M pour Montréal

What M pour Montréal does

M pour Montréal is a privately-held Montreal-based music festival-conference and talent development organization founded in 2005 by Sébastien Nasra through Avalanche Productions. The organization operates an annual four-day showcase event each November (the 21st edition runs November 18-21, 2026) structured around three integrated components: the Official Selection (28 emerging Quebec and Canadian artists in 40+ showcases), the PRO Division (a professional conference gathering 500+ managers, publishers, agents, labels, media, and talent buyers from 20 countries), and a public-facing Marathon/Festival of 90+ artists across 15+ Montreal venues. Year-round, the organization runs an "On the Road" program that exports Canadian artists to SXSW, Reeperbahn, Focus Wales, Rose Festival, Wide Days, BreakOut West, MaMA, The Great Escape, and New Colossus.

The organization's customer base spans four segments: emerging Quebec and Canadian artists seeking international exposure, music industry professionals attending the PRO Division, music supervisors participating in the SuperVISION B2B program for sync opportunities, and the general public attending the festival Marathon component presented by SiriusXM. M pour Montréal generates revenue through a transaction-based ticket and accreditation model (PRO passes with early-bird pricing, Festival Marathon passes at $150, individual concert tickets, EDU passes, and SuperVISION passes), corporate sponsorships with partners including Billboard Canada (major partner), SiriusXM (festival presenter), Desjardins (Caisse Desjardins Culture), and Boldwin (official beer), and substantial institutional funding from federal, provincial, and municipal government bodies (SODEC, FACTOR, Musicaction, Canada Government, Ville de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal, Canada Trade Commissioner Service).

The business operates from 4316 Saint-Laurent Blvd. in Montreal with 11-50 employees, retains a board of directors (restructured in 2025 away from HUB Montreal and Mundial Montreal), and has no external equity investors identified. Its competitive position rests on a 20-year track record of launching internationally recognized artists (Mac DeMarco, Grimes, Charlotte Cardin, Men I Trust, Patrick Watson, Half Moon Run), a dense two-sided ecosystem of artists and industry buyers, and a global distribution footprint via On the Road partnerships that individual artists could not access independently.

Name

M pour Montréal

Legal name

M pour Montréal

Website

https://mpourmontreal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

M pour Montréal is a privately-held Montreal-based music festival-conference and talent development organization that runs an annual November showcase event featuring emerging Quebec and Canadian artists, a PRO Division for 500+ international music industry professionals, and year-round international artist export missions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Festival & Conference Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (71132)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Festival & Event Producers/Organizers (MPAIAFAC), Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB)

Keywords

• Music festival organization
• Artist showcase services
• Music industry conference
• Talent development programs
• Music networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket and accreditation sales: Revenue is generated through the sale of PRO passes (full access to professional conferences, showcases, networking activities), Festival Marathon passes ($150 for 34+ shows over 4 days), individual concert tickets, EDU passes (discounted student rate), and supervision passes for the SuperVISION program. Accommodation partnerships (Hotel Monville at $220/night preferred rate) also generate ancillary revenue.
2. Sponsorships and partnerships: Corporate and institutional sponsors (Billboard Canada as major partner, SiriusXM as festival presenter, government bodies SODEC/FACTOR/Musicaction, media partners, programming partners) contribute funding and in-kind support in exchange for brand visibility and delegate access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

M pour Montréal organizes an annual four-day music festival and professional conference in Montreal that brings together emerging Quebec and Canadian artists with international music industry professionals. The event comprises three integrated components: the PRO Division (industry conference with showcases, panels, and networking), the Marathon Festival / Festival M pour Montréal (public-facing multi-venue concert program), and SuperVISION (music supervision program). The organization also operates year-round On the Road international missions showcasing Canadian artists at partner festivals across North America and Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PRO Division (Division PRO) Annual professional conference and showcase program for music industry delegates featuring Official Selection showcases (28 artists), panels, workshops, M for Mixer speed networking (1,000+ sessions), FOCUS groups, and exclusive networking activities. Designed for managers, publishers, agents, media, labels, and talent buyers to discover emerging Canadian talent.
• Festival M pour Montréal (Marathon Festival)

Quantifiable outcome

• 28 Official Selection artists per year performing in 40+ showcases before 500+ delegates and 9,000+ audience members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

55 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SODEC (Société de développement des entreprises culturelles)coreOthers · 1 January 2026SODEC is a government partner providing funding support for M pour Montréal's operations and international export missions, including On the Road initiatives to SXSW, Reeperbahn, and other international events.
• FACTOR (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recording)coreOthers · 1 January 2026FACTOR provides funding support for M pour Montréal's programming and artist export activities, including the New Colossus showcase in New York and international On the Road missions.
• MusicactioncoreOthers · 1 January 2026Government cultural agency providing financial support for M pour Montréal's artist development and export programming.
• Canada GovernmentcoreOthers · 1 January 2026Federal government partner providing institutional funding for M pour Montréal's operations and international presence.
• Ville de MontréalcoreOthers · 1 January 2026City of Montreal provides municipal support and partnership for the festival's local operations and promotion.
• Tourisme MontréalcoreOthers · 1 January 2026Official tourism partner of M pour Montréal, supporting the event's role in Montreal's cultural tourism offering.
• Canadian Live Music AssociationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Associated programming partner representing the Canadian live music industry within M pour Montréal's ecosystem.
• ADAMIminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026French cultural organization and associated programming partner for international music programming at M pour Montréal.
• Hamburg Music (musikwirtschaft.org)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026German music industry association, associated programming partner at M pour Montréal.
• OFQJ (Office Franco-Québécois pour la Jeunesse)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026French-Québec youth organization and associated programming partner.
• BonbonbonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Local Quebec label/promoter and associated programming partner.
• Desjardins (Caisse Desjardins Culture)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Financial institution with cultural mandate, associated programming partner.
• FrancouvertesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Quebec music competition and associated programming partner, with shared talent development mission.
• Basque Music (Euskal Musika)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Basque Country music development organization and international programming partner.
• Etxepare Basque InstituteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Basque cultural institute and international programming partner.
• Focus WalesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Welsh music showcase festival and international programming partner, collaborating on joint showcases at M pour Montréal.
• Wide DaysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Scottish international music convention and programming partner for the annual On the Road mission to Edinburgh.
• Rose FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026French music festival (Toulouse) and programming partner. M pour Montréal collaborates on the Tremplin program and presents Canadian artist showcases. Collaboration also includes networking events with 30 music professionals.
• Dork MagazineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026UK music publication and media partner for M pour Montréal.
• Exclaim MagazineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Canadian music publication and media partner, co-presenting showcases at SXSW.
• BoldwinminorOthers · 1 January 2026Official beer partner of M pour Montréal.
• CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency)minorOthers · 1 January 2026Canadian music publishing rights organization and Artist Lab partner.
• House of SupercoolminorOthers · 1 January 2026Quebec music company and Artist Lab partner supporting emerging artist development.
• Guild of Music Supervisors (Canada)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Canada chapter of the music supervision guild, co-organizer of the SuperVISION program bringing together music supervisors from Canada, the U.S., Mexico, U.K., France, Germany, and Colombia.
• Guild of Music Supervisors (USA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026U.S. chapter of the music supervision guild, co-organizer of SuperVISION program with M pour Montréal and Mundial Montreal.
• APEM (Association des professionnels de l'édition musicale)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Quebec music publishing association and presenting partner for the SuperVISION music supervision program.
• Music Publishers CanadacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026National music publishing organization and presenting partner for SuperVISION, facilitating connections between Canadian publishers and music supervisors.
• Secret City RecordsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Montreal-based independent record label and supervision partner.
• Universal Production MusicminorOthers · 1 January 2026Production music company and supervision partner for the SuperVISION program.
• Omni Mont-Royal HotelminorOthers · 1 January 2026Official hotel partner of M pour Montréal 2026, providing accommodation for delegates.
• Air CanadaminorOthers · 1 January 2026Official carrier offering 5-10% flight discounts for M pour Montréal delegates traveling to Montreal for the event.
• Porter AirlinesminorOthers · 1 January 2026Preferred airline partner offering up to 10% discount on base fares for delegates traveling to Montreal.
• BreakOut WestminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Western Canadian music industry event and programming partner. M pour Montréal participates in BreakOut West's annual festival.
• MaMA Music & ConventionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Paris-based music convention and programming partner for M pour Montréal's On the Road international mission.
• The Great EscapeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Brighton-based UK music festival and programming partner for M pour Montréal's UK tour On the Road missions.
• The New Colossus FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026New York-based music festival and event partner where M pour Montréal presents Canadian artist showcases annually.
• Reeperbahn FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Europe's largest music festival (Hamburg) and programming partner. M pour Montréal presents Canadian artist showcases in the Canada House program.
• Québec Délégation (Québec Government Office in New York)coreOthers · 1 January 2025Québec government delegation in New York co-presents the Lower East Slide industry reception and Canadian showcases at The New Colossus Festival.
• DROM (venue)minorOthers · 1 January 2025DROM venue in New York's Lower East Side hosts the Lower East Slide reception and Canadian artist showcases presented by M pour Montréal.
• MarauderminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Marketing/creative partner supporting M pour Montréal's New Colossus showcase event.
• ANTICSminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Official media partner for M pour Montréal's New Colossus mixer and showcases in New York.
• POP MontréalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Montreal music festival co-presenting the official M pour Montréal showcases at SXSW in Austin alongside M pour Montréal.
• Québec Créatif (SODEC)coreOthers · 1 January 2025SODEC's international export program co-presents M pour Montréal showcases at SXSW, Reeperbahn, and other international events.
• MothlandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Montreal music platform co-presenting Canadian showcases with Exclaim and M pour Montréal at SXSW.
• Project NowhereminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Event series co-presenting outdoor stage showcases at SXSW alongside Exclaim and M pour Montréal.
• Brooklyn VeganminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Music publication co-presenting the M pour Montréal 20th anniversary showcase at SXSW at Mohawk venue.
• School NightminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Established live music series (Hollywood, Nashville, Toronto, London, Sydney) co-presenting M pour Montréal showcases at Departure Toronto festival.
• Québec Government Office in LondoncoreOthers · 1 January 2025Québec government office in London co-presents the Focus M reception cocktail and Canadian showcases at Wide Days/Focus Wales UK tour stops.
• Billboard CanadacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Billboard Canada serves as the Major Partner for M pour Montréal and presenting partner of the PRO Division. This global reference platform (which includes Rolling Stone and Variety) provides international industry credibility and media amplification for M pour Montréal's artists and programming.
• SiriusXMcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024SiriusXM is the presenting partner of the public-facing Marathon Festival portion of M pour Montréal, providing broadcast and promotional support.
• CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024CIMA collaborates with M pour Montréal on the Canada House program at Reeperbahn Festival, showcasing Canadian artists to European industry professionals.
• ALIBI MusicminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Music company and presenting partner for the SuperVISION private dinner at M pour Montréal.
• BCTQ (Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Quebec film and TV bureau co-presenting the SuperVISION sync agent panel.
• Canadian Trade Commissioner ServicecoreOthers · 1 January 2024Federal trade service presenting B2B sessions connecting music supervisors with Canadian managers, labels, and publishers.
• Ray-OnminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Music company and presenting partner for Naya Ali's performance at the SuperVISION cocktail event.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Music Week: Canada's largest annual music industry conference and showcase event combining the CMW Conference, Awards, and Festival. A larger, broader incumbent in the Canadian music industry event space that M pour Montréal competes with for sponsor dollars, delegates, and artist attention.

Direct peers

• Mundial Montreal: Montreal-based world music conference and showcase focused on global music traditions. Historically operated alongside M pour Montréal under a unified board with HUB Montreal, sharing infrastructure, sponsors, and partnerships (SODEC, Billboard Canada) — directly comparable sister event.
• SXSW (South by Southwest): Austin-based annual festival and conference combining music showcases with film, tech, and professional networking. SXSW is the most direct comparable to M pour Montréal's festival-conference hybrid model, and the two organizations collaborate directly through co-presented Canadian showcases at SXSW.
• Reeperbahn Festival: Hamburg-based festival described as Europe's largest music industry platform, featuring 400+ concerts plus a dedicated conference program. M pour Montréal presents Canadian artists through the Canada House program at Reeperbahn, making it both a peer and an active programming partner.
• The Great Escape: Brighton, UK-based showcase festival for new music featuring 500+ artists across 40+ venues alongside a dedicated industry conference (TGE Conference). Highly comparable to M pour Montréal's PRO Division + Marathon festival structure, and an active On the Road programming partner.
• Pop Montreal: Montreal-based independent music festival featuring emerging artists alongside industry programming. Pop Montreal operates in the same city as M pour Montréal with overlapping artist populations and co-presents Canadian showcases at SXSW, making it the closest local peer.
• Eurosonic Noorderslag: Dutch showcase festival and conference focused on emerging European talent with a heavy industry programming component. Comparable in scale and structure to M pour Montréal's combined PRO Division and Marathon offering, and serves a similar delegate/artist scouting function internationally.

Regional players

• Focus Wales: Wrexham, Wales-based music industry showcase and conference featuring emerging artists alongside professional programming. M pour Montréal collaborates on joint showcases, making it a directly comparable international peer with a similar festival-conference model.
• Wide Days (New From Scotland): Edinburgh-based international music convention and showcase. M pour Montréal's On the Road program includes an annual mission to Wide Days; comparable as a smaller-scale European showcase-conference hybrid targeting industry delegates and emerging artists.
• BreakOut West: Western Canadian music industry event and festival showcasing artists from Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. M pour Montréal is a programming partner and participates in BreakOut West annually; comparable in festival-meets-conference format but focused on Western Canadian talent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mformontreal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/m-pour-montreal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 M pour Montréal