LASCELLES STEPHENS, ELAINE BOMBERRY, HAVIAH MIGHTY AND CHRISTINA CASSARO, AND JEFF OJEDA TO BE RECOGNIZED AT THE HONOUR ROLL AWARDS EVENT ON MARCH 6 IN TORONTO, ON

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

CONGRATULATORY ADS TO CELEBRATE THE HONOUREES AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE HERE

TORONTO, ON – January 12, 2023 – MMF Canada is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 15^th Annual Honour Roll Awards: Lascelles Stephens (Deco Entertainment); Elaine Bomberry; Haviah Mighty and Christina Cassaro (DI:ME ARTS MGMT); and Jeff Ojeda (Phase Management). They will be formally celebrated at the Honour Roll Awards ceremony, taking place on Monday, March 6 at the Great Hall in Toronto, ON. Tickets are available here, and full details can be found below.

“This year's honourees, selected by the Honour Roll committee and MMF Canada Board of Directors, are an impressive bunch!” remarks Amie Therrien, MMF Canada Executive Director. “Lascelles' continued international success with Deborah Cox makes them a force to be reckoned with and Elaine has and continues to create meaningful opportunities for Indigenous artists. Christina and Haviah have been smashing boundaries and earning accolades worldwide and Jeff is making waves in the country and Americana realm with his artists and creating space for other LGBTQ2S+ and BIPOC industry professionals. I can't wait to see everyone and hope that our new venue and new show-only ticket and member pricing will open things up to more of our community to join us in celebration!”

Lascelles Stephens (Deco Entertainment) is the recipient of this year’s Honour Roll Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements and excellence in Canadian and international artist management. Stephens is a renowned Canadian composer, producer and music manager. With nearly three decades of experience, his keen ear for creating unique melodies has secured his position as one of Canada’s most versatile behind-the-scenes musical figures, having worked with notable artists like Simone Denny, Maestro Fresh Wes, and Glenn Lewis. In 1989, Stephens began collaborating with Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, Deborah Cox, leading to the signing of Cox’s first record deal with Arista Records. Stephens and Cox have been bringing chart-topping hits to fans worldwide, and complementing each other’s respective musical expertise ever since. Bringing a new sound to R&B music, their work has been celebrated with numerous awards and nominations, including two Genie nominations for the songs written for the TIFF film, Love Come Down.

Previous recipients of the Honour Roll Award include Piers Henwood and Nick Blasko (2021), Sandy Pandya (2019), Susan de Cartier (2018), Chris Smith (2017), Lorne Saifer (2016), Rob Lanni & Eric Lawrence (2015), Gilles Paquin (2014), Jake Gold (2013), Larry Wanagas (2012), Terry McBride (2011), Sam Feldman (2010), Ray Danniels (2009), Bruce Allen (2008), and Bernie Finkelstein (2007).

The Brian Chater Pioneer Award, which is bestowed upon individuals who have been instrumental in creating the framework for music management in the Canadian entertainment industries, will be presented to Elaine Bomberry. Bomberry is Anishinabe and Cayuga, from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She now makes her home on the Capilano Rez, on the unceded Squamish Nation territory in North Vancouver. She has worked as a freelance Indigenous Performing Arts activist/promoter/manager/ TV and radio producer for over 35 years. Bomberry manages JUNO winner Murray Porter, helped create the Best Music of Aboriginal Canada recording category for the JUNO Awards in 1994, works with Rez Bluez, 2 Rivers Remix Festival, Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards, and also serves as the Artist Ambassador for the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund – working tirelessly to create opportunities for Indigenous artists.

Previous recipients of the Brian Chater Pioneer Award include Gary Slaight and Derrick Ross, Slaight Music (2021), Ron Sakamoto (2019), Riley O'Connor (2018), Duff Roman (2017) Michael Cohl (2016), Pegi Cecconi (2015), Brian Chater (2014), Neill Dixon & Steve Propas (2013), Donald Tarlton & Terry Flood (2012), Mary Martin (2011), and Leonard Rambeau (2010).

Recognizing the success of an artist and their manager for an exceptional year, the 2022 Banner Year Award (sponsored by SOCAN Foundation) will go to Haviah Mighty and Christina Cassaro (DI:ME ARTS MGMT). Mighty and manager, Cassaro, have made Canadian hip-hop history together. In 2019, with Cassaro in her corner, Mighty was the first Black woman and the first hip-hop artist to win the prestigious Polaris Music Prize, and she became the first woman to win a JUNO Award in the Best Rap Album/EP of the Year category in 2022. Mighty was also the only Canadian nominee at the 2022 BET Hip-Hop Awards in the Best International Flow category. Working together, this team is continuing to push forward to carve out spaces that boldly defy gendered expectations for women in hip-hop. With this drive and energy, there’s no doubt that there are more ground-breaking accolades and achievements on the horizon.

Previous recipients of the Banner Year Award include Jessie Reyez, Mauricio Ruiz and Byron Wilson (2021), Chris Taylor, Ashley Poitevin, Sarah Osgoode & Arkells (2019), Daniel Caesar, Matthew Burnett, Jordan Evans (2017), Joanne Setterington & The Strumbellas (2017), and Tony Sal & The Weeknd (2016).

And receiving the inaugural Trailblazer Award is Jeff Ojeda (Phase Management). This new award was introduced earlier this year, and was established to honour and recognize Canadian managers, or self-managed artists, who are carving new paths within the industry landscape. With 15 years of experience as a guitar technician, a branding specialist, and now a full-time manager, Ojeda is working to create space in the music industry, especially in the country and Americana realm, and creating space for other LGBTQ2S+ and BIPOC entrepreneurs. He’s working to pilot the first large-scale AmericanaFest festival and industry conference to Canada in the coming years, bringing much needed attention to the format in Canada. In the management space, Ojeda has taken his client, Kyle McKearney, to a national level in a matter of months with his debut album earning multiple award nominations and securing opening spots for international touring artists like Kip Moore, Dean Brody, and Brett Kissel. Ojeda also contributes to the community as a mentor, consultant, and instructor. 

DOWNLOAD – Honouree Longform Bios
DOWNLOAD – Honouree Photos
DOWNLOAD – 15^th Annual MMF Canada Honour Roll Awards event graphic

The MMF Canada Honour Roll, now in its 15^th year, is a flagship event in the industry calendar, recognizing individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions to Canada’s music management industry. The annually sold-out event brings together the award recipients and their guests, with past honourees, MMF’s Board of Directors, and other industry personnel, including executives from SOCAN, Sony, Warner, Universal Music, FACTOR, CIMA, MROC, Re:Sound, APA Agency, The Feldman Agency, Paquin Artists Agency, and others.

Congratulatory ads celebrating the honourees are available to purchase here (available at ticket selection). The ads will appear in both the printed program book and the celebratory video and will be available on MMF Canada’s Honour Roll Archives webpage and shared across MMF Canada’s social media platforms and email newsletter.

EVENT INFO:
15^th Annual Honour Roll Awards
Monday, March 6, 2023
The Great Hall – 1087 Queen St W, Toronto, ON
6:00 p.m. reception / 8:30 p.m. awards presentation
Tickets available here

ABOUT MMF CANADA
MMF Canada is the national, collective voice for Canadian music managers, their artists, and self-managed artists working at all levels and in all genres. The non-profit organization provides professional development, networking and mentorship opportunities for its members and other industry professionals, ensuring that all can have access to the support and tools necessary for success. MMF Canada is also a fierce advocate, working alongside partner associations, ensuring that government and industry programs and policies best serve artists and managers. 

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