June 1, 2022

Today in General Committee, the City of Mississauga shared its first-ever Music Strategy: 2022-2026, which identifies 32 key actions to support the growth and development of Mississauga’s music industry. The strategy is the first of its kind for the City.

“Mississauga is working to put our name on the map as a ‘Music City’, and this strategy is a big step forward in helping us achieve it. Our city is home to world-class, diverse talent and excellent live music, positioning us in an optimal place for growth, tourism, and job creation,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “We have a unique opportunity in front of us to become an internationally-recognized incubator for musical talent and a national hub for music events and festivals. I’m so thrilled to support this strategy as we pave the way towards becoming a recognized destination for the music industry and start live performances and events once again.”

The Music Strategy advances recommendations from the City’s approved Culture Master Plan, Creative Industries Strategy and Economic Recovery Plan – Creative Industries. These documents highlight the need for targeted actions to support Mississauga’s growing music sector. The strategy proposes 13 recommendations and 32 actions over the next five years and includes plans for economic recovery for musicians and businesses emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. Its guiding principles include:

·         Amplifying Mississauga’s artists: create employment, professional development and promotional opportunities within and beyond Mississauga’s borders

·         Creating a favourable environment for live music: make the city an attractive place for live music events, festivals and music venues – where artists choose to perform and businesses operate

·         Supporting underrepresented people and groups: improve equity and inclusion within the City’s music sector, using the power of music to build a strong and resilient community

·         Celebrating Mississauga’s history and success: recognize the achievements of local musicians, industry leaders and institutions to maximize tourism potential and raise the profile of Mississauga’s music sector

“We’re proud to launch this made-in-Mississauga strategy and take music to new levels in our city; this strategy lays the foundation for long-term growth over the next five years. As a City, we recognize the many benefits a vibrant music economy brings,” said Jodi Robillos, Commissioner, Community Services. “We know the music industry needs targeted support. We have a large, diverse talent pool, wide range of music production, great spaces to share and enjoy music, and many training and professional development opportunities. Harnessing these economic and cultural benefits inspired us to develop our own unique strategy to support and grow Mississauga’s music sector.”

In July 2019, the City made a commitment to grow and support its music sector outlined in its Creative Industries Strategy by opening its Music Office, which included hiring full-time staff dedicated to sector development.

The framework of the strategy was developed with significant community and sector input which included:

·         Stakeholder and community engagement sessions

·         Music strategy survey

·         Hosting internal stakeholder and music industry consultations

The City’s Music Strategy will be going to Council on June 8 for approval.

For more information, visit mississauga.ca/publication/mississauga-music-strategy.