Canadian Musician - September/October 2020 | Page 17
ONLINE CAREER DEVELOPMENT SURVEY
Canadian Musician surveyed artists to find
out if they’ve been taking advantage of
any online career-development opportunities
and what their experience has been.
Here are the results…
Since the pandemic shutdowns began,
have you taken the opportunity to develop
your career through things like webinars,
virtual conferences/panels, online
workshops/tutorials, etc.?
23% Ð Yes, a great dealÐ
61% Yes, a little bit
16% No
If you have taken part in any online
career development opportunities,
which have you done?
22% Ð Virtual conference(s)
Virtual panel discussion(s)
Ð 19%
Ð43% Ð Music career/skills-focused
reading
16% Other
Generally, if you have taken part in some
of the virtual learning opportunities that
have sprung up in response to the shutdowns,
have you found it helpful?
34% Ð Very helpful
50% Somewhat helpful Ð
14%Ð Ð Not very helpfulÐ
Ð 2% Ð Not at all helpfulÐ
Had these same opportunities been available
before the shutdowns, do you think
you would’ve taken part?
24%ÐÐ Definitely
42% Ð Probably yes
33% Probably not
Ð 0%Ð Definitely not
Since the pandemic began, what careerdevelopment
activity have you found
most helpful? Why was it useful? [selected
responses]
“Online networking and attending panels. It’s
tremendously helpful to keep everyone busy
focusing on the positives, rather than dwelling
on the bummer that is COVID-19. Find your
silver lining is what I am telling everyone who
will listen.”
“Independent study. Focused work on vocal
elements, exercises on music composition,
and online workshops on the business side of
being an artist.”
“SongStudio2020
was on
Zoom. It was different
but still wonderful
(I’ve attended
since 2012) RE: songwriting,
production,
evaluations, mentors.
I’ve attended CIMA/MusicOntario
events, Indie
Week panel discussions, and Zoom meets
with the Female Musicians Academy.”
“NWC Webinars, Ari Incoming Emails, MICCO,
and Canada.ca have helped with funding
programs to help the future of my music.”
“I have been taking online recording/producing
courses. It’s self-paced and we have meetings.
Just a reminder that you can do more
remotely than you thought possible;
you just have to think outside
the box. I’ve been taking
online courses for years.”
“Staying true to
doing a weekly
online show to stay
fresh, relevant, and
sharpen our skill
sets… Doing that
has been the
best medicine.”
AND THE
AWARD
GOES TO...
Polaris Prize Short List Revealed
The Polaris Music Prize has unveiled the 10 albums on the 2020 Short List. Polaris will be celebrating the short-listed
albums and awarding the winner with a special cinematic tribute happening Oct. 19 th to be broadcast on CBC
Music’s online platforms
The 2020 Polaris Music Prize Short List is: Backxwash’s God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out Of It; Caribou’s
Suddenly; Junia-T’s Studio Monk; Kaytranada’s Bubba; nêhiyawak’s nipiy; Pantayo’s self-titled album; Lido Pimienta’s Miss Colombia; Jessie
Reyez’s Before Love Came To Kill Us; U.S. Girls’ Heavy Light; and Witch Prophet’s DNA Activation.
The Polaris Music Prize awards $50,000 to the artist who creates the
Canadian Album of the Year, judged solely on artistic merit, without
consideration for genre or record sales. Albums eligible for 2020 prize
consideration had to be released between May 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020.
For more information, go to www.polarismusicprize.ca.
canadianmusician.com/news
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Ð CANADIAN MUSICIAN 17