2023-2026 Board of Directors Announced at CIMA’s Annual General Meeting
[TORONTO, ON – October 26, 2023] The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) this afternoon at Offworld Bar in Toronto where members and stakeholders gathered to observe the election of the 2023-2026 Board of Directors. The event was also broadcast virtually to members across the country.
It was Toronto R&B and hip-hop duo TRP.P that kicked off this afternoon’s event with a commanding performance. This led attendees straight into the AGM business. Members had the chance to hear from CIMA’s President Andrew Cash who highlighted current industry challenges, what CIMA is doing and has done to continue to support the independent sector. Cash also presented CIMA’s research study with Chartmetric measuring the success of active Canadian independent artists.
“CIMA has worked hard to build a suite of new benefits, services and partnerships to help our music companies and artists make it on the global stage,” says Cash. “It has been an incredible year of growth and as we continue our advocacy work in Canada and internationally, I’d like to thank our members, our board and our sponsors for their constant support. Together we are stronger.”
Tim Potocic, CIMA’s Board Chair, touched on some of the organizations biggest accomplishments this year including new initiatives, new partnerships, and the inaugural Make It Music conference.
“CIMA has emerged from the pandemic with incredible export programs and a host of domestic incentives for its membership. CIMA’s unwavering lobbying for the independent community continues to foster a strong voice in the government that supports our membership and advocates for a strong music business. We are the strongest voice for the music community,” says Potocic.
Following last week’s announcement about CIMA teaming up with ADISQ and SOPROQ to build the first-ever pan-Canadian rights and royalty Collective Management Organization (CMO) for independent music companies and artists, President of SOPROQ’s Board of Directors, Mark Lazare, gave an overview of the organization, its benefits to CIMA members and how they can join SOPROQ.
Members were then treated to a presentation from Chartmetric President and COO Andreas Katsambas, who spoke about the latest Canadian industry trends using information gathered from Canadian independent label artists and the music they’ve released.
Most importantly, during today’s AGM, CIMA members re-elected incumbents Tim Potocic (Sonic Unyon Records), David Cox (CLK Creative Works), Gord Dimitrieff (Aporia Records), Simon Mortimer-Lamb (Nettwerk Music Group Inc) and Justin West (Secret City Music Inc) to 3-year terms.
These Directors will be joining incumbents: Amanda Rheaume (Ishkode Records); Gourmet Délice (Bonsound); Meagan Davidson (Tiny Kingdom Music); Susan de Cartier (Starfish Entertainment); Daniel Turcotte (Monstercat) Shauna de Cartier (Six Shooter Records); Sandy Pandya (ArtHaus Music/Pandyamonium); Kieran Roy (Arts & Crafts Productions Inc.); Kesi Smyth (604 Records) and Iain Taylor (Cadence Music Group).
In the coming weeks, the newly elected Board will appoint two new Directors to one-year terms. The Board will use these appointments to add Directors who can address imbalances and gaps in CIMA's leadership representation of ethnic or cultural diversity, gender, sexuality, skillsets, geography, and/or genres of music.
CIMA extends a warm thank-you and appreciation to the 2022-2023 Board of Directors for its hard work and leadership, as well as congratulations and welcome to the 2023–2026 Board of Directors.
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Media Contact:
Jenia Schukov
Communications & Export Programming Officer
E: jenia[at]cimamusic.ca