This is a unique opportunity to connect with experts from many aspects of the music industry. Each attendee gets quality one on one time to discuss their own questions and ideas about marketing, media, publicity, royalty collection, bookings and more, with professionals from each of those areas. Meetings are on a first-come, first-served basis, so come early to sign up for the people you want to meet.
Building a career in music? You need to be here. An experienced professional? This is great networking for you. Decades of experience shared in one session!
Due to the nature of this event, capacity is extremely limited. Get your spot now!
Sponsored by Canadian Music Spotlight, Long and McQuade Musical Instruments, and Ontario Creates
Topics and Clinicians:
PR for Musicians with Eric Alper
For over 25 years, Eric Alper has been a leading force in Canadian entertainment, making the “Public” in Public Relations his passion and profession. Known for his boundless enthusiasm and deep knowledge of music, he’s become Canada’s go-to voice in the industry. Eric is the host of one of SiriusXM’s top-rated shows, ThatEricAlper, and boasts over one million followers across social media. Named a “must follow” by Billboard, Paste, and the National Post, he’s a six-time Canadian Music Week Publicist of the Year nominee. Eric has led publicity for over 182 JUNO-nominated albums (including 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated releases, and dozens of award-winning projects across the Canadian Folk Music Awards, Maple Blues Awards, and Indigenous Music Countdown.
Marketing and Media with Sandy Graham
Sandy Graham has had perhaps one of the most diverse and interesting careers in the Canadian Music Industry. Currently the Owner and Editor-In-Chief of Cashbox Canada, Founder of Record World International, and Program Director of Cashbox Radio, a popular online radio station that prides itself in playing the legendary artists right alongside the new indie artists releasing today.
With over 35 years in the music industry, she has extensive knowledge of radio, promotion and marketing. Sandy will share her insight into media manners and how to approach and work with publicists to get the best coverage for your music, creating logistic and strategy plans. Her goal is to continue to use her intellectual property of this business to always promote Canadian talent as well as work on the international level. Publisher of Cashbox Canada online magazine, Canada's Premier Online Music Publication featuring Canadian, Legendary and Global Artists on a weekly basis.
Her true passion is and always has been about the music and she is an avid listener of new releases.
Royalties and Revenues with Kristen Antunes
Kristen Antunes is a music industry professional and musician based in Toronto, Ontario. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, holding both a Masters of Music Technology and Digital Media as well as Bachelor of Music, Comprehensive Specialization, and Minor in Sociology. Kristen holds extensive experience from across the music industry, including rights management, artist management, music publishing, and digital media development, and currently works as an Account Executive with Canadian music rights organization, SOCAN. In her work at SOCAN, Kristen manages high-profile member accounts, spearheads policy developments, and is regularly consulted for her knowledge of music publishing. She was also recently selected as a participant of the inaugural Women in Music Canada Leadership Accelerator under the direction of Canadian music industry trailblazers, Robyn Stewart and Charlie Wall-Andrews.
Beyond her professional work, Kristen is an accomplished arranger, producer, and songwriter, and is regularly commissioned by professional and educational ensembles across Canada. She currently performs as an active member of Toronto-based a cappella group, Beatsync, combining innovative arrangements with live looping and electronics.
A seasoned arts manager, Gianna Antonacci’s passion for music and supporting those who make it drives all that she does. She currently holds the position of Programs Manager at Canada’s Music Incubator, where she guides the development and execution of all core and custom professional development programs for emerging artists and managers. Gianna’s journey with CMI began as a participant in the Artist Manager program. Gianna previously worked supporting music initiatives at various arts organizations in Toronto such as Choirs Ontario and Harbourfront Centre. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education and has over ten years experience as an arts educator. As a vocalist, Gianna has toured Canada, the US, Mexico, Italy, the UK, and Japan. You can currently find her singing with indie-soul singer-songwriter, Jeremy Voltz, and vocal ensemble, Countermeasure. In her spare time, she writes plays very, very slowly.