Departure Canadian Live Music Award Winners: IAG’s Nick Storch, Osheaga Festival, Lyman, Tarlton Honored 

There was a tearful tribute to the late great music impresario Donald Tarlton, a farewell to recently exited Canadian Live Music Association head and leader Erin Benjamin, a worldwide thank you to festival founder and community builder Warper Tour Kevin Lyman, and so much more Wednesday night (May 6) at the 2026 Canadian Live Music Awards in Toronto.

Presented by the CLMA and the Departure Festival and Conference — formerly Canadian Music Week, where the awards started — the 11th annual CLMAs “are a night of celebration and recognition of the live music companies, individuals, and organizations that define our industry.” 

The night featured performances from Alicia Creti, Cam Kahin, and Shawnee Kish, but the evening, held at the Bluma Appel Theatre on Wednesday night (May 6), was all about the venues, events and people behind the scenes.

Pollstar will have a full report shortly. Find out who said Donald’s niece Patti-Anne Tarlton, vice-chair, Live Nation Concerts Canada, is “the only person in the industry no one hates.” True, by the way, except for her uncle. 

Meanwhile, here are the winners:

Agent of the Year

Nick Storch

Concert/Club Talent Buyer of the Year

Rodrigo Fritz (Massey Hall, Roy Thomson Hall)

Festival Talent Buyer of the Year

Chris Frayer (Winnipeg Folk Festival)

Manager of the Year

Jude Coombe (Starfish Entertainment)

Promoting Team of the Year

Whitecap Entertainment

Your Future Boss

Aven Hoffarth (Manager Membership & Philanthropy at Massey Hall, Roy Thompson Hall)

Music City of the Year

City of Calgary

Live Performance of the Year

Sum 41: Tour of the Setting Sum, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON January 30, 2025

Tour Manager of the Year

Brendan Kennedy (The Beaches) 

A/V Supplier of the Year

Stageline

Production Manager of the Year

Brad Ferguson (Live Nation)

Best Teamwork in a Small Club

The Drake Hotel 

Best Teamwork in a Medium Club

Biltmore Theatre

Best Teamwork in a Major Club

Commodore Ballroom

Best Teamwork in a Small Arena

Scotiabank Centre

Best Teamwork in a Large Arena or Stadium

Scotiabank Arena

Best Teamwork in a Soft Seat Theatre/Performing Arts Centre

Massey Hall

Small Festival of the Year

Folk on the Rocks

Medium Festival of the Year

Mariposa Folk Festival

Major Festival of the Year

Osheaga Festival Musique et Arts

Innovation in Live Music

Listening Room

Sustainability in Live

Hillside Festival

Philanthropic Live Event of the Year

Jim Cuddy and Friends: A Night of Country Classics Benefitting The Daily Bread Food Bank

Brand x Music Program of the Year

CBC Music Presents: Live at Massey Hall

Global Impact in Live Music

Kevin Lyman

Global Live Music Leadership Award

Erin Benjamin

Live Legacy Award

Patti-Anne Tarlton