SoundOff Summit — Building Calgary's Music Industry Infrastructure

SoundOff Summit is Music Calgary's long-running music industry conference and showcase festival, built to strengthen the pathways between Calgary artists and the wider music industry. First launched in 2013, SoundOff has evolved alongside the needs of our music community—from an emerging local conference, through digital programming during the pandemic, to a multi-day conference and showcase festival connecting Calgary artists with regional, national and international industry professionals.

Now entering its 10th edition in 2026, SoundOff has become a cornerstone of Music Calgary's work. Through panels, workshops, mentorship, networking and live showcases, we create opportunities for artists to develop practical industry knowledge while building meaningful relationships with labels, agents, managers, festivals, promoters, media, funders and other sector leaders.

The growth of the past three years demonstrates the momentum behind that long-term investment. Following the return to an in-person conference model in 2023, SoundOff welcomed more than 50 industry delegates and delivered 16 panels and workshops. By 2024, participation had grown to 80 industry professionals and 323 conference attendees. In 2025, SoundOff reached 90 industry participants and 465 conference attendees, while its showcase program presented 35 Calgary artists across seven venues to 919 attendees.

What makes this growth particularly meaningful is that SoundOff is producing measurable outcomes beyond the event itself. Connections developed through the Summit have led to festival bookings, touring opportunities, artist residencies, label conversations, international market development and new professional relationships. The 2025 report specifically identifies opportunities that continued to develop months and even into the following year—demonstrating that SoundOff's impact extends well beyond three days in November.

For our artists, SoundOff brings industry knowledge and decision-makers directly to Calgary, reducing the financial and geographic barriers associated with travelling to larger industry conferences simply to begin building relationships.

For our community, the Summit creates a central meeting place where artists, venues, festivals, media, organizations and audiences learn from one another and strengthen the connections that make a healthy local music ecosystem possible.

For the industry, SoundOff provides a concentrated opportunity to discover Calgary talent and build relationships within the city. Instead of continually asking Calgary artists to leave home to be discovered, we bring the industry here so that our artists can go further.

After more than a decade of development and nine editions of SoundOff Summit, the goal has remained consistent: build the infrastructure, knowledge and relationships that allow artists to develop sustainable careers from Calgary while creating pathways for Calgary music to reach audiences and markets beyond our city.