鈥淭his is truly a vibrant time for Vancouver鈥檚 thriving music industry.鈥�
That quote was buried toward the bottom of a city-issued news release that went out Thursday afternoon. Attributed to Creative BC CEO Prem Gill, the statement is part of a news release highlighting the 麻豆传媒映画Music Strategy.
What is the 麻豆传媒映画Music Strategy, who is behind it and what鈥檚 its intention?
鈥淭he purpose of the 麻豆传媒映画Music Strategy is to increase the integration and awareness for the music industry by the city,鈥� the press release notes.
The strategy has been almost two years in the making and recommendations are going to council this summer to 鈥渋nform the city鈥檚 approach to the music industry in the future.鈥�
Those recommendations are being shaped by the 麻豆传媒映画Music Steering Committee and a separate advisory committee. Members of the steering committee include a pair of city bureaucrats, two people from the opera and orchestra communities, a representative from Nimbus School of Recording & Media, and two others from Music BC and Music Canada. Rob Calder works in artist management and runs the record label Boompa Records.
In the two years since the plan's establishment, the Media Club has gone belly up, the Rio Theatre is fighting for its life, the Cobalt is on the cusp of closure and the Red Gate Arts Society has to find a new home by May.
In the last 10 years, Vancouver鈥檚 live music venue closure list includes Richards on Richards, the Columbia, the Brickyard and the Picadilly Pub. Mesa Luna and the Starfish Room went kaput in the early 2000s.
Back to the news release for this quote:
鈥淭he steering committee鈥檚 recommendations will be made by analyzing strengths, weaknesses, and gaps that exist within the 麻豆传媒映画music ecosystem, allowing for the sustainability of the sector.鈥�
Industrial land prices have increased exponentially 鈥� double the price in some cases 鈥� in the last five years, putting a massive squeeze on rehearsal facilities and their prices. Artistic types are leaving 麻豆传媒映画for cheaper cities.
Enter a pair of studies: Music BC鈥檚 鈥淐ity of 麻豆传媒映画Music Ecosystem鈥� and Music Canada Live鈥檚 鈥淓conomic Impact Assessment of Live Music in B.C.鈥�
Findings and recommendations from both studies will be released later this spring and will help shape the policies going before council this summer.
More to come.
- This story has been updated since first published.
@JohnKurucz
