It’s clear from financial reports assembled by Heritage Canada that Canadian music companies are selling more to foreign markets – as a percentage of their total income. This shows that the international music market appreciates our work and is still buying Canadian product.

Developing New MarketsCIMA is expanding our reach to burgeoning markets in Asia while maintaining our efforts in the UK, Europe and the United States. CIMA Music Missions such as the trip to Japan will hopefully be followed by trips to China and Korea. Even though these markets may be havens for counterfeiting and piracy, making an early entry will be rewarded once China and other nations crack down on what is increasingly becoming an embarrassment for them world wide.

CIMA will continue to press our government and private funding partners to support CIMA-led trade missions and other initiatives that emphasize export sales. Getting the Canada Brand recognized around the world, and making sure that independent Canadian bands are in demand is one of our most important jobs.

Sustaining Our International PresenceTo assist this, CIMA has been working with Heritage Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and others to incorporate the “Canadian Blast” into major international events, such as SXSW and now CMJ this October in New York. This branding must be sustained to be effective, and we are seeking other financial partners to help take it to the next level.

Looking at the representation of national organizations such as Australia, Ireland and Spain, at key international events, anyone can see how important it is for CIMA to maintain a high profile for Canadian independent music.

Our affiliations with International organizations are sustained via meetings at International events like Popkomm and MIDEM. These encounters also allow our members to rate themselves on a global level.

In that respect we are “ahead of the curve” as far as equipping our businesses for the digital marketplace. On the other hand, the vibrant touring and festivals industries in the UK and Europe are a feature of the music business that we might do well to emulate in Canada.