In this episode of The Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, I sit down with Erin Benjamin, President and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, to talk about what it really takes to build something from nothing. Erin launched the association in 2014 with no staff, no logo, and no office—and today, it has over 400 members nationwide.
We dive into what industry advocacy actually looks like behind the scenes. How do you keep small venues and major players aligned under one roof? What does it mean to use your personal voice in service of a collective mission? Erin shares how she’s stayed grounded in purpose, even when the work is nonstop and the path forward isn’t always clear.
We also explore the CLMA’s latest economic impact report, which found that live music contributed over $10 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2023 and supported more than 100,000 jobs. Erin explains how this kind of data fuels stronger industry advocacy and helps push for policies that actually support the people doing the work.
If you’ve ever tried to rally a sector, juggle a small team, or build a brand that’s bigger than one person—this conversation will hit home.
Click below to listen to the episode now!
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unfiltered-non-profit-leaders-share-it-all/id1749147957
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3JNb1VTvPIncILczhZCgzQ
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/247b628f-f9df-42eb-84ef-ae1471ae24e3/the-unfiltered-non-profit-leaders-share-it-all
Audible: https://www.audible.ca/podcast/The-Unfiltered-Non-Profit-Leaders-Share-It-All/B0D5JP698Z
Youtube: https://youtu.be/BquVZ7jhEvY
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