8/12/2009

For immediate release:

NEW SONGWRITERS’ WORKSHOP LAUNCHES FALL TOUR ACROSS CANADA
- www.radiostar.ca -

Toronto, Ontario (August 12, 2009) – Canadian Radio Star’s New Songwriters’ Workshop returns for a second year, embarking on a national tour in the fall.  The workshops – targeted to aspiring artists and songwriters – are free day-long programs taking place in cities across Canada from September 10 to October 4, 2009.

Workshop Dates & Cities:

Thursday, September 10 – Saint John, NB
Saturday, September 12 – Halifax, NS
Sunday, September 13  – St. John’s, NL
Friday, September 18 – Ottawa, ON
Saturday, September 19 – Montreal, QC
Sunday, September 20 – Toronto, ON
Thursday, September 24 – Edmonton, AB
Saturday, September 26 – Calgary, AB
Sunday, September 27 – Vancouver, BC
Thursday, October 1 – Regina, SK
Saturday, October 3 – Saskatoon, SK
Sunday, October 4 – Winnipeg, MB

Sponsored by Astral Media, and supported in part by the Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC), Canadian Music Publishers Association (CMPA), and SOCAN, the New Songwriters’ Workshops are a precursor to the launch of the 17th annual Canadian Radio Star National Songwriting Competition and are being presented in conjunction with the participating radio stations.

“It all starts with a song,” says Rob Braide, Astral Media.  “The aim of projects like Canadian Radio Star is to bring aspiring songwriters together with acclaimed industry professionals, teach them songwriting skills, provide them with feedback, and give them the opportunity to turn their songs into hits. Astral Media is thrilled to support this initiative and these workshops which nourish Canada’s vibrant and emerging musical landscape.”

Workshop programming will focus on such critical topics as how to write a hit lyric, how to break into licensing for film and TV, what radio looks for in a song as well as the basic elements of song structure and lyric writing. Leading industry experts from music publishing and radio programming, as well as professional songwriters such as Mladen Alexander, John Capek and Ralph Murphy will be on hand to lead the workshops, listen to demos and participate in a Q&A period.

“Songwriters have the unique ability to write our nation’s soundtrack,” says Neill Dixon, President of Canadian Music Week.  “Their music and lyrics enrich our lives daily and touch those in every corner of the world.  Our task is to provide them with the tools and guidance to empower their creativity and diversity.”

Admission to the New Songwriters’ Workshops is free.  Registration is limited to capacity and is open now to songwriters through the Canadian Radio Star website – www.radiostar.ca.

Additional details about the workshops, including times, location, and confirmed presenters can be accessed by visiting the Canadian Radio Star website – www.radiostar.ca – or by listening to the following presenting radio stations:

Saint John, NB – 98.9 Big John FM
Halifax, NS – Q104
St. John’s, NL – K-Rock 97.5
Ottawa, ON – Virgin Radio 106.9
Montreal, QC – Virgin Radio 96
Toronto, ON – Virgin Radio 99.9
Edmonton, AB – 100.3 The Bear
Calgary, AB – CJAY 92
Vancouver, BC – Virgin Radio 95
Regina, SK – 92.7 Big Dog FM
Saskatoon, SK – Rock 102
Winnipeg, MB – Hot 103

Astral Media Radio, an Astral Media Property; Astral Media is a leading Canadian media company, active in specialty and pay television, radio, outdoor advertising and iMedia. Astral Media’s solid and dynamic presence in the country’s major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences.

Canadian Music Week is Canada’s leading annual entertainment event dedicated to the expression and growth of the country’s music, media and entertainment industries. Combining four information-intensive conferences; a trade exposition; a film festival; four awards shows and the nation’s largest New Music Festival – Canadian Music Fest – CMW spans a five-day period from March 10 to March 14, 2010 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel and various downtown Toronto venues, attracting participants from across the globe. For more information, visit www.cmw.net.

For further information, please contact:
Bessie Bullard
Communications Director
P: 905.858.4747
E: bessie@cmw.net

For more information click here:  www.radiostar.ca