South Asian Music Accelerator
Applications are open now until August 15 at 11:59pm (PST)!
Founded by ArtHaus and rooted in the experiences of South Asian creatives in Canada, the South Asian Music Accelerator (SAMA) offers an artist-driven approach to professional development. Through mentorship, career strategy, and meaningful industry relationships, participants gain tools to build on their strengths and chart their own paths in the music industry.
Programming for our inaugural edition will take place online in October, followed by in-person sessions in Toronto in November.
Travel and accommodations will be provided for artists based outside of Toronto and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). In addition to catering on select dates, all participants will receive a daily meal per diem. An honorarium will also be provided to recognize each artist’s time and contributions.
2025 Key Dates
Industry 101 Virtual Sessions (2 hours per session)
Sunday, October 19 – Program Orientation and Industry Fundamentals
Sunday, October 28 – Rights Management
Sunday, November 2 – Financial Literacy
In-Person Programming (Toronto)
Tuesday, November 4 – Welcome Dinner, Open Studio
Wednesday, November 5 – Curated Songwriting Camp
Thursday, November 6 – Programming, Open Studio
Friday, November 7 – Programming, Open Studio
Saturday, November 8 – Industry Day Summit
Sunday, November 9 – Depart (for out-of-town participants)
Follow the journey on Instagram at @southasianmusicaccelerator and drop us a line at sama@arthausmusic.com
Information Session
Register for our upcoming virtual info session on to learn more about the South Asian Music Accelerator (SAMA) on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 4:00pm (PST) / 7:00pm (EST) / 8:00pm (AST).
Introducing SAMA: featuring Ikky and Alysha Brilla
On May 6, 2025, we hosted the launch of the South Asian Music Accelerator (SAMA) - which brought together artists, music industry professionals, and our wider community for an unforgettable evening in our space.
The event featured a powerful live interview with breakout producer, artist, and executive Ikky, who shared insights into his creative journey and advocacy work. The conversation was skillfully moderated by Alysha Brilla, a three-time JUNO Award nominee and multi-instrumentalist, whose thoughtful questions led to an open and inspiring dialogue.
We were proud to have Neesha Hothi, a passionate community leader and new champion for SAMA, as our host - bringing warmth, connection, and energy to the evening.
Whether you missed the Mixer or want to revisit the moment, you can listen to the full conversation on SoundCloud, courtesy of DJ Trinidaddy.
Special thanks to Departure Festival and Conference, the National Arts Centre (NAC), and the RBC Community Investment Hub for helping bring this vision to life. And above all, thank you to YOU, our community. You are at the heart of everything we do.
Finally, following the launch, our community was also invited to a special complimentary screening of Late Bloomer, followed by a live Q&A with creator Jasmeet Raina —a powerful moment of storytelling, generously offered through our partnership with Departure Festival and Conference.
Industry Power Hour
Hosted in our Studio and Artist Residence in Toronto, we brought together a group of artists and industry professionals for an afternoon of connection, music exchange, and authentic conversation. The goal? To break down artificial barriers and create space to vibe, collaborate, and grow.
Want to partner on our next Industry Power Hour?
Reach out to us at sama@arthausmusic.com
Program Partners
As an artist management company and an independent record company, Coalition Music boasts past and present partnerships with some of Canada’s most lauded artists that have sold over fifteen million albums, with over 1 billion digital downloads and streams.
Canada's Music Incubator (CMI) is a not-for-profit organization that specializes in professional development programs, paid live performance opportunities, and ongoing mentorship in support of emerging artists, managers and industry professionals across all genres of music.