Canadian Music Week Rebranded As ‘Departure Festival + Conference’

The long-running Canadian Music Week conference is getting a major shakeup to follow its recent acquisition by Canadian firm Loft Entertainment and U.S.-based venue developer and management company Oak View Group.

Announced at a press conference in Toronto this afternoon, Departure Festival + Conference takes place May 6-11 at Hotel X in Toronto as reimagined and expanded event that builds on Canadian Music Week’s long and respected music history. Departure is set to feature new programming including music, art, comedy and technology, according to the announcement.

“Departure honours where we’ve come from and celebrates where we are going,” Barton said in the announcement. “We’re creating a launchpad that opens doors to deeper, more inclusive conversations and showcases the richness of Toronto’s cultural scene, celebrates Canadian creatives, and welcomes global artists. We invite industry professionals, music and arts lovers and festival-goers to experience the event in a whole new way.”

With special guest and popular Canadian comedian Russell Peters on hand, the vision for the new event was laid out by Loft Entertainment co-founder and CEO Randy Lennox, OVG Canada president Tom Pistore, Loft executive producer Kevin Barton, and Loft chief operating officer Jackie Dean. Oak View Group is parent company to Pollstar and VenuesNow.

The announcement says the reimagined event will include live performances thought-provoking panels and the return of Radiodays North America Conference, bringing industries back together to learn and inspire those working in audio entertainment. 

Delving into technology to comedy in its inaugural year, Departure will expand into film and fashion in the near future, according to the announcement. The event will debut an enriched program including a songwriter showcase, comedy performances and an enhanced culinary experience with boutique food trucks and outdoor activations.

The announcement follows the news from June of Loft and OVG acquiring the long-running Canadian Music Week, which began in 1982. With the acquisition, founder and president Neill Dixon announced he would be retiring from CMW after helming the conference for 42 years. The event adds to Oak View Group’s long-running Pollstar Live! conference, which includes the prestigious Pollstar Awards, and VenuesNow Conference, which launched in 2017 after OVG acquired Venues Today magazine, which was soon rebranded as VenuesNow.

Artist applications open on November 22, with waived application fees and paid honorariums for showcase performers, a testament to Departure’s commitment to supporting and celebrating artists. Priority (VIP) and Conference Passes will go on early bird sale on departureto.com starting November 22, 2024 until January 24, 2025. Additional pass levels and ticketing information will be announced in the coming months.