CIMA and MusicOntario Launch LIVE Music Toronto With 45 Founding Venues
The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) and MusicOntario have launched a joint advocacy initiative called LIVE Music Toronto, aimed at independent and grassroots venues, festivals, promoters and curators in the city — both for-profit and non-profit. The group positions itself as a collective voice on municipal policy, resources and long-term sustainability, and launches with 45 founding members while continuing to recruit. According to IQ Magazine, CIMA president and CEO Andrew Cash expects membership to keep growing once the initiative is publicly announced. Pollstar has called it Toronto's first formal trade body for the independent live sector.
Who can join
Cash told IQ that Toronto is North America's fourth-largest music market and is good at staging large concerts and events, but that "the backbone of any vibrant music ecosystem" is an active local independent live scene. He noted that Toronto and Ontario have plenty of small venues operating well, but no collective body speaking specifically for them.
Membership has defined eligibility criteria. Applicants must:
- Be an independent venue, promoter, curator or festival
- Be Canadian-owned and controlled
- Operate in Toronto
- Sit outside