Kickstart your path to success in the music industry with expert insights, practical tools, and proven strategies. This conference is designed to equip you with the knowledge and resources to confidently navigate the fast-paced music business and lay the foundation for a sustainable, thriving career.

Sunday

• 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM (90 minutes) – Industry Roundtables
• 11:10 AM – 12:25 PM (75 minutes) Voice Matters
• 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM (45 minutes) Touring Locally & Internationally
• 1:20 PM – 2:05 PM (45 minutes) Modern Music Marketing

---

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Career Connections: Industry Roundtables (90 minutes) 

Step into a dynamic, interactive session designed to fast-track your music industry relationships. Over 90 minutes, you’ll rotate through curated roundtables featuring managers, agents, labels, radio, talent buyers, and publicists/marketing professionals—gaining insider insights while building meaningful connections.

Each table offers a focused discussion on key topics, from career development to touring strategies and audience growth. Bring your questions, share your experiences, and receive feedback from both industry experts and peers in an engaging, collaborative environment.

Unlike traditional networking mixers, this format ensures every participant has a chance to connect with a wide range of professionals, making each conversation purposeful and actionable. Discover new opportunities for collaboration, spark ideas, and leave with a stronger, more diverse network to support your career growth.

Audience: Artists, songwriters, producers, managers and industry professionals

Facilitator: Logan & Jenna

Panelists:

• David Thomson — Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer
• Lisa McEwen — Nashville-Published Songwriter and Recording Artist
• Adam Gonshor — Publicist, Collabo PR
• Neil Anthony — National Promotions Manager, Starseed Entertainment
• Julia Pittman — Marketing, Sony Music Entertainment
• Dayna Bourgoin — Industry Relations, iHeartRadio Canada / National Music Director – Pure Country
• Jeremy Slattery — National Music Director, Stingray Radio
• Jodi Decker — Founder, OnDeck Music Group | Music Promotion Strategist | A&R • Artist Development
• Paul Ferguson — VP, Programming & Operations at Starboard Communications – Cool 100.1 & 95.5 Hits FM
• Steve Kassay — VP, Programming/Operations at Durham Radio Inc.
• Jenna Weishar — Head of Artist & Industry Relations, Front Porch Music
• Logan Miller — Music Marketing Professional, Branding SEO and Social Media Expert, Founder Front Porch Music
• Chloe LeBlanc — Project Manager, Strut Entertainment / STRUT VIP
• Kode Roberts — Artist Manager, The Familie
• Jill Snell — Co-founder, Jayward Artist Group Inc., founder, Road Angel Entertainment – Manager, Label VP
• Tracy-Ann Gagnon — Head of Communications and Marketing, Festival Franco-Ontarien
• Patrick Duffy — Creative Director, Attention Design
• Ali Raney — Director of Label Operations, Starseed Records
• Andy Hawke — General Manager, Anthem Records
• Brooke Dunford — Director, Booking & Business Development, Republic Live |  RLive Management | Boots and Hearts | Burl’s Creek Event Grounds
• Carla Hackman — Founder | Agent, Fame Agency Group
• Larry Heath — Associate Producer, Sounds Australia
• Glenn Dickie — Export Music Producer, Sounds Australia
• Samantha Pickard — President, Strut Entertainment

---

11:10 AM – 12:25 PM

Voice Matters: Real-World Vocal Tools for Country Artists (75 minutes) 

Led by Amanda Kind, Artist/Songwriter/Commercial Music Voice Teacher

In country music, your voice isn’t just an instrument — it’s your identity. Whether you’re in the studio or on stage night after night, consistency, authenticity, and vocal stamina are everything.

This 75-minute interactive workshop is designed specifically for artists who record and perform live. It offers a fast-paced, practical overview of the most important tools and concepts you need to keep your voice performance-ready under real-world demands. We’ll move through a range of essential topics from efficient warm-ups and targeted technical exercises (breath management, belt, stamina, agility, range) to using “primal” sounds to unlock power, tone, and stylistic options. We’ll also touch on common vocal myths that can hold singers back, replacing them with a clear, functional understanding of how the voice actually works.

At the heart of this session is the understanding that great performances come from the integration of voice, body, and mind. Country music demands emotional truth and connection, and how you feel directly impacts how you sound. Because of the condensed format, this session is designed to introduce and explore key ideas rather than go deeply into any one area, giving participants a strong foundation and practical tools they can begin applying immediately.

By the end of the session, participants will:

• Understand the basic anatomy of the voice and how it functions
• Identify the causes and symptoms of vocal strain and fatigue
• Learn daily habits that support vocal health and recovery
• Practice efficient warm-up and cool-down strategies
• Gain tools for developing skills like power, agility, and breath management

This workshop creates a supportive, artist-focused space to explore tools that help you show up consistently and confidently. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of their voice, practical exercises to support it, and a roadmap for building vocal strength, flexibility, and longevity over time.

---

12:30 PM – 1:15 PM

Touring Locally & Internationally: Expanding Your Reach Beyond Borders (45 minutes)

Practical strategies for booking venues, routing tours, maximizing show income, and using radio and industry exposure to expand into international markets.

Touring is one of the most powerful ways for independent artists to grow their audience and build a sustainable career. This workshop will guide artists through the process of planning and booking their own tours across Canada without the support of an agent or tour manager. Participants will learn how to research and route tours, approach venues professionally, promote shows effectively, and maximize income through ticket sales, merchandise, and alternative performance opportunities such as house concerts. The session will also explore how radio exposure and international industry connections can open doors to touring opportunities beyond Canada.

Participants:

• Jessie T, Artist/Songwriter
• Larry Heath, Associate Producer, Sounds Australia
• Glenn Dickie, Export Music Producer, Sounds Australia

---

1:20 PM – 2:05 PM 

Modern Music Marketing

Discover how to build a profitable music career using direct-to-consumer marketing and digital sales funnels. This workshop breaks down how to turn casual listeners into paying fans, grow and own your audience, and create consistent revenue without relying on streams, algorithms, or record deals. Learn the exact systems independent artists are using to sell their music, scale their fanbase, and build long-term, sustainable success

Facilitator: Patrick James Clark, Artist/Songwriter/Author

---

Visit Mississauga |  Port Credit BIA

Made Possible with the support of Ontario Creates