About passport

PASSPORT: MUSIC EXPORT SUMMIT

PASSPORT: Music Export Summit provides custom training, networking opportunities, and ongoing mentorship for self-managed artists, artist managers, and music companies who are actively doing business internationally or are export ready. It’s a collaborative professional development program, serving all genres of music, developed and delivered by Manitoba Music, Music Nova Scotia, and Canada’s Music Incubator, supported by FACTOR and the Government of Canada.

WHY PASSPORT:

PASSPORT assists internationally active and export-ready Canadian artists, artist managers and music companies to develop export strategies, enter new markets, establish worldwide partnerships, and connect with like-minded Canadian music professionals. PASSPORT will help you plan your strategy BEFORE you hit the ground in the market in order to make the most of your export showcases or business and team development activities. PASSPORT is a professional-level program that also includes, peer mentorship, that will address the specific needs of your export plans. 

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

Self-managed artists, artist managers, and music companies actively doing international or export-ready business should apply. Participants will have made initial inroads into international markets or are preparing for a new release campaign, international showcase festival, or tour in the coming 6-18 months. Participants will have taken part in foundational business training through their provincial music industry association, Canada’s Music Incubator, or regional music conferences, and have experience with basic music business administration and music marketing.

Participants must:

  • Be supporting a current release (in the past 12 months or upcoming 18 months)

  • Be available to attend the Passport: Music Export Summit (see dates/locations below)

  • Be 18-years-of-age or older

  • Be an artist or representative for an artist who is export-ready or working towards export-readiness. This can include experience with regional touring, success with music industry grants, significant streams and playlisting, radio play, sales, award recognition and industry team members.

HOW DOES IT WORK

PASSPORT: Music Export Summit will include two parallel events, one for managers and music companies in Winnipeg and the other for self-managed artists in Halifax. Each summit consists of market intelligence, case studies, mentor presentations, peer discussions, workshops, networking and one-on-one mentorship.

2023 summit dates

Artist
Manager

SUMMIT

Tues Feb 21 to Sat Feb 24
Winnipeg, MB

2023 summit dates

Self Managed
Artist
Summit

Tues Feb 28 to Sat Mar 4
Halifax, NS

PROGRAM COST:

There is no fee to participate in the PASSPORT: Music Export Summit. Successful applicants will have transportation and accommodations covered by the program and will be given a per diem.

SELECTION:

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

  • Rationale for how this program fits your export development plan.

  • Export-readiness and track record.

  • Current team.

  • Creating a balanced and dynamic peer cohort. 

TERRA SPENCER (2022 Artist Summit)

“The PASSPORT program encouraged me to dream bigger with confidence. It helped me identify what my toolkit needs and how to get it in the company of artists who understand the challenges and are eager to motivate each other. I am inspired!”

BRADEN LAM (2022 Artist-Summit)

“PASSPORT was the most in-depth and personal learning experience I have ever had in the music industry, even in the online format! I have been going to conferences for years and still took away loads of new information and most of all - inspiration. I feel so motivated and confident to get back to touring and developing my fan base around the world with the knowledge and connections I was given during this conference"

ARIANNA BENINCASA (2022 Manager Summit)

“THE PASSPORT PROGRAM QUITE LITERALLY OPENED MY EYES TO A WHOLE NEW WORLD. I FINISHED THE PROGRAM WITH SO MANY IDEAS ON HOW I CAN LAUNCH INTO NEW GROWTH FOR MY ARTIST. THE ONGOING ACCESS TO MENTORS IS A KEY COMPONENT IN BEING ABLE TO EXPAND MY NETWORK. COMING INTO MY OWN AS AN ARTIST MANAGER DURING A PANDEMIC HAS BEEN DIFFICULT BUT THIS PROGRAM HELPED FAST-TRACK MY ABILITY TO INITIATE RELATIONSHIPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS.”

PASSPORT

RESULTS

Participants from the past five years have been busy around the globe. Since PASSPORT, our participants:

  • Established over 200 new business relationships in export markets

  • Made over 100 trips to export markets

  • Been working in over 75 new markets

  • Developed, updated, and revised export strategies with new information and contacts


Contact:

If you have any questions about applying to PASSPORT: Music Export Summit 2021 please email claire@manitobamusic.com