Hamilton Music & Film Office
Music in Hamilton
Contact Us
For more information
Email [email protected]
Hamilton Music Sector
Hamilton-based music business who need assistance or those want to move your business to Hamilton can find information about the Music Sector on Investinhamilton.ca.
Music Friendly Policies
Arts & Music
Arts & Music in the City
Connect with community by attending concerts and installations throughout the city! Engage with local musicians and artists while you discover Hamilton’s creative side.
Supporting Hamilton's Vibrant Music Scene
Hamilton is home to a vibrant music scene. The city’s music industry has 7,725 workers and 541 businesses, making it the 6th largest cluster of music businesses in Canada.
We have more independent musicians per capita than many top tier cities worldwide, while being a top destination for music occupations in Canada.
Music in Hamilton
Fair Payment for Musicians
On June 23, 2021, the City of Hamilton became a strong advocate for musician compensation with the approval of the ‘Fair Payment for Musicians’ policy. This policy recognizes the value of musicians’ work, and demonstrates the city’s dedication to our music industry by requiring all City-led events meet the minimum scale rates set out by the Hamilton Musicians Guild Local 293 Tariff of Fees (see below chart for current minimum rates).
| Number of Band Members | 2025 Minimum Fee for 1 hour performance |
|---|---|
| 1 | $165 |
| 2 | $310 |
| 3 | $455 |
| 4 | $600 |
| 5 | $745 |
For groups larger than 5 musicians, the minimum fee increases by $145 per additional musician.
Review the Fair Payment for Musicians Policy. Updates to the fee schedule within the policy will be listed in the table above as required.
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