ANNUAL REPORT September 1, 2014 - March 31, 2015 CONTENTS 210-2300 Dewdney Ave Regina SK S4R 1H5 Canada 202-226 20th St W Saskatoon SK S7L 0V6 Canada P: 306-347-0676 (main switchboard) or 1-800-347-0676 (toll free within Sask.) F: 306-347-7735 www.saskmusic.org [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/SaskMusic1 Twitter: @SaskMusic Instagram: SaskMusic President’s Report .................................. 3 Executive Director’s Report .................... 4 Treasurer’s Report ..................................... 5 Profile ........................................................... 6 Programs and Activities ........................... 7-10 Fiscal Year At A Glance ............................... 11 Workshops .................................................. 12-14 COVER, L TO R AND TOP TO BOTTOM: Export Strategy Highlights ...................... 15-19 THE WOLFE AT TOM JACKSON PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP; BART MCKAY ACCEPTING HIS CCMA; VAL HALLA AT THE TOM JACKSON Album Releases ......................................... 20 PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP JESS MOSKALUKE ON THE CCMA BROADCAST (PHOTO: GRANT W. MAR- Award Nominees and Winners ............... 21 TIN PHOTOGRAPHY); YOUNG BENJAMINS AT THE SASKIE SHOWCASE; TOM JACKSON LEADING HIS WORKSHOP Chart-Makers ............................................... 22 JAY SEMKO AT THE CCMA SONGWRITING CAFE (PHOTO: GRANT W. Artist Showcases ....................................... 23 mARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY); CLOSE TALKER AT SXSW; ANDINO SUNS AT MUNDIAL Board of Directors ..................................... 24-26 Staff .............................................................. 26-27 Audited Financial Statements ................ 28-40 WE THANK: Photo, THIS PAGE: bastard poetry PERFORMS at THE tom jackson performance WORKSHOP, 2015. photo: sharpshooter photography 2 SASKMUSIC ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015 WWW.SASKMUSIC.ORG PRESIDENT’S REPORT BY DAWN WORONIUK 2015 started out pretty rough for SaskMusic and its members. We were all devastated by the sudden loss of our leader, mentor and friend Derek Bachman in December. It’s still so very hard to believe that he is gone and I know that we all think about him every day. Derek was one-of-a-kind, and truly helped so many people in our industry. We will continue to miss him but he will live forever in our hearts. I can’t thank the staff enough for pulling together and holding down the fort for the first couple months of the start of the year. Lorena, Kaelen, Rebecca, Bethani and Brittney were a pillar of strength and Derek would have been so proud of you all. I also want to thank the board for all of their support during this difficult time; not only is SaskMusic fortu- nate to have you all as board members, so am I, as we got through it together. Also sending thanks to JP Ellson and the staff and board of Creative Saskatchewan; words cannot express our gratitude for your caring and support during that difficult time. This, of course, left us with a void to fill. After a cross-Canada search and over 75 applicants, we were pleased to announce Michael Dawson as our new Executive Director of SaskMusic. Michael is well known to SaskMusic, serving on our board prior to moving out to BC, as well as being a member of the Regina-based band Library Voices. Michael brings with him a diverse range of hands-on experience in the music industry. Michael has been with us since March 2015, and has transitioned nicely into the position; we couldn’t be prouder to have him at the helm. As you are also aware, we made a fiscal year end change to coincide with Creative Saskatchewan’s, hence why you are reading this report. We look forward to working with Creative Saskatchewan and what Michael and his team bring to the table for the remainder of 2015 and the New Year. WWW.SASKMUSIC.ORG SASKMUSIC ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015 3 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT BY MICHAEL DAWSON It is with a heavy heart that I begin my first annual report as Execu- tive Director. Derek Bachman was considered a close personal friend, a respected colleague, a forward-thinking mentor, and an inspiration to many people around the world, including myself. The news of his untimely passing in December 2014 rippled through the music com- munity on a global scale. The subsequent outpouring of condolences illustrated the enormous spectrum of people Derek had touched and prodigious role he played in the Saskatchewan music industry at home and abroad. As SaskMusic moves forward, we will operate with the same professionalism and accessibility that led to Derek and the or- ganization being so highly regarded the world over. We will ensure that we will continue to honour Derek’s motto to “work hard and be nice to people.” I accepted the position of ED on March 2, 2015. I have to thank the staff and board for the exemplary job they did in steering the organization in the absence of a director and for the incredible support they have offered me in the position. A special resolution was passed by our membership through an online and in-person vote to extend the cur- rent Board of Directors for an additional year. This decision will ensure continuity and focus within the orga- nization rather than cut some board members’ terms short during this 7-month fiscal year. There have been no changes in staff. Kaelen and Bethani continue to work out of the Saskatoon office and Lorena, Rebecca, and Brittney are Regina. SaskMusic continues to be funded by Creative Saskatchewan for both our core operating and much of our program funding. SaskMusic did not distribute any new funding outward, as our Investment Programs were closed and funding for artists and industry is available through Creative Saskatchewan. In the few short weeks that I have been here, I have had the pleasure to consult with a number of members, attend some of our many educational workshops, and participate in international Export Market activities. As you read through these pages you will be reminded of the enormous scope of activity that the organiza- tion embarks on each year. I am proud to be a part of it and to get to work each day alongside such a bril- liant staff, board, and provincial music industry. Lastly, I want to state that I am always available to address concerns from our members. SaskMusic is in the process of coordinating a strategic planning session for fall of 2015 and it will continue to be our priority that we meet the needs of our members. I look forward to the continued growth of this organization and of the Saskatchewan music industry. 4 SASKMUSIC ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015 WWW.SASKMUSIC.ORG TREASURER’S REPORT BY SUSAN BUSSE The 2014-15 fiscal year represents a seven month period from Septem- ber 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015. This is a year of transition which will align SaskMusic’s fiscal year with that of the main funder, Creative Saskatchewan. Statement of Financial Position: Statement of Revenue & Expenditures: Assets = $408,770 Revenues = $392,899 Liabilities = $96,461 Expenses = $384,346 Net Assets = $312,309 Net Revenue = $8,553 Last year’s (2013/14) total revenue was $1,052,765 and represented the largest budget in this organization’s history. The 2014/15 budget is a seven-month budget with to- tal revenues of only $392,899 and appears to be a notable decrease from the previous year. However, it is important to remember that SaskMusic activity is not distributed evenly throughout the year. The months of September and May are the months with the most grant income activity and since we have only one of those included in this year’s budget, the numbers are skewed down disproportionately. In addition, there have been delays in approvals of grant applications which has resulted in two extended grant report dead- lines, which caused funds to miss the March 31 year-end. Functionally, funding levels remain consistent over last year and the budget is nearly balanced with a small surplus of $8,553 which will be considered in next year’s budget. SaskMusic is economically dependent on Creative Saskatchewan with approximately 92% of all revenues received from that agency this year. Both administrative and programming support from Creative Saskatch- ewan remain at previous levels and show potential for growth. The Board also intends to proactively work with staff to develop complementary and alternative funding sources. Cash at the beginning of the year was $270,047 and at end of the abridged year was $257,028. SaskMusic holds resources that protect the organization in the short term in the event of future funding changes. The resources include a reserve fund of $100,454 held in a redeemable GIC earning 0.80% in addition to a $20,000 line of credit which is at $0 balance. Beyond financials, this year was especially difficult in that we suddenly and unexpectedly lost our beloved friend and colleague, Derek Bachman. Derek was doing a brilliant job as Executive Director and in particular the Board and I were most appreciative of the careful work he was doing with the staff to bring bookkeep- ing practices and internal financial control procedures up to the highest standards. I want to extend a warm thank you to each Board and staff member of SaskMusic, contracted professional, volunteer, member, ser- vice provider, supplier, and to our new Executive Director, Michael Dawson, for carrying on Derek’s legacy through purposeful continuance of the SaskMusic mission. In summary, SaskMusic maintains a healthy financial position with conservative and stable financial policies and internal controls. WWW.SASKMUSIC.ORG SASKMUSIC ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015 5 PROFILE The Bylaws of SaskMusic express its mandate as follows: • Organizational Development and Management: to ensure that the infrastructure and mechanisms for strong and focused 1. To assist in the development and promotion of Saskatchewan organizational growth are in place. musical artists and the industry on a provincial, national and • Funding Development and Management: to ensure that international level.