BREAKOUT WEST: HOME EDITION CELEBRATES 15 DAYS OF IMMERSIVE ONLINE EXPERIENCES FOR ARTISTS AND INDUSTRY

OVER 720 ATTENDEES, 112 SPEAKERS, 95 MENTORS,
51 HIGHLIGHT ARTISTS, 18 PANEL DISCUSSIONS,

7 NETWORKING EVENTS, AND HUNDREDS OF VIRTUAL MEETINGS
BREAKOUT WEST 2021 TO TAKE PLACE IN WINNIPEG, MB

FROM OCTOBER 13 – 17

Toronto, ON – October 14, 2020 – This past Friday, BreakOut West: Home Edition
wrapped after 15 days. Although 2020 proved to be an unusual year, given the
circumstances surrounding COVID-19, BreakOut West: Home Edition brought attendees
more than two weeks of immersive online experiences, where artists and industry
professionals were given the opportunity to expand their careers with 112 speakers, 18
panel discussions, 7 networking events, and over 443 virtual meetings with 95 mentors.
Music discovery was celebrated as well with 51 Highlight Artists being featured
throughout the event.

In total, over 720 people attended the events, with delegates joining in from 15 different
countries, sharing their valuable insight. Attendees were able to travel virtually to key
international markets in order to learn strategies and advice for breaking out
internationally – what makes each market unique, what industry and platforms are
relevant, how and when to engage, and insider information on what these markets will
look like over the coming 6-24 months.

“I applaud organizers for all the work done behind the scenes to allow BreakOut West to
continue in a virtual way this year. We look forward to hosting this important music
industry driven event in conjunction with our Manitoba 150 celebrations in 2021,” said
Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister, Cathy Cox. “The music industry is not only
an important economic driver in western Canada, it is a source of pride amongst Canadians
and we can’t wait for the chance to welcome everyone to Manitoba next year.”

The members of the BreakOut West Winnipeg 2021 Host Committee added, “The music
community in Manitoba is strong and creative. These last few months have shown us that
we can work together in new ways and connect across the country and beyond. We look
forward to welcoming everyone here in 2021, sharing the innovative talent of the artists
and industry in Manitoba, and celebrating the best and brightest of Western Canadian
music in Winnipeg.”

BreakOut West: Home Edition kicked off on September 25th with a special welcome
program to recognize the ancestral lands we are on, and to honour, celebrate and learn
from grandmothers, Elders, and leadership from the Indigenous communities of
Manitoba – home province of the BreakOut West head office. Stories were shared from
Chief Deborah Smith, Belinda Wandenbroeck, Marcella Vezina, Nikki Komaksiutiksak,
and Leroy Constant, along with performances from award-winning folk duo, Burnstick
and 2020 JUNO Award-winner, Celeigh Cardinal.

That evening, the winners of the Western Canadian Music Awards were revealed during
a special broadcast on Up To Speed on CBC Radio One 89.3 FM and CBC Listen, followed
by a livestreamed presentation. The recipients in both the Artistic and Industry
categories were announced, along with the 2020 Heritage Award, which was presented
to Winnipeg musician, Gerry Atwell. Live performances were given by Krystle Dos Santos
(R&B Artist of the Year) and The Mariachi Ghost (Global Artist of the Year and Visual
Media Composer of the Year). The 2020 Western Canadian Music Awards livestream can
be viewed here and the full list of winners can be found here.
BreakOut West: Home Edition 2020 would not have been possible without the financial
support of the Government of Canada, through FACTOR and Musicaction, and all of our
provincial and territorial member partners.

“This has been a difficult year for all industries. The continued recognition by our federal
and provincial funders of the importance of culture in our economy and lives is hugely
applauded,” says Robyn Stewart, Executive Director, Western Canadian Music
Alliance. “In addition, I want to thank and recognize all of our sponsors and industry
contributors who, even in this very strange year, have joined us in supporting artist and
industry talent, in connecting entrepreneurs and in creating opportunity that will help us
all to navigate the road ahead. Though we have all been at home this year, I have never felt
so connected to the music ecosystem in Canada and beyond. This, I hope, will be a silver
lining that we cherish once we are able to be together in person again.”
BreakOut West looks forward to returning to Winnipeg, MB in 2021, from October 13 –
17.

For more info, head to www.breakoutwest.ca