About Us
Established in 1996, the Urban Music Association of Canada (UMAC) is the voice of Canada's urban entertainment scene. It is a member-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to building the domestic and international profile of Canadian urban music.
UMAC offers professional development workshops, artist showcases, networking events and resource information to its members and stakeholders.
By utilizing its relationships with industry and government decision-makers, UMAC is also a strong and active advocate for positive and beneficial policies for Canada's music industry.
Toronto-based UMAC's national scope is facilitated via partnerships with like-minded organizations across Canada, which allows it to serve as a national resource and central point of contact for members of the entertainment industry and other stakeholders who wish to tap into the urban music community.
Urban is a diverse musical format rooted in the rich traditions of African musical forms. Urban music encompasses African-influenced genres including Soul, R&B, Hip-Hop, Dance, Reggae, Continental African, Latin, Soca, Jazz, Blues and Gospel.
Services
- Canadian Urban Music Awards - a celebration of the best in Canada's urban music industry;
- The Music Lab - UMAC's series of hands-on professional development workshops for artists, producers, managers and other stakeholders within the urban music community;
- Urban X-Posure touring showcase series featuring performances by Canada's top urban talent;
- Panels and special member rates at industry conferences (such as Canadian Music Week and North By North East);
- Private industry premieres for movies and other entertainment events;
- Urban Music Minute (bi-weekly email newsletter); and
- Resource information on the urban music industry.
- Definition of Urban Music:
