Canadian Music Week is now Departure Festival + Conference
Canadian Music Week is now Departure Festival + Conference thanks to a makeover from Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group (OVG). The new event will feature music, art, comedy, and tech.
by Larry LeBlanc via Celebrity Access
Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group (OVG) today (Nov. 12) unveiled Departure Festival + Conference – a reimagined and expanded vision of Canadian Music Week (CMW)
The Departure Festival + Conference will take place May 6-11, 2025 at Hotel X in Toronto with programming streams that include music, art, comedy, and technology.
Toronto-based entertainment company Loft Entertainment and Los Angeles-based Oak View Group acquired Canadian Music Week in August.
At a launch event in Toronto, Randy Lennox, co-founder and CEO of Loft Entertainment; Tom Pistore President of OVG Canada; Kevin Barton, Executive Producer, Loft Entertainment; and Jackie Dean, Chief Operating Officer of Loft Entertainment, outlined the new vision for the festival.
“We are thrilled to expand CMW into a music, arts comedy and Tech festival starting in May 2025,” Lennox told CelebrityAccess. “Our Loft/Oak view commitment will emphasize and feature music and tech innovations as well as international caliber speakers and showcases.”
Since its inception in 1982, Canadian Music Week has been a leading music festival and conference in North America and Departure executives seek to build on this legacy as it steps into a new era.
“Departure honors where we’ve come from and celebrates where we are going,” added Barton. “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.”
A Reimagined CMW
The reimagined CMW embraces a broader spectrum of artistic expressions than previously, from technology to comedy in its inaugural year, and expanding into film and fashion in the near future. The festival will debut an enriched program including a songwriter showcase, comedy performances, and an enhanced culinary experience with boutique food trucks and outdoor activations.
Radiodays North America Conference will return as part of Departure, bringing industries back together to learn and inspire those working in audio entertainment.
Additionally, a new festival app and digital infrastructure will improve the delegate experience with app-based meeting requests to facilitate meaningful connections between industry professionals, and extend access to a wider, more inclusive community with live streamed and on-demand content.
The festival will BE supported by Oak View Group’s partnership resources in sales and sponsorships, and a refocused marketing and social media strategy.
Showcases and Passes
Artist applications open on November 22nd, with waived application fees and paid honorariums for showcase performers.
Priority (VIP) and Conference Passes will go on early bird sale on departureto.com starting November 22, 2024 until January 24, 2025. Additional ticketing information will be announced in the coming months.
