The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) announced today that Saint John will host East Coast Music Week (ECMW) in 2017. The event takes place from April 19-23, 2017 and marks a return to the city for the first time in 15 years.
“I am thrilled that the East Coast Music Week is coming back to Saint John,” says Chuck Teed, ECMA Second Vice Chair and Head of the 2017 Organizing Committee. “This event is a key date on the East Coast musical calendar and our committee is dedicated to putting a special Saint John touch on this world class event.”
From humble beginnings in a Halifax bar, East Coast Music Week has grown from a one-day $1,000 event to a five-day international gathering, with a budget exceeding $1.6 million. Including components such as a festival, conference, export buyers program and awards, ECMW has become the premier event of its kind in Atlantic Canada, attracting millions of dollars in economic spin-off. By inviting members of the international music industry to attend, ECMW has been a driving force in marketing Atlantic Canadian music to the world.
The East Coast Music Association partnered with Discover Saint John for today’s announcement. A not-for-profit, public-private, corporation with the mandate for tourism promotion for the Saint John Region, Discover Saint John’s mission is to increase tourism revenues in Saint John by marketing their unique and competitive tourism experiences to high potential markets. Saint John receives approximately 1.5 million visitors a year and the industry generates almost $250 million annually.
“Major events, such as East Coast Music Week, happen in our city thanks to the dedication and vision of local champions like Chuck Teed and his committee,” saysVictoria Clarke, Executive Director of Discover Saint John. “The 2017 event is estimated to generate $3.1 million for Saint John as the host city. East Coast Music Week is big business with visitors spending on accommodations, dining and drinks, retail and transportation. The whole community wins.”
Eastlink East Coast Music Week 2016 takes place in Sydney, NS from April 13-17. Last week, ECMA announced Ashley MacIsaac and Heather Rankin as co-hosts for the 2016 East Coast Music Awards Gala. Early bird tickets, festival passes, and wristbands are on sale now at http://ecma.com/festival/tickets.
The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) is a regional collaboration of people in the music industry of Atlantic Canada that fosters, develops and celebrates East Coast music and its artists locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. The ECMA annually produces one of the top music industry events in Canada, Eastlink East Coast Music Week, which includes Awards, a Festival, an Industry Conference and the International Export Buyers Program. ECMA and its programs are generously funded by the Government of Canada through the International Business Development Agreement (represented by Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and Industry Canada), the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund), the four provincial governments in Atlantic Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and MUSICACTION. ECMA recognizes the support of the province of Nova Scotia, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, ECMW Title Sponsor Eastlink, Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation, The Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, Gold Partners Molson Canadian, NewCap Radio, and The Cape Breton Post.
This project is funded in part by FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters.
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