NSMW conference schedule

THURSDAY - NOV 7

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Orchard Hall

  • TBA

  • Format: Panel

    Host/Moderator: Evan Newman

    Participants: Peggy Hogan

    Pre-registration Required: No

    Track: Career Foundations

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Thursday, November 7

    Time: 12:30PM - 1:20PM

    Venue: Orchard Hall

    In a world where there are 160,000 songs uploaded to streaming services every day, how does an artist build a fan base? It all starts at home. Learn the best practices and strategies for building your audience and growing your career on stage and online.

  • Format: Panel

    Host/Moderator: Shay Allen

    Participants: Brooke Morgan, Laura Cappe

    Pre-registration Required: No

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Thursday, November 7

    Time: 1:30PM - 2:20PM

    Venue: Orchard Hall

    Are you maximizing your front-facing DSP platforms? Join this insightful panel to evaluate and enhance your digital streaming strategy across major platforms. Experts will guide you through an audit of your presence on digital streaming services, offering tips to maximize streams. Learn how to assess your current strategy, identify areas for improvement, and effectively leverage DSPs to boost your music career.

  • Format: Showcase

    Host/Moderator: None

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Thursday, November 7

    Time: 2:30PM - 3:30PM

    Venue: Orchard Hall

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Here is your opportunity to pitch to guest delegates attending the conference. Your audience will consist of both international and domestic guest delegates. Artists have five minutes on stage with only one microphone and DI to showcase why they have what it takes to get booked, signed, synced, or played.

    This event requires pre-registration. Participants will be notified of their selection in advance of NSMW.

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Salon A/B/C

  • Format: Round Table

    Participants: Cassie Fox, Erik Dickson, MOBO, Richy Muirhead

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Thursday, November 7

    Time: 10:00AM - 11:30AM

    Venue: Salon A/B/C

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Join the festival buyers in small group sessions where you can learn what types of acts they book, how their selections are made, and ask any questions you may have about their festivals.

    10:00am - Cicada Festival - Erik Dickson

    10:30am - Pitch Scotland - Richy Muirhead/MOBO

    11:00am - Loud Women - Cassie Fox

  • Format: Speed Meeting

    Host/Moderator: Music Nova Scotia Staff

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Thursday, November 7

    Time: 11:30AM - 12:30PM

    Venue: Conference Room A/B/C 

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Artists showcasing at Nova Scotia Music Week and their teams are invited to partake in one-on-one meetings with invited NSMW International and Domestic Delegates. More information on Delegates can be found here.


    This event requires pre-registration. Participants will be notified of their meetings in advance of NSMW.

  • Format: Round Table

    Host: 

    Participants: Andy Jones, Benjamin Street, Laura Cappe, Nate Dorough,  Pamela Owusu-Brenyah, Teon Gibbs, TIm Potocic

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Thursday, November 7

    Time: 12:30PM - 3:30PM

    Venue: Conference Room A/B/C

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Join the festival buyers in small group sessions where you can learn what types of acts they book, how their selections are made, and ask any questions you may have about their festivals.

    12:30pm - FOCUS Wales - Andy Jones

    1:00pm - Wild Paths - Benjamin Street

    1:30pm - Pop Kultur - Pamela Owusu-Brenyah

    2:00pm - Do It For The Culture - Teon Gibbs

    2:30pm - School Night - Laura Cappe & Nate Dorough

    3:00pm - Supercrawl - Tim Potocic

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Blomidon Room

  • Format: Roundtable

    Participants: Meg Shorette, Nate Dorough 

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Thursday, November 7

    Time: 10:30AM - 11:20AM

    Venue: Blomidon Room

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Join a panel of experts on a market deep-dive into our closest neighbour: the United States. Learn how to tap into this market’s potential through touring, showcasing, radio, and PR. 

  • Format: Workshop

    Host: Jo Lukis

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Thursday, November 7

    Time: 1:00PM - 1:50PM

    Venue: Blomidon Room

    Before you spend on marketing or promotion, learn how to maximize the available features of your online profiles to encourage organic discovery and audience growth. Give new listeners (as well as promoters, festivals, publishers, labels, and jurors…) the best possible experience finding you and your music online.

NSMW Conference - Wolfville Curling Club
22 Elm Ave, Wolfville, NS

  • Format: Mixer

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Thursday, November 7

    Time: 4:00PM - 6:30PM

    Venue: Wolfville Curling Club

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Join us for a rousing round of curling while meeting and mingling with international and domestic delegates. Pre-registration is required, first come, first served, and subject to capacity.

NSMW conference schedule

FRIDAY - NOV 8

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Orchard Hall

  • Format: Presentation

    Host/Moderator: Eve Horne

    Pre-registration Required: No

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Friday, November 8

    Time: 10:30am - 11:20am

    Venue: Orchard Hall

    In the modern music industry, the devil is in the details—specifically, metadata. As a musician, your ability to collect every penny you’re owed hinges on how well you manage and utilize metadata. Join us for an eye-opening session that demystifies the crucial role metadata plays in the royalty collection process.

  • Format: Panel 

    Host/Moderator: Laura Cappe

    Participants: Bernardo Queiros, Jo Lukis, Noreen Hamid

    Pre-registration Required: No

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Friday, November 8

    Time: 12:30PM-1:20PM

    Venue: Orchard Hall

    Explore the "1000 True Fans" theory and its potential to transform your music career. This session will focus on how building a niche, dedicated audience can lead to long-term success. Learn from industry professionals about fostering connections and leveraging your core supporters for sustainable growth.

  • TBA

  • Format: Showcase

    Host/Moderator: None

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Friday, November 8

    Time: 2:30PM - 3:30PM

    Venue: Orchard Hall

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Here is your opportunity to pitch to guest delegates attending the conference. Your audience will consist of both international and domestic guest delegates. Artists have five minutes on stage with only one microphone and DI to showcase why they have what it takes to get booked, signed, synced, or played.

    This event requires pre-registration. Participants will be notified of their selection in advance of NSMW.

  • Please join Music Nova Scotia as we officially open the 27th annual Nova Scotia Music Week!

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders
    Date: Friday, November 8
    Time: 5:30PM - 6:30PM
    Venue: Orchard Hall - Old Orchard inn

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Salon A/B/C

  • Format: Speed Meeting

    Host/Moderator: Music Nova Scotia Staff

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Friday, November 8

    Time: 11:30AM - 12:30PM

    Venue: Salon A/B/C 

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Artists showcasing at Nova Scotia Music Week and their teams are invited to partake in one-on-one meetings with invited NSMW International and Domestic Delegates. More information on Delegates can be found here

    This event requires pre-registration. Participants will be notified of their meetings in advance of NSMW.

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Blomidon Room

  • Format: Round Table

    Host/Moderator:

    Participants: Pamela Owusu Brenyah, Simeon Pranger, Wido von Wienskowski

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Friday, November 8

    Time: 10:30AM-11:20AM

    Venue: Blomidon Room

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Discover the dynamic music scene of Germany and how to tap into its opportunities. This session will explore market trends, audience preferences, and strategic approaches for artists and industry professionals. Gain actionable insights from experts on how to successfully navigate and grow within the German market.

  • Format: Keynote

    Host/Moderator:  Bee Ramesh

    Pre-registration Required: 

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Friday, November 8

    Time: 1:00pm - 1:50pm

    Venue: Blomidon Room

    This session will explore two unique case studies from the Canadian music industry, each highlighting innovative marketing campaigns with varying budgets and achievements. These examples will showcase the power of creativity, timing, and strategic planning in music marketing, providing valuable insights and takeaways for artists and labels at all levels. Discover how to create impactful campaigns, no matter the resources at hand.

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Support4Culture Artist Lounge

  • Format: Mixer

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Career Foundations

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Friday, November 8

    Time: 10:00AM - 10:50AM

    Venue: Support4Culture Artist Lounge 

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Building relationships is a crucial part of the music industry, but jumping into the first mixer or heading into one on ones can feel overwhelming. These casual conversations with NSMW international and domestic delegates help you build deeper connections and grow your networks. Coffee, tea, and snacks provided.

    There is limited space for this session. Pre-registration is required.

NSMW Conference - Acadia University
The Axe

  • Format: Mixer

    Pre-registration Required: No

    Track: 

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Friday, November 8

    Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm

    Venue: The Axe Bar

    An industry mixer and trivia session hosted by la Fédération acadienne culturelle de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FéCANE) open to all NSMW pass holders. Featuring a DJ set by Alchemix.

    Un apéro de réseautage et soirée quiz avec les professionnels de l'industrie de la musique organisé par la Fédération acadienne culturelle de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FéCANE) avec un DJ set de Alchemix.. Ouvert à tous les détenteurs d'un laissez-passer NSMW. 

NSMW conference schedule

SATURDAY - NOV 9

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Orchard Hall

  • Format: Panel

    Host/Moderator: Brooke Morgan

    Participants: Rebecca Seidu, Laura Cappe, Peggy Hogan, Brendan McCarney

    Pre-registration Required: No

    Track: Career Foundations

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Passholders 

    Date: Saturday, November 9

    Time: 10:30AM - 11:20AM

    Venue: Orchard Hall

    Understand the key differences between record labels, label service providers, and distributors, and explore how each can impact your music career. Gain clarity on whether a label is right for you or if distribution alone can meet your needs in today’s evolving industry. 

  • Format: Panel

    Host/Moderator: Mac Thomas

    Participants: Cassie Fox, Meg Shorette, Seny Kassaye 

    Pre-registration Required: No

    Track: Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass

    Date: Saturday, November 9

    Time: 12:30PM - 1:20PM

    Venue: Orchard Hall

    Unlock the secrets to maximizing your revenue from live performances. Panelists will discuss hard ticket value, key contract terms that all artists should know, and ways to optimize earnings from live events. This session will provide key tips for selling hard tickets, building markets, increasing your guarantees, and creating a fan-base city by city.

  • Format: Panel

    Host/Moderator: Peggy Hogan

    Participants: Bee Ramesh, My Best Friend Jacob, Mobo, Noreen Hamid

    Pre-registration Required: No

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Saturday, November 9th

    Time: 1:00pm - 2:20pm

    Venue: Orchard Hall


    Many of the traditional rules of thumb in the indie music industry like "just hop in the van" or "share the workload amongst your band mates" fail to recognize the unique struggles of solo artists, especially those working in genres like rap, R&B, and electronic music. This panel aims to address the challenges experienced by these artists and provide solutions for how to use existing Canadian music infrastructure to their advantage.

  • Format: Showcase

    Host/Moderator: None

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Saturday, November 9

    Time: 2:30PM - 3:30PM

    Venue: Orchard Hall

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Here is your opportunity to pitch to guest delegates attending the conference. Your audience will consist of both international and domestic guest delegates. Artists have five minutes on stage with only one microphone and DI to showcase why they have what it takes to get booked, signed, synced, or played.

    This event requires pre-registration. Participants will be notified of their selection in advance of NSMW.

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Salon A/B/C

  • Format: Speed Meeting

    Host/Moderator: Music Nova Scotia Staff

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Saturday, November 9

    Time: 11:30AM - 12:30PM

    Venue: Salon A/B/C 

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Artists showcasing at Nova Scotia Music Week and their teams are invited to partake in one-on-one meetings with invited NSMW International and Domestic Delegates. More information on Delegates can be found here

    This event requires pre-registration. Participants will be notified of their meetings in advance of NSMW.

  • Regional Buyer 1:1 Speed Meetings

    Format: Speed Meeting

    Host/Moderator: Music Nova Scotia Staff

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Career Foundations/Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Saturday, November 9

    Time: 1:00PM - 3:00PM

    Venue: Salon A/B/C

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Artists showcasing at Nova Scotia Music Week and their teams are invited to partake in one-on-one meetings with invited NSMW International and Domestic Delegates. More information on Delegates can be found here

    This event requires pre-registration. Participants will be notified of their meetings in advance of NSMW.

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Blomidon Room

  • Format: Roundtable 

    Participants: Benjamin Street, Bernardo Queiros, Cassie Fox, Andy Jones

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Next Steps

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Saturday, November 9

    Time: 10:30AM - 11:20AM

    Venue: Blomidon Room

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Explore the intricacies of the UK music market and learn how to establish a strong presence across this influential region. This session will cover key market trends, audience insights, and effective strategies for breaking into the UK scene. Gain practical advice from industry experts on how to navigate this diverse market and grow your music career.

  • TBA

NSMW Conference - Old Orchard Inn
Support4Culture Artist Lounge

  • Format: Mixer

    Pre-registration Required: Yes

    Track: Career Foundations

    Entry: NSMW Delegate Pass Holders

    Date: Saturday, November 9

    Time: 10:00AM - 10:50AM

    Venue: Support4Culture Artist Lounge 

    Pre-registration Link: OPEN

    Building relationships is a crucial part of the music industry, but jumping into the first mixer or heading into one on ones can feel overwhelming. These casual conversations with NSMW international and domestic delegates help you build deeper connections and grow your networks. Coffee, tea, and snacks provided.

    There is limited space for this session. Pre-registration is required.