Welcome to the web site for the Canadian Independent Recording Artists' Association (CIRAA), Canada's only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to Canadian independent recording artists.  With over 4,000 members across Canada, our mandate is focused on advocacy, education and member services.

Like all artists, Canada's independent recording artists are a valuable resource and an important part of our cultural fabric.  The future of Canadian music has never been brighter and the need for CIRAA has never been greater.

CIRAA is firmly committed to improving the entirety of Canada's artist development system and, therefore, our advocacy efforts are focused on:

1. promoting progressive Canadian Content rules that will ensure more airplay for emerging Canadian artists; and
2. working to secure increased funding for unsigned artists from government, private radio broadcasters and other players within the music industry infrastructure.

In terms of education, CIRAA is helping to empower Canada’s independent recording artists to navigate the new “do-it-yourself” music industry paradigm. We call this paradigm “The New Indie”. Today's artists must be in tune with these changes if Canada is to produce a healthy music industry for the next generation.

The New Indie, CIRAA’s flagship educational initiative, is an in-depth audio series featuring interviews with music industry experts discussing the new realities facing today’s independent recording artists. The New Indie was created to help artists navigate this music industry paradigm shift.  

For decades, independent artists have searched for answers at music conferences (CMW, NXNE, SXSW, CMJ, etc), seminars (The Learning Annex, Long and McQuade school, etc), networking events (The Big Schmooze, Award shows, etc), music schools (Trebas, Harris Institute, etc) and other sources like reality television contests and their peers.

The New Indie takes the best of each of these sources and creates a current, truly national education program that will be available at all times, for no charge, to all Canadian independent recording artists in communities coast to coast.

Our e-newsletter provides members and industry representatives with in-depth features on successful artists and music industry leaders, who offer their advice, insight from lessons learned and an honest take on the current state of the industry.

Membership to CIRAA is FREE and is open to Canadian independent musicians that record any genre of music.

Q: What kind of music do independent artists play?

A: Indie artists represent all forms of music: pop, rock, hip hop, jazz, country, classical, punk, new age, adult contemporary, metal, dance, folk, etc... All music that is not supported (owned) by a record company is independent, and that exists in all genres.

Q: Aren't there other music industry associations already?

A: Yes, but none that represent independent musicians exclusively. Record companies have always been well represented, but independent artists have not.

MAJOR

CRIA - Canadian Recording Industry Association: Represents multi-national major record companies and some independent record companies that account for a large portion of Canadian music sales.

MAJOR INDIE

CIRPA - Canadian Independent Record Producers Association: Represents the interests of Canadian independent record companies and their artists.

UNSIGNED INDIE

CIRAA - Canadian Independent Recording Artists' Association:Represents the interests of independent recording artists that are not signed to a major or major indie record company.