In Canada: Inside Danielle Smith’s Plans to Make the Calgary Music Industry ‘Nashville North’

Calgary has its sights set on becoming Canada’s next major music hub.

That’s the ambition Alberta Premier Danielle Smith laid out following a recent trip to Nashville, where she met with Tennessee chamber of commerce and tourism industry leaders to learn more about the growth of Music City.

Smith sees Nashville as a model Calgary could follow, arguing that the foundations that helped turn the Tennessee city into a music powerhouse already exist at home.

Related UPDATE: Country Thunder Alberta Cancels Festival Citing Infrastructure Issues with the City of Calgary Billboard to Add Smart Media Albums As Chart-Eligible Sales Formats Duane 'Keffe D' Davis Gives First Interview After Tupac Shakur Murder Conviction “There are a number of changes that they made 25 years ago in order to become what they are today,” Smith said in a recent news conference.

“I want to find out a little bit about what that is and see if we can develop some excellent partnerships with the music industry so that we can do a transfer of talent and transfer of expertise.” Calgary’s music industry continues to grow yearly with major events like the Calgary Stampede and Cowboys Music Festival, which draw around 1.4 million and 165,000 fans respectively, and Smith believes that its estimated $2.3 billion value can reach Nashville’s own $28.3 billion impact by taking the right steps.

Calgary is already scaling its musical infrastructure, notably with the addition of Scotia Place, a new arena and home for the Calgary Flames, which is currently being built and set to open in fall 2027, and will also host concerts.

The province is also looking to expand on existing infrastructure, with Stampede Park aiming to become a year-round entertainment destination as part of its 20-year plan, which aligns with the premier’s vision for the province.

Read more here . — Stefano Rebuli The Beaches Score Their First Gold-Certified Single in the U.S.

With ‘Blame Brett’: ‘Beyond Humbled’ The Beaches have secured their first-ever gold-certified single in the U.S.

The Toronto rock act’s song “Blame Brett” received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

While the 2023 track officially went gold back in April this year, it wasn’t until over the weekend that the band — comprised of sisters Jordan and Kylie Miller, Leandra Earl and Eliza Enman-McDaniel — shared the news on social media.

Related The Beaches Accept Billboard Canada’s Global Force Award | Billboard Women In Music 2026 “Thank you everyone, we’ll forever be blaming Brett,” read the caption, accompanied by a video of Earl holding up the band’s RIAA plaque.

Released on their sophomore album, 2023’s Blame My Ex , “Blame Brett” has served as a breakthrough moment for the band.