2025 AGM

Letter from the Chair

This year has been a transformative year for CBMIC. Our organization has not only overcome
many challenges, but expanded our offerings to our members in meaningful ways. We have
increased our contribution to developing the musical culture of Cape Breton Island.
The third year for the Cape Breton Music Industry Hall of Fame marked the largest and most
successful year yet. In front of a crowd of 2500 we inducted The Rankin Family Band, Bruce
Gouthro, and Donnie Campbell. This event highlights the rich history of Cape Breton Music and
allows us to invest in our musical future for years to come.
Our recently returned Product Development Program has resulted in 22 major recording
projects for Cape Breton musicians. These recordings will allow our members to qualify for
award opportunities, advance their careers, and most importantly, deliver their music to fans
around the world. Additionally, these projects provide significant support to our world class Cape
Breton based recording studios.
This year also marks the launch of our new EPK project. This first in the region endeavor
provides our members with high quality edited performance footage packaged in a single
database for marketing to festivals, promoters, managers, and agents. Further, it allows CBMIC
to take a leadership role in marketing our musicians to strategically chosen global festivals.
For the first time, CBMIC now has stable, recurring operational funding through the Province of
Nova Scotia allowing us to maintain a stable footing while continuing to invest in our microgrant
program as well as our pilot project with Undercurrent Youth Centre to ensure that music is
accessible to everyone with a passion on our island.
This year, we have taken a renewed focus on our governance, operational policy and
modernizing our financial operations. Our goal is to continue to provide a valuable service while
maintaining transparency and fairness for all of our members.
We look forward to next year when we play host to the 2026 East Coast Music Awards, the
largest celebration of music in Atlantic Canada. As we prepare to roll out the red carpet for our
peers, our guests, and our fans we can look back and be proud of what we have accomplished
while being excited for what’s to come.
It has been my sincere privilege to lead our dedicated board of directors this past year and I
would also like to pay special thanks to our tireless Executive Director, Duane Nardoccchio for
steering this ship through the ups and downs of 2024-2025.

Marc Botte
Chair, Board Of Directors

Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative