Departure
Departure is an annual Toronto festival and conference (May 4-10, 2026) that combines a multi-track industry conference with a city-wide music, comedy, and film festival, serving 3,000+ creative professionals globally and operating as a joint venture between Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group, monetized via tiered passes, premium tickets, and sponsorship.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Departure does
Departure is an annual week-long festival and conference held in downtown Toronto (May 4-10, 2026) that combines a daytime industry conference with a city-wide music, art, comedy, and film festival across multiple venues. It is a reimagining of Canadian Music Week (42 years of heritage) and operates as a joint venture between Loft Entertainment (founded by Randy Lennox in 2023) and Oak View Group (OVG). The conference spans seven content tracks — Music, Radio & Audio, Live Events & Touring, Tech & Innovation, Culture & Creativity, Business & Marketing, and Film & TV — and features 200+ speakers, 3,000+ global delegates, and 100+ festival events. Programming includes Radiodays North America (an embedded radio/audio conference), NextGen (student/graduate mentorship with academic and major-label partners), Departure Honours awards, and the Live Music Awards in association with the Canadian Live Music Association.
The business operates on three revenue streams: (1) tiered pass sales ($65 Festival to $1,199 Priority in CAD) via the Microspec registration platform, with group discounts for 8+ attendees; (2) premium event ticket sales through Ticketmaster, Ticketweb, and venue partners; and (3) sponsorship revenue structured across Presenting (TD), Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Supporting tiers with named brand partners including Ticketmaster, Corus Entertainment, Rogers Communications, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, Stingray, Amazon Music, Live Nation, and Music Canada. Government co-funding comes from Ontario Creates, FACTOR, and the Government of Canada. The audience is a diversified mix of creative professionals, emerging artists, students/recent graduates, and brand partners.
The underlying technology stack is conventional event-operations infrastructure rather than proprietary technology: Square for payments, Microspec/Ticketmaster/Ticketweb/Eventbrite for ticketing, Constant Contact/Mailchimp for email, DocuSign for agreements, and Google Analytics/Meta Pixel for web analytics. The company's primary value driver is brand heritage, curated programming quality, and a high-density network of creative decision-makers (80% of delegates hold primary decision-making authority per Enigma Research), with $138M in attributed industry transactions at Departure 2025. Leadership includes Executive Director Pat Murphy and Executive Producer Kevin Barton, operating from Toronto under Ontario jurisdiction.
Departure firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Departure
- Legal name
- Departure Conference & Festival
- Website
- https://departureto.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Departure is an annual Toronto festival and conference (May 4-10, 2026) that combines a multi-track industry conference with a city-wide music, comedy, and film festival, serving 3,000+ creative professionals globally and operating as a joint venture between Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group, monetized via tiered passes, premium tickets, and sponsorship.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Departure industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Conference and Festival
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cultural & Community Festivals (Ticketed) (THAJAFAI), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Premiere, Awards & Festival Access (HSACAMAD)
Keywords
Where Departure is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Departure business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Conference & Festival Passes: Revenue generated from selling various tiers of passes (Priority, Conference, RDNA, Summit, Festival, NextGen) to attendees wanting to participate in the multi-day conference and festival events.
- Premium Event Tickets: Individual tickets sold for specific premium music performances and events, such as headlining shows at Massey Hall, TD Music Hall, and other venues.
- Sponsorship & Partnership: Revenue from brand partnerships including presenting sponsors (TD), major partners (Ticketmaster), diamond/platinum/gold partners across multiple tiers, and supporting partners. Sponsors gain visibility through event branding, activations, and exclusive presentations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Priority Pass - Premium executive-level access |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Conference Pass - Core conference access |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | RDNA (Radiodays North America) Pass |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Summit Pass - Single-day intensives |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Festival Pass - Music showcases and events |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | NextGen Pass - Students & new graduates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Departure product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Departure Festival + Conference is a seven-day, multi-discipline creative event held annually in downtown Toronto that combines a daytime industry conference (with seven content tracks spanning music, radio and audio, live events, tech, culture, business, and film and TV) with a city-wide festival featuring music showcases, premium headlining performances, film screenings, comedy, and special events. Access is sold through tiered passes (Priority, Conference, RDNA, Summit, Festival, NextGen) via the Microspec registration platform, with individual premium event tickets distributed through Ticketmaster and Ticketweb, and revenue supplemented by multi-tier corporate sponsorships led by TD as Presenting Sponsor.
Product overview
Departure is a multi-discipline creative festival and conference that combines a daytime industry conference with a city-wide festival. The core offering consists of the Conference (with seven content tracks: Music, Radio & Audio, Live Events & Touring, Tech & Innovation, Culture & Creativity, Business & Marketing, and Film & TV) and the Festival (featuring music showcases, premium music events, film screenings, and special events). Access is managed through tiered passes: Priority Pass (premium), Conference Pass (standard), RDNA Pass (radio/audio specialty), Summit Pass (single-day intensives), and Festival Pass. The NextGen Program provides student-focused mentorship and networking, while Departure Honours and Live Music Awards recognize industry achievement. Radiodays North America operates as a specialized track within the conference for radio and audio professionals. The product connects with third-party ticketing platforms including TicketWeb, Ticketmaster, and Microspec for pass and ticket sales.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Radiodays North America (RDNA): Premier conference for radio, podcasting, and digital audio professionals held as a track within Departure
- NextGen
- Departure Honours
- Live Music Awards
Products and services
- Departure Festival + Conference Annual week-long multi-discipline creative conference and city-wide festival held in Toronto, combining daytime industry conference programming with evening music showcases, film screenings, and special events across multiple venues; attended by 3,000+ global delegates and 200+ speakers.
- Priority Pass Premium conference pass at $1,199 CAD (reduced from $1,299) offering executive-level access including keynotes, panels, exclusive Radio and Audio track, curated networking events, delegate directory, priority check-in, Priority Lounge access, fast-track line privileges, Priority delegate bag, opening night party, Festival Pass, exclusive presale to premium events, and 30% discount to Departure Honours.
- Conference Pass Standard conference pass at $699 CAD (reduced from $799) providing access to keynotes, panels, networking events, Festival Pass inclusion, exclusive presale for Premium Music and Comedy events, and 10% discount to Departure Honours.
- RDNA (Radiodays North America) Pass Specialty conference pass at $999 CAD (reduced from $1,099) for radio, audio, and podcasting professionals, including exclusive Radiodays North America sessions, workshops, mixers, Festival Pass, and 20% discount to Departure Honours.
- Summit Pass Single-day intensive pass at $99 CAD for specialized summits including Creators (presented by Amazon Music), Live Music (presented by Live Nation), Sync, and Sports (presented by Rogers).
- Festival Pass Access pass at $65 CAD providing entry to curated music showcases, pop-up events, and film screenings throughout the festival week (May 4-10, 2026).
- NextGen Pass Career development program pass at $199.99 CAD for students and recent graduates (within two years post-graduation), including mentorship in Mentors Lounge, Open House Experience with partner organizations, and full week of Departure events.
- Radiodays North America (RDNA) Premier conference track (May 5-6, 2026) for radio, podcasting, and digital audio professionals, featuring industry-specific panels, workshops, mixers, and networking within the broader Departure conference.
- Music Showcases Curated showcase programming featuring 100+ emerging artists selected from thousands of submissions, performing at various Toronto venues during festival week.
- Premium Music Events Headlining performances and exclusive shows featuring established artists including Wild Rivers, Tommy Genesis, Logan Staats, and Choir! Choir! Choir! at premium Toronto venues (Massey Hall, TD Music Hall). Tickets sold via Ticketmaster and Ticketweb.
- Film & TV Screenings Film screening program featuring premieres, cult classics, and documentaries with Q&A sessions with creators, cast, and industry leaders at TIFF Lightbox and Paradise Theatre.
- Special Events Signature programming including live podcast tapings, comedy shows, intimate songwriter sessions, and cultural events at various Toronto venues.
- Departure Honours Marquee awards ceremony presented by Ticketmaster, celebrating industry trailblazers and cultural icons including Lifetime Achievement, Trailblazer, Humanitarian, Industry Achievement, Creative Impact, Cultural Innovator, Independent Achievement, and Allan Slaight Humanitarian awards.
- Live Music Awards Industry awards presented in association with the Canadian Live Music Association, recognizing excellence in live music companies, individuals, and organizations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Departure 2025 generated $138M in industry transactions
Companies that use Departure
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Departure technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Departure partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.
- TDflagshipTD is the Presenting Sponsor of Departure 2026. TD will help spotlight moments celebrating industry excellence and emerging talent, including presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award at Departure Honours and the Choir! Choir! Choir! Angel singalong featuring Sarah McLachlan at Massey Hall.
- TicketmastercoreMajor partner and ticketing platform partner for Departure, presenting the Departure Honours event.
- Loft EntertainmentcoreCo-producer of Departure Festival + Conference. Founded by industry veteran Randy Lennox in Summer 2023, Loft offers world-leading artists creative, strategic and business services.
- Oak View Group (OVG)coreCo-producer of Departure Festival + Conference. Global leader in live experience venue development, management, and premium hospitality services.
- Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)corePartner in the Scotiabank Arena & Coca-Cola Coliseum Bursary Program supporting 15 aspiring music industry professionals to attend Departure.
- Corus EntertainmentmajorDiamond partner with radio broadcasting and media operations.
- iHeartRadiomajorDiamond partner with digital radio and audio platform.
- Rogers CommunicationsmajorDiamond partner and presenter of the Sports Summit, with multiple touchpoints across Rogers Sports & Media.
- SiriusXMmajorDiamond partner with satellite and streaming radio platform.
- StingraymajorDiamond partner with music and video streaming services.
- Amazon MusiccorePlatinum partner presenting the Creators Summit, with music streaming playlist partnerships.
- Live NationcorePlatinum partner presenting the Live Music Summit and The Lounge at Live Nation venue.
- Music CanadacorePlatinum partner representing music industry interests.
- Radiodays North AmericacoreEnhanced conference track within Departure for radio, podcasting, and digital audio professionals, taking place May 5-6, 2026.
- NCRA/ANRECminorPartner in Podcastday for Creators programming alongside Radiodays North America and Canadaland.
- CanadalandminorPartner in Podcastday for Creators programming alongside Radiodays North America and NCRA/ANREC.
- Bell MediaminorNextGen Open House partner providing industry access and tours.
- CBCminorNextGen Open House partner providing industry access and tours.
- Sony Music Entertainment CanadaminorNextGen Open House partner providing industry access and tours.
- Universal Music CanadaminorNextGen Open House partner providing industry access and tours.
- Warner Music CanadaminorNextGen Open House partner providing industry access and tours.
- Humber PolytechnicminorAcademic partner for NextGen program offering music industry education.
- Fanshawe CollegeminorAcademic partner for NextGen program offering Music Industry Arts program.
- Sheridan CollegeminorAcademic partner for NextGen program.
- Canadian Live Music AssociationcoreAssociation partner presenting the Live Music Awards in association with Departure.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Departure competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Reeperbahn Festival: Reeperbahn Festival is a Hamburg-based music industry conference and showcase festival combining panels, networking, and live performances across multiple venues. Its conference-plus-festival format, international delegate draw, and German sponsor ecosystem make it a strong format peer for Departure's city-wide approach.
- Eurosonic Noorderslag: Eurosonic Noorderslag is a European music industry conference and showcase festival held in Groningen, Netherlands, serving as a launch platform for emerging European artists alongside industry panels on policy, tech, and live. Its dual conference-showcase model and emerging-artist pipeline closely match Departure's RDNA and showcase components.
- The Great Escape: The Great Escape is a UK music industry festival + conference held in Brighton, featuring emerging-artist showcases, industry panels, and networking for music professionals. Like Departure, it serves as both a B2B music industry conference and a public-facing showcase festival, making it the most direct European-format peer.
- MIDEM: MIDEM is the historic international music industry conference historically held in Cannes, focused on music business, technology, and global rights/streaming. Despite recent restructuring (Midem Africa, Midem Americas), it competes for the same global music-industry executive audience and major-label sponsorship pool that Departure targets with its international delegate base.
- SXSW: SXSW is the closest peer: an Austin-based annual festival combining music, film, tech, and culture conferences with city-wide showcases, major brand sponsorships, and an emerging-artist pipeline. Its hybrid conference-festival model mirrors Departure's "creative campus" positioning, and it competes for the same global creative-industry delegates and sponsors.
- Pollstar Live!: Pollstar Live! is the leading US live music industry conference and trade show held annually in Los Angeles, focused on touring, venue management, and live-event economics. It directly competes with Departure's Live Events & Touring track and Sports/Live Music Summits for live-music industry decision-makers.
- A2IM Indie Week: A2IM (American Association of Independent Music) Indie Week is a US conference focused on independent labels, distributors, and artists, including policy advocacy and networking. It targets a similar independent-music-industry segment that overlaps with Departure's emerging-artist showcase and music business tracks.
- Folk Alliance International Conference: Folk Alliance International runs an annual music industry conference featuring showcases, panels, awards, and networking for folk and roots music professionals. Like Departure, it combines a B2B conference with showcase programming and an awards element (Folk Alliance Awards), making it a format peer in the music-conference-with-awards space.
- Music Biz Conference: Music Biz is the US music industry trade association running an annual conference focused on music commerce, streaming, technology, and metadata. It overlaps with Departure's Tech & Innovation, Business & Marketing, and Radio & Audio content tracks, serving a similar music-industry executive audience.
Regional players
- Canadian Live Music Association: The Canadian Live Music Association is the Canadian industry trade body and a direct partner of Departure for the Live Music Awards. While primarily an association rather than a competing event, it runs adjacent programming and represents the same Canadian live-music ecosystem, making it a regional peer and ecosystem participant.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Departure social profiles
Digital presenceDeparture financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Departure leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Departure funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Departure M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Departure
What does Departure do?
Departure Festival + Conference is a seven-day, multi-discipline creative event held annually in downtown Toronto that combines a daytime industry conference (with seven content tracks spanning music, radio and audio, live events, tech, culture, business, and film and TV) with a city-wide festival featuring music showcases, premium headlining performances, film screenings, comedy, and special events. Access is sold through tiered passes (Priority, Conference, RDNA, Summit, Festival, NextGen) via the Microspec registration platform, with individual premium event tickets distributed through Ticketmaster and Ticketweb, and revenue supplemented by multi-tier corporate sponsorships led by TD as Presenting Sponsor.
Is Departure a public or private company?
Departure is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Departure founded?
Departure was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Departure based?
Departure is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Departure make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Conference & Festival Passes are the primary driver. The others are premium Event Tickets and sponsorship & Partnership.
Who are Departure's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Reeperbahn Festival, Eurosonic Noorderslag, The Great Escape, MIDEM, SXSW, Pollstar Live!, A2IM Indie Week, Folk Alliance International Conference and Music Biz Conference. Canadian Live Music Association is listed as a regional player.
Does Departure have an API?
No public API is recorded for Departure.
What industry is Departure in?
Departure's product category is Music Conference and Festival. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAGAB, Professional & Association Conferences, with a secondary code of THAJAFAI, Cultural & Community Festivals (Ticketed). Its NAICS code is 711310 and its SIC code is 7900.