What We Do And How We Do It
Vision
Through transparency, trust and integrity, CIMA will be an advocacy leader, representing the national-interests of the Canadian owned independent music industry, while providing targeted services for the economic benefit of its membership.
Mandate
CIMA is the not-for-profit national trade association representing the English-language, Canadian-owned sector of the music industry. CIMA's membership consists of Canadian-owned companies and representatives of Canadian-owned companies involved in every aspect of the music, sound recording and music-related industries. They are exclusively small businesses which include: record producers, record labels, music publishers, managers, agents, creative content owners, artists, songwriters, licensors, distributors, music video producers and directors, recording studios, and others professionally involved in the sound recording and music video industries.
CIMA's mandate is to develop and advocate policies and services that serve to support a strong and economically stable Canadian independent music and sound recording industry, ensuring the long-term development of the sector and to raise the profile of Canadian independent music both in Canada and around the world.
CIMA continues to take a leadership role in improving the economic viability and well-being of the independent music and sound recording sector in important areas such as cultural industry policies and programs; intellectual property and copyright law; tax laws and tariffs; international export and trade development programs; and professional development.
Advocacy
As the trade association for the English-speaking, Canadian independent music sector, our mission is to ensure a fair and balanced marketplace, and to help our members develop new artists and grow their businesses.
Our efforts help secure both public and privately-sourced financial support for the Canadian independent music industry.
We advocate on behalf of our members and the broader independent music industry (including recording companies and artists) to address emerging copyright, tax and regulatory issues.
How?
- CIMA conducts important market research on the Canadian music industry and the role of the independent sector.
- We represent our members in public forums, at the Copyright Board and to the CRTC.
- We meet with policymakers in government at both the provincial and federal levels.
- We participate in various boards and committees, ensuring our members voices are heard and represented.
Business development
CIMA works to cultivate a fair and balanced marketplace, to help our members expand, and to help promote Canadian independent music as a viable creative commodity worldwide.
The best way to celebrate the legacy of Canadian independent music is to ensure that it has the tools that it needs to succeed and thrive, both here at home and around the world.
How?
- We stay on top of the issues, challenges and opportunities affecting our members.
- We maintain an open dialogue between our members and music industry stakeholders.
- We work with regional music industry associations and affiliated music-business organizations across Canada to ensure we're all working towards common objectives.
- At the policy level our advocacy efforts help shape public programs that create opportunities for access to national and international markets.
- We increase the impact of these programs by attracting additional sponsors to enable the participation of Canadian independents at key global events.
Our most recent efforts have resulted in the development of an effective export strategy for Canadian independent music. These CIMA-led initiatives include:
- Canada House - Sponsorship and facilitation of International Showcase opportunities
- Canada Stand - Organization and facilitation of International Trade show opportunities
- CIMA Trade Missions - Facilitation of International trade missions to emerging markets
These initiatives enable the promotion of Canadian independent music in international markets, which leads directly to export agreements between our members and international distributors, agents and buyers.
CIMA's business development activities have established a presence which competes favourably with the cultural promotion agencies of other countries.
Professional development
CIMA's member relations activities help foster leadership within the independent music sector.
Helping our members engage with each other leads to the sharing of best practices in the successful creation, marketing, and distribution of Canadian independent music.
CIMA provides professional development programs for new members and independent companies. We provide education, training and professional development opportunities for members, through workshops, seminars, bulletins and networking events.