Who we are
The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) is the national trade association representing the English-language, Canadian-owned sector of the music industry.

CIMA’s membership consists of Canadian-owned companies and representatives of Canadian-owned companies involved in every aspect of the music, sound recording and music-related industries.

Our Mandate and Purpose
CIMA’s mandate is to ensure the long-term development of the sector and to raise the profile of Canadian independent music both in Canada and around the world.

CIMA continues to take a leadership role in improving the economic viability and well-being of the independent music and sound recording sector in important areas such as cultural industry policies and programs; intellectual property and copyright law; tax laws and tariffs; international export and trade development programs; and professional development.

Export Development
CIMA undertakes various initiatives to raise the profile and increase the success of the Canadian music industry at home and abroad. These include outgoing and incoming trade missions, marketing campaigns, educational programs and export marketing initiatives at international conferences and trade shows.

Export Marketing Initiatives – The Canada Stand
CIMA works proactively to assist the independent sector to expand business-to-business opportunities and business partnerships in the international marketplace. Chief among its strategies has been the creation and delivery of the Canada Stand, a collective initiative to provide strategic support for Canadian companies at key international trade shows around the world.

Through the services provided by the Canada Stand brand, CIMA is able to facilitate Canadian independent labels and companies to build strategic alliances in major markets and establish new contacts and networks, to strengthen relations with existing contacts, to access new sales territories and new distribution networks, to license product, to export/import finished goods and to gain a better understanding of international markets.

CIMA created the first national pavilion at MIDEM, France introducing the Canada Stand in 1978 and has since also maintained the Canada Stand at POPKOMM in Berlin, Germany since 1996, and at SXSW in Austin, Texas (USA) since 2005.

CIMA participates in trade shows and festivals around the world such as: The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound (UK), Iceland Airwaves, Reeperbahn Festival (Germany), Music Matters (Hong Kong), CMJ (New York), ADE Amsterdam Dance Event (the Netherlands), WOMEX (Spain), Pop Montreal (Canada)

CIMA has conducted outgoing trade missions to the USA and Asia. As well, CIMA is a primary partner in two domestic initiatives: the International Marketplace at Canadian Music Week (CMW) and the Festival Music House at the Toronto International Film Festival®.