March 20, 2017
News
Country Music Week 2016 Delivers $8.4 Million in Economic Impact
The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) announced today that Country Music Week 2016, which was hosted in the City of London for the first time, delivered $8.4 million in economic activity to the Province of Ontario.
An economic impact assessment of the event, administered by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance, shows that 18,500 music fans and industry professionals took in one or more of the Country Music Week marquee events between September 8 and 11, 2016. More than 4,900 people from outside of London travelled to the city to take in Canada’s largest annual combination of industry conference and music festival dedicated to the genre of country music.
Over 7,800 attendees filled Budweiser Gardens for the culmination of Country Music Week, the 2016 CCMA Awards Show. When tickets for the 2016 CCMA Awards Show first went on sale in December of 2015, the ticket allotment sold out in mere minutes – the fastest to-date in CCMA history.
“To bring significant economic value to our host city and province, and to have maintained cultural significance in the Canadian arts landscape for 40 years is a testament to the Canadians from coast to coast who join us in embracing country music,” said Don Green, President of the CCMA. “We look forward to building on our tradition of educating, elevating and celebrating Canadian country music for years to come.”
“It’s great to see that our investments in events like Country Music Week result in substantial benefits for artists and communities alike. It’s a real win-win,” said Duncan McKie, President of FACTOR.
“The success of the 2016 Country Music Week and the CCMA Awards Show demonstrates the importance of our support for major cultural events in the province,” said Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “Festivals and events play a vital role in Ontario’s economic and cultural prosperity, and this event was no exception. Country Music Week 2016 created local jobs, boosted the economy, attracted tourists and was a great opportunity to showcase our province’s thriving arts and culture scene.”
“The success of Country Music Week 2016 and its associated events in London, Ontario reflects the enthusiasm of the community in celebrating great music,” said Karen Thorne-Stone President & CEO of the Ontario Media Development Corporation. “We are thrilled that OMDC’s support helped showcase amazing talent and contributed to a strong economic impact in London and beyond.”
“This was the largest non-sporting event London has hosted and these numbers prove we are ready to roll out the red carpet for more world-class events,” said Matt Brown, Mayor of London. “London is a music city through and through, rich with talent and culture.”
"The economic assessment is a testament to how well the city came together and embraced Country Music Week. London proved itself once again to be an impeccable host city, this time opening the door for future major music, entertainment and cultural events," said Chris Campbell, Host Committee Chair of Country Music Week 2016 and Director of Culture and Entertainment Tourism for Tourism London.
The economic impact assessment of Country Music Week 2016, administered by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance, can be found in full HERE.
PotashCorp Country Music Week 2017 will be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, September 7-10. Details can be found at ccma.org.
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About the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA):
Established in 1976, the CCMA is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization committed to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. Built upon the foundation to educate, elevate and celebrate Canadian talent, the CCMA progressively heralds the spirit, community and creativity that country music fosters through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Sponsors of Country Music Week and the 2016 CCMA Awards Show included FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and The Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”, Radio Starmaker Fund, the Province of Ontario, the City of London and Tourism London.
Media Contact:
Sonya Koson | skoson@ccma.org | 416-947-1331 x210
We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada
and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters.
Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier de FACTOR, du gouvernement du Canada,
et des radio diffuseurs privés du Canada.