Music advisory team attempts reboot, hopes to overcome funding issues

Mark Furukawa is one of the first to say that the city's last foray into partnering with musicians while trying to turn itself into a "music city" fell flat on its face.

Members of the city's music industry working committee bailed en masse from the board last fall, citing a culture that was more interested in halfhearted branding exercises than tangible help for the city's music community.

"Part of the issue was funding … they got really frustrated, and rightfully so," Furukawa said. "It was just an unworkable dynamic."

Now, the group has a new chair in Furukawa — who runs downtown record shop staple Dr. Disc — and a new name as the Hamilton music advisory team.

He says the group plans to reset on its mandate, create more tangible goals, and do its part to create opportunities for local artists.

"We're not just smoke and mirrors here," he said.

The group says it has set three goals for tangible things they can do this year to help the city's music community.

Paying artists properly

One is a "musical alliance" between venues spearheaded by Lou Molinaro of This Ain't Hollywood and Brodie Schwendiman of the Casbah.

The second is a "music Mondays" initiative that features independent Hamilton artists playing lunchtime concerts at city hall, kicking off with funk, hip-hop and afrobeat act Mother Tareka performing on May 7 at noon.

That's coupled with Monday evening showcases in venues across the city, kicking off with former Hey Clown guitarist Toui Manikhouth playing a show at the Coach and Lantern with hip-hop artist Budda Abusah, starting at 7 p.m.

While it's unlikely that a lunchtime show at city hall or a Monday night gig will do tons to raise the profile of these artists, they're at least being paid properly. Furukawa says each booking comes with a minimum $300 payout. Costs for venues are also covered, he said.

"We don't want to nickel and dime," he said.

The group is also working with the library on a "Hamilton music archive" — the backbone of which consisting of items donated by Jean Paul Gauthier, the head of the former Greenbelt Harvest Picnic and Hamilton Music Awards. Both events folded in 2016 amid a massive lawsuit and allegations that Gauthier wasn't paying bands.

"I know his name is kind of mud right now," Furukawa said. "But looking at [these items] purely from the historical significance, it's invaluable."

But the issue of funding that plagued the original version of this committee isn't going away. A forthcoming report from Music Canada that's being released during Canadian Music Week's music summit even touches on the issue in Hamilton.

Funding remains an issue

In the report, former committee member Madeline Wilson says that developing a music city strategy has been "needlessly difficult" due to limited funding.

"The city does not have the funds to dedicate to a full time music person," she said in the report. "Someone with such a large portfolio, but who is only a quarter of full time equivalent is not enough to properly learn about the industry."

Debbie Spence, who works for the city as the business development consultant in creative industries, told CBC News that the money that supports music comes from a "few different budgets."

She said that about $50,000 is earmarked for the city's music strategy in 2018, but that doesn't include other projects and initiatives from which musicians and artists can find funding.

"The be all and end all here is helping musicians in the city," Furukawa said.

"It's a tightrope walk right now. Hopefully one day we'll have more concrete funding."

adam.carter@cbc.ca