The City of Toronto’s Music Office (a unit of Film & Entertainment Industries, Economic Development and Culture) exists to nurture the city’s music community through policy, recommendations and advocacy.
Resources
- Read the Good Neighbour Guide for Late-Night Businesses (6 MB) for comprehensive resources and best practices for live music venues, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, retailers, service providers and others operating late hours.
- The Resource Guide for Music Event Organizers answers questions about permits, serving alcohol, promotion, and safety and will help create successful events from planning to completion.
- Learn how to generate royalty payments, best practices for emerging artists, and how to start a music festival and create your own events. Check out the Industry Insights video series, a free professional development resource created by the City of Toronto and MusiCounts, the music education charity of the JUNOS.
- The Toronto Music Strategy provides direction to the City of Toronto in supporting the music community from 2022-2027.
Industry Facts
- Toronto is the largest centre for music in Canada – the artists who create music are a vital part of Toronto’s culture. Music is also an important economic driver for the city. Toronto’s music scene attracts visitors and artists alike, engaging with film, television, fashion, food, and interactive media. Home to major and independent record labels, music festivals, event promoters, hundreds of recording studios and live music venues, and a wealth of talented performers across multiple genres, the city’s cultural diversity and talent pool drives Toronto’s success in the music industry.
- Live music venues in Toronto generate a total economic impact of $850 million annually, while providing the equivalent of 10,500 full-time jobs.
- Labour income generated by the operations and tourism impacts of Toronto’s live music venues totals $514 million each year.
- About 80 per cent of recording industry expenditure in Canada is in the Toronto region.
