Music PEI excited about Atlantic Canada music industry strategy

The executive director of Music P.E.I., Rob Oakie, isexcited about a new study looking at the music industry in the Atlantic region.

The study willdetermine how much the industry is worth to the region and what supports are needed for people trying to make a living in the sector.

Oakie saidthe idea for developing a strategy came in part from the successful creation of the Ontario Music Fund and the B.C. Music Fund.

He saidthe ultimate goal is to come up with a strategy and financial resources to keep music professionals living and working in Atlantic Canada.

"Our industry really needs investment in building infrastructure here and by infrastructure I mean people,such as managers, agents, publicists, music supervisors," said Oakie."All the people that help create work for the artists."

"At this point the support programs we have are mostly focused on artists. We don't really have a lot of resources to assist the industry people. So that's where we really need to expand and grow."

Oakie saidthe East Coast Music Association has created a partnership with Music Canada and Music Canada Live to hire a consultant to pull together existing information about the industry in Atlantic Canada, conduct interviews and then come up with the strategy.

Oakie expects the money for a music fund in this region would have to come from the federal government.

The report shouldbe complete within the year.