Canada's most popular neighbourhood for musicians is right here in Toronto

Canada has a new hotbed of music production and it's right here in Toronto.

According to a report released this week by the Society of Composers, Authorsand Music Publishers of Canada(SOCAN), the Little Portugal andTrinity-Bellwoodsarea has been ranked as the number one location in Canada forthe growth in the numberof musicians, songwriters,and other people involved in creating music.

"This diverse and culturally-richneighbourhoodinToronto'ssouth-western quadrant is a hub of creative musical talent, live music venues, and businesses using music to their advantage," said aSOCANnews release.

Shawn Creamer, a local musician and the owner of theDakota Tavern in Trinity Bellwoods,told CBC Torontohe isn't surprised by the news.

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"The growth is coming from a general collaboration and just a general creative vibe that lives in this neighbourhood," said Creamer, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 13 years.

Creamer,a guitarist, vocalistand songwriter with his bandThe Beauties,hasowned the Dakota Tavern for the last several years. It'sa rustic establishment nestled in the heart of Trinity-Bellwoodsthat serves as a live music venue.

Creamer told CBC Toronto that back when thetavern openedit was an instant hit because itcouldhost numerous local bands and musicians daily.

Other venues,like the Garrisonand the Painted Lady, are able to host live music on a nightly basis, something wCreamer says wasn't exactly the reality adecadeago.

"The growth I see is that there are enough musicians and enough bands that all of these music venues are able to operate all the time," Creamer said.

'If I take a walk down the street here I'll bump into 3or 4musicians'

"If I take a walk down the street here I'll bump into three or four musicians."

However, Creamer isn't sure if the growth will continue. He told CBC Toronto that with rentsincreasing throughout the neighbourhood, more and more artists are finding it difficult to ply their craft.

Creamer explained thatmost artists don't earn much moneyand it's often cheap rent, cheap food and plenty of music venues that attractmusiciansto certain neighbourhoods.

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AndrewBerthoff, chief communications and marketing officer atSOCAN,echoed Creamer's belief.

Berthoffsayswith more people moving to neighbourhoods like Little Portugal andTrinity-Bellwoodsfor the perceivedcool factor, especially those who aren't musicians themselves, prices will inevitably increase in tandem with the land value.

'Great musicattracts great musicians'

"Whether the neighbourhood attracts the music creators and publishers or whether the music creators and publishers build the neighbourhood, I can't really be sure," saidBerthoff.

"What I can be sure of is that it's a symbiotic relationship. Great music attracts great musicians."

Berthoffthinks there is a certain cool factor with the Little Portugal andTrinity-Bellwoodsareathat could be contributing to its growth as a music destination.

Creamer thinks that the neighbourhood has always had its cool factor, but lately it's a different motivation bringing musicians, songwriters, composers and producers to the area.

"It's a place where you can find like-minded people, a creative atmosphere and lots of music venues that support that lifestyle," Creamer said.

'Lifeblood of Canadian music'

Berthoff says the motivation for releasing the data is to highlight a message of how important these local music creators are to the city, and the country.

"They'rean important part of the economy. Great music starts with someone writing music," saidBerthoff.

"We really want to get out the message that songwriters, composers, music publishers, music creators, are the lifeblood of Canadian music."

This is only the second yearSOCANhas released data on music creatorsand the first year growth has been the focus.

Last year, the most financially successful neighbourhoods were highlighted based on royalties, with Montreal's Mile-End securingthe top spot.

The top 10 musicgrowth centres

This year, it's three Toronto neighbourhoods occupying the top five.

1. Trinity / Little Portugal,Toronto
2. Christie,Toronto
3. Rosemont,Montral
4. Brockton/ParkdaleVillage/ Exhibition Place,Toronto
5. Centre-Sud,Montral
6. NorthGrandview-Woodland,Vancouver
7. Dufferin/DovercourtVillage,Toronto
8. PlateauMont-Royal,Montral
9. Outremont,Montral
10. Petite-PatrieSouthwest,Montral

The fullSOCANreport can be found here.