Music Means Business

When you have music, the economy in your city can sing. Businesses directly related to music or benefitting from a thriving music scene can prosper, and residents of the region can rejoice in the social benefits it brings.

After becoming the first city in Canada to receive the UNESCO City of Music designation, it only seemed fitting for the London Chamber of Commerce to pair up with the City of London and other community partners to create and host a new full-day, annual event.

London Chamber of Commerce

As a member-focused organization that celebrates and amplifies the success of its members, the London Chamber of Commerce is a leader of the region’s business community.

By supporting business diversity and excellence, the London Chamber of Commerce advocates for positive outcomes and helps members make meaningful connections, contributing to the region’s diverse economic strength and social progress.

London City of Music Expo

Thursday, March 30, 2023 |
2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. EDT |
RBC Place London

The London City of Music Expo will celebrate London’s unique status as the first UNESCO City of Music in Canada, showcasing how music contributes to the local economy, community and culture.

Featuring live performances from local artists, the event will shine a spotlight on London’s most talented musicians. It will also include various workshops and seminars where attendees can learn more about what it means to be a UNESCO City of Music.

The Expo will also consist of exhibitors from all areas of the music industry, such as artists, producers, venues and studios, as well as exhibitors that directly benefit London’s thriving music scene, including hotels, bars, restaurants and breweries.

Want to explore more about The City of Music

Attend the City of Music Conference to meet, learn from and engage with music champions from across Ontario.

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First 1,000 tickets are FREE
$15 value per ticket

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Get involved!

Want to be a part of the first-ever London City of Music Expo? Reach out to take advantage of our exhibition and sponsorship opportunities:

Seminars

The Mastering of a Music City

Remarks by and a fireside chat with the Honourable Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

4:45 pm

A Music City, by its simplest definition, is a place with a vibrant music economy. There is growing recognition among governments and other stakeholders that Music Cities can deliver significant economic, employment, cultural, and social benefits. Are you looking to draw tourists to your city? Attract tech firms and the bright, young people they employ? Build your city’s brand? Think music!

Join Minister Lumsden for his thoughts on London’s development as a regional hub for music, films, sports, and tourism. After his introductory remarks, the Minister will join Graham Henderson, Mark McAuley, and Miranda Mullholand for a brief fireside chat.

The Minister and the panel will be Introduced by Yola S. Ventresca. Yola is a Partner at Lerner’s Law Firm.

Our Panelists are:

Graham Henderson

Graham is the CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce and spent 30 years in the music industry and during that time was instrumental in developing the concept of a “music city”.

Miranda Mulholland

Miranda is one of the world's foremost artist advocates and has been invited to speak at the WTO, WIPO, a USMCA negotiating round in Washington, CMW, MIDEM, Banff World Media Festival, Artist Rights Symposium at University of Georgia, Copyright Society of the USA. She was the first creator to take the podium at the Economic Club of Canada. She holds the position of Creative Culture Advisor at Music Canada.

Mark McAuley

Mark is an Associate in the Business Law Group at Lerners LLP in its London office and is a former professional musician.

Careers in Music

Behind every star are hundreds of people. They have amazing careers. Who are they and what do they do?

6:15 pm

Behind every performer, you see on stage stands an army of enablers. And they have fantastic jobs. Entire college-level programs, such as Fanshawe’s Music Industry Arts, have been created to meet the demand. After a lull in opportunities in music in the early 2000s, music, and fans are back and things are booming.

The Panel will be introduced and moderated by Mark McAuley. Mark is an Associate in the Business Law Group at Lerners LLP in its London office. He has a keen interest in entrepreneurship, technology, and the arts and entertainment sector. Mark is active in the community as a board member of London Symphonia and as an executive member of the Black at Western Alumni Association. Prior to law school, Mark enjoyed a career as a musician performing with the Juno-nominated group, the McAuley Boys.

Our Panelists are:

Dan Brodbeck

Dan is a Juno award-winning, and Grammy-nominated Canadian record producer, mixer/engineer, and recording engineering professor based out of London, Ontario. He teaches in Fanshawe’s MIA program.

Margaret McGuffin

Margaret is the CEO of the Canadian Music Publishers Association and is a results-oriented senior management professional with experience in strategy and business planning. Her career has focused on research and policy development related to the cultural and media industries.

Everton Lewis

Jr. Everton is skilled in Music Supervision & Licensing, Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing, Social Media, and Music. Strong operations professional with a BA focused in MIT - Media, Info & Technoculture from The University of Western Ontario. He is the Brand Music Supervisor - PRO Unlimited at Apple.

MUSIC

The Power behind a Vibrant, Inclusive Downtown Core.

7:45 pm

There is nothing like music as a means to connect people, bridge linguistic and cultural divides and provide an avenue for identity and expression. Music is a transformative experience. Collectively, the music ecosystem generates rich social, cultural, and economic benefits. Cities are increasingly assigning importance to these advantages and working with their music communities to accelerate the growth of the music economy, and identify and eliminate barriers. Small or large, they have the potential to become Music Cities.

Join our Mayor’s Roundtable to discuss how a vibrant music scene could profoundly alter our downtown environment for the better.

The Panel will be introduced by David Lyons, Partner at Lerners.

Our Moderator is Miranda Mulholland.

Our Panelists are:

Josh Morgan

Mayor, City of London (keynote remarks)

Cheryl Finn

General Manager, Tourism London

Eunju Yi

Executive Director, London Arts Council

Graham Henderson

CEO London Chamber of Commerce

City of Music Photo Remix

As a part of the London City of Music Expo, we asked local musicians to send us the best photos of their live performances and remixed them with uniquely London backdrops, showcasing how music is very much a part of the city and its people.