18th MMF Canada Honour Roll Awards Recap
Our 18th MMF Canada Honour Roll Awards, presented in partnership with Billboard Canada’s Managers to Watch, recognized the work and careers of several music managers including Helen Britton and Shauna de Cartier (MMF Canada Honour Roll Award), Matt Maw (MMF Canada Trailblazer Award), Sébastien Collin (Billboard Canada's Manager on the Rise), Matthew Burnett and Jordan Evans (Billboard Canada Managers of the Year), Tommas Arnby (International Manager Award).
Trailblazer Award recipient Matt Maw spoke to the power of community and how the support systems in his life helped him excel in his career. He thanked both MMF Canada and Billboard Canada for “highlighting the people doing the crucial, unseen and often unsexy work of management” and said that “to receive this honour from my respected colleagues means the world to me.” He also thanked Eric Lawrence, Rob Lanni, Devi Eknand, Vel Omazic, and Coalition Music and Canada's Music Incubator for their support, mentorship and guidance over the past 6 years. To his management roster, for trusting in him to bring their visions to life. As well as to everyone in the MMF Canada and greater music community who reached out, offered advice, put his name forward, or lent an ear or a helping hand. Finally, his husband for supporting him through it all. He ended his speech with "Be Gay, Do Crime. LANDBACK. Miigwetch.”
Joined on stage by their brand new family member, Peter and Leah of July Talk presented the Honour Roll Award to recipients Shauna de Cartier and Helen Britton. The duo emphasized the importance of balancing the personal and professional aspects of their work from the company’s first days of operating, when Helen was a new mother. “Supporting women and parents has been hallmark of our careers,” Shauna said, “indeed that’s how our partnership was forged. It is important to us that we support our artists and our staff to have families and careers. One doesn’t mean the other isn’t possible.” They continued to share the values they hold as an organization from community building to self-reliance and leadership. Then ended with a message for all the music managers in the room: “you have always been important and that is true now more than ever. Stick with it, adapt, change and work with your artists to discover their own unique pathway to a sustainable career. Now, more than ever, we need people who care about art and artists.”
Following the event’s honouree speeches and presentations, MMF Canada’s executive director Amie Therrien said, “as a team at MMF Canada we are mindful of building community where all are welcome. We work hard to create safe spaces to connect, learn, and grow. This core value was reflected in the Honour Roll Awards event and in the ethos and speeches of the night's honourees. We know that it's also reflected widely across our community.“ She also highlighted their first-ever national music managers survey — set to be released later this year. The survey received over 250 responses and holds the potential to greatly impact the evolution of the music management sector.
Read more about the MMF Canada Honour Roll recipients and view photos from the event here.
Read more about the event in Billboard Canada’s recap.
