The Canadian Independent Record Production Association (CIRPA) is an organisation representing the independent sector of the Canadian music and sound industry. It was established on 20 January 1971. [1]
The organization has organized group participation of its member labels and distributors in trade shows, including France's MIDEM. Peterson acted as the company's president for many years. [2]
Paul Hayden Desser, who records as Hayden, is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Thornhill, Ontario.
Thrush Hermit was a Canadian alternative rock band active in the 1990s, known for their "highly energetic, humorous, and unpredictable performances," as quoted by Vice News.
BKS was a Canadian techno group created by radio DJ Chris Sheppard, with Hennie Bekker and Greg Kavanagh. They were best known for collaborating with hockey personality Don Cherry to create the song "Rock Em Sock Em Techno".
Avex Inc. is a Japanese entertainment conglomerate led by founder Max Matsuura and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1988, the company manages J-pop talents like Ayumi Hamasaki, TVXQ! and internet sensation PikoTaro. It has also shifted into other business domains like anime, video games and live music events, partnering with Ultra Music Festival and hosting the annual A-nation. The company is a member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) keiretsu.
Sonic Unyon is an independent record label based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The label has put out releases by bands including Tristan Psionic, Sianspheric, Shallow North Dakota, Eric's Trip, Hayden, Chore, Frank Black and the Catholics, A Northern Chorus, Raising the Fawn, Teenage Head, Simply Saucer, and Voivod. The label’s current artist roster includes Big Wreck, Danko Jones, Terra Lightfoot, and Basement Revolver.
Smoother was a Canadian rock band from Hamilton, Ontario, headed by lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Andrew Franey. Members included Beau Cook on bass and vocals, keyboardist James Flemings-Strange, drummer Adam Benning and Todd Knight on guitar and vocals.
Chore were a Canadian post-hardcore band from Dunnville, Ontario.
The Canadian Music Centre was founded in 1959 by a group of Canadian composers who saw a need to create a repository for Canadian music. It now holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music, and works to promote the music of its Associate Composers in Canada and around the world.
Wilson Street is a Lower City collector road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts off at James Street North and works its way East and ends at Sherman Avenue North. The section between James Street and Ferguson Avenue was a one-way road, but was converted to a two-way street at 10 am on December 10, 2010.
Fontana North is a Canadian record distribution company and represents the Canadian wing of Fontana Distribution. It is a joint venture between Canadian-based Cadence Music Group and US-based Fontana Distribution. The company was established by MapleCore in 2004 as MapleNationwide, and in 2006, it partnered with Fontana Distribution and was rebranded as Fontana North. It has expanded throughout Canada for pan-Canadian distribution of many music labels. On August 22, 2013 it was announced that they would be teaming up with Distort Entertainment in a joint venture deal with Fontana North acting as the main distributor of the hardcore label.
Quality Records was a Canadian entertainment company which released music albums in Canada on behalf of American record labels. They also released recordings by Canadian artists.
Sianspheric is a Canadian space rock and shoegazing band originally from Hamilton, Ontario. This group were early signees to the Sonic Unyon label.
Hennie Bekker is a Zambian-born composer, arranger, producer and keyboardist based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His work includes jazz fusion, film scoring, new-age and techno. Bekker won a Juno Award for his work with techno-driven trio BKS.
Dale Morningstar is a Canadian rock musician and recording engineer and producer, originally from Chippawa, Ontario.
The Canadian independent music scene has been active for some decades, with significant growth occurring in the mid-1970s. The industry is largely split along the language divide, for example SOPROQ is a collective that focuses mainly on the French-speaking domestic sector and some international artists, whereas the Canadian Independent Record Production Association (CIRPA) is an industry association composed of English speaking labels, producers and others. Dorland argues that "the racial and ethnic boundaries" are growing stronger.
Terra Lightfoot is a Canadian musician and singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Ontario who has released four albums with the independent music label Sonic Unyon Recording Company and is distributed by Universal Music Group in Canada and The Orchard outside of Canada. She performs in a folk and roots rock style known for bold vocals and electric guitar riffs.