extends from March 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025. Seventy percent of the artist’s released work during this timeframe must be in French.
This new accolade, which joins the existing 15 artist awards at the CCMAs, aims to highlight Francophone artists who may not receive national recognition.
Quebec boasts a vibrant Francophone country music scene. The province’s ADISQ Gala annually awards a prize for Country Album, with past winners and nominees including Acadian band Salebarbes, vocalist Alex Burger, and multi-instrumentalist pairing Hauterive.
Francophone country musicians are also distributed across the nation beyond Quebec. The Ontario counterpart of the CCMAs, the Country Music Association of Ontario, already includes a similar award that celebrates Francophone artists. Reney Ray of Kapuskasing, Ontario, received the 2024 CMA Ontario Award for Francophone artist of the year.
The introduction of this new accolade within the CCMAs represents the latest adaptation by significant Canadian music associations to acknowledge the nation’s cultural and musical diversity.
Read more here. – RLD
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
