Erin Benjamin will step down as head of the Canadian Live Music Association this spring after 12 years at the helm, the organization announced on Thursday.
Benjamin will remain in her role until the end of April “to support the upcoming transition period and ensure continuity across the CLMA’s programs, partnerships and advocacy priorities,” the organization said.
“Leading the CLMA has been one of the great privileges of my career,” Benjamin said in a news release. “What began as a shared vision across a passionate community has grown into a strong national organization with a clarity of purpose and the capacity to forge lasting change. I’m so, so proud of our incredible team, our community, proud of what we’ve built together and excited for the organization’s future.”
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As the organization’s first leader, Benjamin helped build the first unified national platform representing venues, promoters, festivals and live music professionals.
CLMA said a “defining milestone” of Benjamin’s tenure was the delivery of Hear and Now, which the organization described as the first-ever assessment of the Canadian live music industry’s economic impact across the country.
“Widely referenced by policymakers and industry leaders in Canada and internationally, the study created a new evidence base for public investment and policy development, fundamentally reshaping how the sector is understood and valued within the country’s cultural and economic landscape,” the organization added.
The organization highlighted Benjamin’s contributions to showcasing live music as an economic sector, especially as the industry navigated the hurdles of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“On behalf of the entire Canadian music community, we owe Erin a profound debt of gratitude. Quite simply, the CLMA would not exist in its current form without her leadership. The sector itself is stronger, more connected, better understood, and more recognized, because of her dedication and hard work,” CLMA board chair Nate Sabine said in a statement.
As for what’s next, Benjamin said in a LinkedIn post that she’d be sharing more soon.
