Departure Festival Launches This Week! 3 Reasons to Attend

Here are three reasons to attend Departure:

#1: Be ahead of the curve

Immerse yourself in the energy of Departure, surrounded by fellow music lovers and industry movers. Feel the rush of being ahead of the curve, not just keeping up. We’ve curated a lineup of visionary speakers designed to equip you with the tools to dominate the future of the industry, including powerhouse entrepreneur Matty Matheson; futurist and leading voice in emerging technology and AI Sinead Bovell; Toa Dunn, the former Global Head of Riot Games Music, where he pioneered the viral and chart-topping success of the virtual band K/DA; and more. This isn’t just a conference; it’s a launchpad for your career trajectory.

Plus, all delegates can access our exclusive showcases featuring 100+ emerging artists poised for stardom, performing at the city’s hottest venues. This is your chance to say ‘I saw them first.’

#2: Be a part of community

Our revamped mobile app puts the entire delegate list in your pocket, making instant connections a reality. Launch industry-shaping collaborations with daily networking receptions and happy hours. Plus, all conference sessions will conclude with Q&As for direct access to top music executives like EVP, Urban Catalogue at Universal Music Enterprises Katina Bynum; NABFEME Founder and CEO Johnnie Walker; EVP, A&R and Business Development at Wasserman Music Tom Windish; and Co-Founder and CEO of The ROSTR Group Mark Williamson.

The entire industry is converging in Toronto to celebrate success and build the future. Don’t watch from the sidelines.

#3: Be there from the beginning

Forget everything you thought you knew about Canadian Music Week. We’ve launched a completely reimagined experience. Come witness it first-hand.

Your conference pass unlocks more than ever. In addition to our conference programming and festival showcases, delegates can access nightly DJ sets in The Barracks outside Hotel X Toronto, including Felix Cartal and Chapter&Verse; special film screenings including Pavements directed by Alex Ross Perry; pop-up events and exhibits across the city; standby access to some of the biggest music and comedy shows like Mustafa, Noeline Hofmann, Harland Williams, Leslie Liao, and more.