Departure

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.

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

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

• Creative industry conference
• Music festival events
• Conference pass sales
• Event sponsorship activations
• Live music showcases

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.

• TDflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 April 2026TD 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.
• TicketmastercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor partner and ticketing platform partner for Departure, presenting the Departure Honours event.
• Loft EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Departure Festival + Conference. Global leader in live experience venue development, management, and premium hospitality services.
• Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Scotiabank Arena & Coca-Cola Coliseum Bursary Program supporting 15 aspiring music industry professionals to attend Departure.
• Corus EntertainmentmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond partner with radio broadcasting and media operations.
• iHeartRadiomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond partner with digital radio and audio platform.
• Rogers CommunicationsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond partner and presenter of the Sports Summit, with multiple touchpoints across Rogers Sports & Media.
• SiriusXMmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond partner with satellite and streaming radio platform.
• StingraymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond partner with music and video streaming services.
• Amazon MusiccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum partner presenting the Creators Summit, with music streaming playlist partnerships.
• Live NationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum partner presenting the Live Music Summit and The Lounge at Live Nation venue.
• Music CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum partner representing music industry interests.
• Radiodays North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnhanced conference track within Departure for radio, podcasting, and digital audio professionals, taking place May 5-6, 2026.
• NCRA/ANRECminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Podcastday for Creators programming alongside Radiodays North America and Canadaland.
• CanadalandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Podcastday for Creators programming alongside Radiodays North America and NCRA/ANREC.
• Bell MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNextGen Open House partner providing industry access and tours.
• CBCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNextGen Open House partner providing industry access and tours.
• Sony Music Entertainment CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNextGen Open House partner providing industry access and tours.
• Universal Music CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNextGen Open House partner providing industry access and tours.
• Warner Music CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNextGen Open House partner providing industry access and tours.
• Humber PolytechnicminorOthersAcademic partner for NextGen program offering music industry education.
• Fanshawe CollegeminorOthersAcademic partner for NextGen program offering Music Industry Arts program.
• Sheridan CollegeminorOthersAcademic partner for NextGen program.
• Canadian Live Music AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation partner presenting the Live Music Awards in association with Departure.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/departurefest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@departurefest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/departureto
• Instagraminstagram.com/departurefest
• TikToktiktok.com/@departurefest
• Facebookfacebook.com/departurefest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Departure