SoMa Forum
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SoMa Forum 〰️
Music BC Presents: SoMa Forum
Dates: Friday, March 20th & Saturday, March 21st, 2026
Locations:
📍 Chill x Studios (2270 Manitoba St)
📍 The Birdhouse (44 W 4th Ave)
The music doesn’t stop when the lights go up… This year, we are thrilled to debut SoMa Forum - a new space for the conversations that move our industry forward, running in tandem with SoMa Fest. Built to bridge the gap between the stage and the business, the Forum offers tactical, real-time insights designed to elevate your professional toolkit, whether you’re an artist or an industry veteran.
SoMa Forum brings the industry to you, with experts joining us from across Canada and around the globe. Across two days of programming, expect high-impact conversations from visionary leaders redefining the scene, alongside interactive workshops, and more. This is where the BC music community connects to turn inspiration into sustainable success.
Stay tuned for additional panels being announced, and panel times coming soon.
Friday, March 20, 2026 Programming
On Brand or Off Key?
Location: The Birdhouse
Speakers:
Natasha Dion - SEVEN Studios Media
Negele Hospedales - by Hospey
About: In the modern music industry, your brand often speaks before your music even plays. This high-speed, interactive session invites artists and industry professionals to put their marketing assets under the microscope. Join two of Canada’s leading branding experts, Natasha Dion and Negele Hospedales, as they select submissions from the audience for a "live audit." Each selected participant will engage with our experts about their vision, followed by a deep dive into their visual identity storytelling, content and tactics. These live conversations will help ALL attendees identify what’s hitting the mark, what’s creating friction, and how to build a cohesive identity that resonates with fans and industry pros alike.
*Please Note: Not all attendee submissions will be selected.
Submit here for a chance to have YOUR brand audited during this panel!
“Did You Read the Brief?” Sync Selections Demystified
Location: The Birdhouse
Speakers:
Kim Temple (moderator) - High Priestess Publishing
Natasha Duprey - Must Be Nice Productions
Heather Gardner - Vapor Music
Cody Partridge - Pear Tree Music Supervision
About: Go behind the scenes of the sync process to see what it actually takes to land the placement. In this interactive session, we bridge the gap between the artist's upload and the supervisor’s ears. Using a series of archived "mystery briefs," panel attendees will have the opportunity to submit their best work under real-world conditions*. We’ll listen to the selected submissions live, compare them against the original creative briefs, and hear the "why" behind the selection. From metadata must-haves to that elusive "sonic magic," learn exactly how supervisors filter through the noise to find the perfect track. * Please Note: Not all attendee submissions will be selected.
Presented in partnership with the Guild of Music Supervisors.
Submit here for a chance to see YOUR music in a scene during this panel!
Decoding the Data with Chartmetric
Location: Chill x Studio
Speakers:
Dom Randazzo - Chartmetric
About: In an era where "data is the new A&R," knowing how to read the numbers is the difference between a viral moment and a sustainable career. Join Dom Randazzo of Chartmetric for a hands-on, deep-dive workshop designed to turn raw analytics into actionable strategy. Whether you are a seasoned power user or don’t even have an account yet, this session is for you. Bring your laptop and get ready to explore the global music landscape - from identifying untapped geographic markets to understanding cross-platform audience behavior. You’ll walk away with a tangible toolkit of the metrics that actually matter and a clear roadmap for leveraging data to build long-term independence and success in the modern industry.
More Friday programming being announced soon!
Saturday, March 21, 2026 Programming
Whose Song Is It Anyway? Copyright, Consent, and Creativity in the Age of AI
Location: Chill x Studio
Speakers:
Kei Baritugo (moderator) - Montreal AI Ethics Institute
Amanda Silvera - Society for Original Biometric Identity Rights
David Morin - Musician
Asia Mattu - Voice Actor / ACTRA Member
About: As AI-generated tracks flood streaming platforms and deepfakes imitate famous voices, the music industry faces complex legal and ethical questions. This session unpacks intellectual property challenges, explores consent and data use, and discusses how policy is evolving to protect the rights of creatives.
Lifespan of Release
Location: The Birdhouse
Speakers:
Amanda Powell (moderator) - 604 Records
Lexani Talionis - Nettwerk Music Group
Job Smit - Mattan Records
Sophie McKinnon - Victory Pool
Aaron Meola - DISCO
Presented in partnership with CIMA.
About: In an era where the "drop" is just the beginning, understanding the full trajectory of a record is essential for any independent artist. The Lifespan of a Release breaks down the three critical phases of a rollout: the strategic buildup, the momentum of the launch, and the long-tail sustainability of the music. We’ll explore how goals shift when moving from singles to full bodies of work, and compare the "DIY vs. Label" experience in today’s evolving climate. Attendees will walk away with a tangible roadmap for navigating streaming shifts and building an impact that lasts.
Local Roots, Global Reach: Scaling From Hometown to Headliner
Location: The Birdhouse
Speakers:
Lori Ethier (moderator) - M For Montreal
Mulu Tesfu - POP Montreal
Michael Dawson - BreakOut West
Anika Nagy - Sziget Festival
Joe Frampton - Midnight Mango
About: The leap from local Canadian stages to the international festival circuit requires more than just a passport; it requires a specialized strategy. This panel dives into the mechanics of "export readiness," examining the critical differences between a standard festival play and high-stakes export events. We will pull back the curtain on what international talent buyers actually look for in 2026 - from the specific data points that prove your music "travels" to the professional team needed to support a cross-border career. This session explores the nuance of performing for industry delegates versus your hometown fans, and how to manage the financial realities of international touring without losing your mind. Whether you are booking independently or working with an agent, join us to learn how to bridge the gap between being a local favorite and a global contender while maintaining the community that started it all.
Embracing Neurodivergence in the Music Industry
Location: Chill X Studio
Presented By: Rupert Hudson - Counsellor & Musician
About: Why do so many of the most creative people in music also struggle to feel well within the industry itself? Join us for an in-depth and compassionate exploration of neurodivergence and mental health in the music industry, led by Vancouver-based artist and therapist Rupert Hudson, who specializes in working with neurodivergent clients and performs in the local band Orchid Orchestra.
The Multi-Hyphenate Career
Location: The Birdhouse
Speakers:
Kristina Lao (moderator) - Kristina Lao Entertainment
Mizzy Mejia - TALA Music & Consulting
Alex Sannie - Manitoba Music
Suzette Amaya - SAMAYA Entertainment
About: This panel brings together professionals who wear multiple hats across the industry, blending skills, roles, and perspectives that don’t always fit into a single job title. Each panelist has built a career by exploring more than one lane, balancing creative, technical, and entrepreneurial work and proving that success doesn’t have to be linear. The conversation will explore how embracing a multi-disciplinary approach can open doors, create resilience, and empower people to design careers that evolve with their interests and opportunities. Especially for entrepreneurs, this panel highlights how versatility can be a strength, not a limitation.
The Balancing Act: Snotty Nose Rez Kids on Life and Art
Location: The Birdhouse
Speakers:
Darren "Young D" Metz
Quinton "Yung Trybez" Nyce
Moderated by Jenny Lea
About: How do you keep your career moving without letting it consume you? For Snotty Nose Rez Kids, the journey to the global stage has been fueled by a relentless drive - but the true work happens behind the scenes. In this candid keynote, Yung Trybez and Young D explore the delicate art of the 'industry balancing act,' particularly when it comes to leading such a heavy touring schedule year after year. They'll dive into what they've learned from clocking over 400 shows and how to stay grounded during the process. Moderated by Jenny Lea, they'll dive into the reality of protecting their mental well-being while managing the weight of public expectations, the necessity of defining success on your own terms, and the vital importance of staying connected to family and community.
