Kat Harlton
Images provided by Capital Music Week
The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) recently announced the first ever Capital Music Week (CxMW), a new and innovative week-long celebration of music that places Ottawa’s music industry on the national stage. CxMW will run from May 20-25, 2025 in multiple venues across the city and will feature public concerts, professional development summits, and networking opportunities that rival other music weeks across Canada, with a creative and strategic focus on re-invigorating the local and national nightlife economies. Marking a significant milestone for Ottawa’s music sector, the launch of CxMW will showcase local talent and foster city-wide partnerships while animating numerous locations within the community.
I had the opportunity to speak with Melanie Brulée, Executive Director of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, about this national initiative and how it’s bringing together creative leaders from coast to coast
Kat: Capital Music Week is being described as a national platform for both music and urban innovation—what inspired its creation, and why now?
Melanie: CxMW was born from OMIC’s vision to embed music more deeply into the city’s cultural and economic DNA. Launching in our 10th anniversary year, it responds to post-pandemic needs for creative sector revitalization and aims to position Ottawa as a year-round music tourism destination. It’s not just a festival—it’s a cross-sector innovation platform that fuses music, policy, and placemaking.
Kat: Canada After Dark is the first summit of its kind focused on nightlife and city-building. What conversations are you hoping will emerge from this event—and how do you see it influencing policy or urban planning across the country?
Melanie: We want Canada After Dark to reframe nightlife as critical urban infrastructure. With Night Mayors, policymakers, and cultural leaders in the room, we expect to surface ideas on licensing, zoning, safety, and equitable city planning. It’s about creating actionable models for other cities to adopt, starting with Ottawa, but intended for national impact.
Kat: Toronto, like many cities, is grappling with the role of nightlife in economic and cultural recovery. What lessons or models from other cities will be shared during the summit that Toronto should pay attention to?
Melanie: Every city has its own rhythm, and while global models from Berlin, Amsterdam, and Melbourne offer inspiration, the real lesson is that successful nightlife strategies are locally grounded. These cities treat nightlife as essential infrastructure for civic life, but they didn’t copy and paste solutions—they built human-centred strategies based on their own needs. At Canada After Dark, we’re encouraging folks to learn from other cities with that same approach: listen to your community, understand your ecosystem, and build something that reflects your city’s unique identity and future goals.
Kat: The week includes both grassroots showcases and high-profile events like the Capital Music Awards. How are you balancing industry development with public celebration?
Melanie: We’ve intentionally designed CxMW to function both as an economic engine and a cultural celebration. The Capital Music Awards spotlight Ottawa’s top talent, while free and ticketed showcases across multiple venues activate the entire city. At the same time, workshops, mixers, and a cross-sector trade show are driving career growth and industry innovation. A thriving music ecosystem relies on four core pillars: fans, government, creators, and entrepreneurs—and CxMW is activating all four in a unified, city-wide experience.
Kat: This year, the City of Ottawa is piloting 4AM last calls for certain venues. What’s the thinking behind this decision, and how does it connect to broader nightlife strategies?
Melanie: This pilot aligns with Ottawa’s Nightlife Economy Action Plan and offers an opportunity to explore how extended hours might contribute to the nighttime economy. While individual venues have applied for extended licenses in the past, this is the first time it’s being offered city-wide as part of a municipally recognized event. CxMW provides a thoughtful setting to assess how later programming can be delivered safely and effectively. Perceptions of safety also play an important role in a healthy nightlife economy—when people feel comfortable and supported, they’re more likely to engage in late-night cultural experiences.
Kat: Can you speak to the importance of collaboration between artists, venue owners, city leaders, and cultural advocates—especially in a post-pandemic context?
Melanie: CxMW is built on collaboration. Unlike a single-site festival, it activates venues across the entire city—from grassroots presenters to municipal departments, with a vision to include international embassies in future editions. Post-pandemic, it’s clearer than ever that revitalizing cultural life requires shared vision, shared space, and shared resources. This event is a model for that kind of cross-sector partnership. There’s so much happening in Ottawa’s music scene—it’s time the rest of the country took notice.
Kat: CxMW brings together representatives from across Canada—from Vancouver to Hamilton. What kind of national cohesion or network are you hoping to build through this event?
Melanie: We’re creating the conditions for new networks to emerge organically by bringing together leaders who value data-informed, equity-driven, and policy literate approaches. With a blend of industry, civic, and cultural programming, we foster meaningful cross-regional exchange and help position Ottawa as a hub for these conversations in a way it hasn’t been before. While Ottawa has long been a centre for government and policy, it’s time for arts and music to have a seat at that table. Through the Ontario Music Cities Officers Network—an informal group that meets bimonthly to share best practices and tackle shared challenges—we’ve seen how collaboration strengthens everyone. This is an opportunity to scale that model nationally.
Kat: With women continuing to lead many music and policy initiatives, what role do you see for gender equity and inclusion in shaping the future of Canadian nightlife and music economies?
Melanie: Gender equity and diversity are central to OMIC’s governance and programming. We’ve built a team and a platform where IBPOC, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ voices are prioritized and embedded into the culture of the organization. How could it not? Ottawa is a mosaic of culture, identities, and international backgrounds. Equitable leadership isn’t just the right thing to do; it leads to more sustainable, inclusive, and creative outcomes across the entire ecosystem. We’re encouraged to see more diversity in leadership roles—but there’s still a lot of work ahead.
Kat: How is the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition using this event to elevate local artists—and what can other cities learn from Ottawa’s approach to homegrown talent development?
Melanie: OMIC programs over 200 live shows a year and re-invests directly in local artists through paid gigs, grants, and professional development. This event puts those artists on major stages—alongside national headliners and international delegates—positioning homegrown talent as a key export strategy. One major lesson for other cities: none of this is possible without political will. Having a council that’s on board and support from multiple levels of government that recognize the cultural and economic value of music, is critical. According to the CLMA’s Hear and Now report, live music contributes over $3 billion to Canada’s GDP annually—and that’s without factoring in hospitality and tourism.
Kat: For anyone outside Ottawa considering attending or participating, what would you say is the “can’t-miss” moment of the week?
Melanie: How do you pick just one? It’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of week. Capital Music Week is for everyone—and the whole country is invited. Here’s what’s in store:
Fan of the JUNOs? Don’t miss the Capital Music Awards on Thursday, May 22 at Southam Hall, National Arts Centre—our region’s top talent on a national stage and never-before seen collaborations.
Industry leader? Join the Canada After Dark: Nightlife Forum on May 21 & 22 for conversations shaping the future of cities through music, nightlife, and policy.
Aspiring professional? Attend Sound x Summit on May 24—a career-launching day of panels, workshops, and networking with over 200 creatives and Canadian music industry leaders.
Behind-the-scenes enthusiast? Check out The Producer’s Chair on May 21, where Tom Power interviews legendary Eagles producer Jim Ed Norman, with a special performance by Tara Shannon.
DJs and art lovers? Experience ByWard After Dark on May 22—a late-night fusion of DJ sets and live art installations.
Into Afrobeats and funky diaspora vibes? Dance all night at TIMEKODE on May 23.
Looking for global urban sounds? Don’t miss the CRANIUM Emerging Artist Showcase on May 24—a high-energy night of world, funk, and reggae.
Want free, family-friendly shows? Catch the Ontario Music City Showcases at the NAC over lunch on May 21 & 22.
What’s hot now? Pop favourite Elijah Woods performs a free all-ages show on May 21, while roots legends Skydiggers take the stage at The Bronson with local openers on May 23.
Soul and groove fan? Get down with The Commotions, Kellylee Evans, and OK Naledi on May 20 at The Bronson.
Whatever your vibe, there’s something here for you!
For a complete list of events, schedules, artists, ticket information, and updates, visit cxmw.ca and follow @cxmw.ca on Facebook and Instagram.