That Eric Alper

Toronto’s rich musical legacy is taking centre stage with the launch of the Toronto Music Experience (TME) — a first-of-its-kind destination that will celebrate the city’s unparalleled contributions to music in Canada and around the world.

The news was announced at an intimate event held at Live Nation’s The Lounge in Toronto, where an inspiring mix of artists, cultural leaders, and city builders gathered to celebrate the bold vision behind this ambitious new project. The stage lit up with heartfelt testimonials from iconic talents including Alex Lifeson, Jully Black, Kairo McLean, Lorraine Segato and more – each sharing powerful words about the significance of TME. The evening also included TME Champions Sylvia Tyson, Murray McLauchlan, Jay Douglas, Tom Wilson, Kim Stockwood, Bill King and Thompson Egbo-Egbo, and featured a special performance by Steven Page, adding an unforgettable musical moment to the night. In a show of early philanthropic support, The Lewitt Family Foundation announced a generous commitment to match donations up to $100,000, helping to galvanize momentum for the project.

TME will take a storytelling-driven approach to explore Toronto’s musical past, present, and future through immersive exhibits, pop-up activations, live performances, and education initiatives. From the Indigenous peoples who first made music on this land, to the musical legacy of the Underground Railroad, Yorkville’s folk scene, Michie Mee’s pioneering hip hop, and global icons like Drake, The Weeknd, Gordon Lightfoot, and Rush – TME will spotlight the artists and movements that shaped the city’s music scene, celebrating the diversity that makes Toronto a cultural powerhouse.

While music education will be a core tenet of TME, the experience will be immersive and interactive and display instruments, lyrics, costumes and rare artifacts from Toronto artists and the city’s live music scene, and it won’t stop there. TME will include multi-use performance and production spaces for artists at all stages of their careers, retail and café spaces that double as creative hubs, and ongoing educational programming designed to foster appreciation and access to music for everyone. It will also house a rotating calendar of temporary exhibitions, developed in partnership with other leading music institutions in Canada and beyond.

TME has already been showcasing the impact of the Toronto music scene, in partnership with the Friars Music Museum, through acclaimed exhibits like Rhythms and Resistance: Caribbean Music in Toronto, Toronto Sound: The Yonge Street Scene, and the latest exhibit Shaking the Foundations: Women Trailblazers in Toronto Music. Ongoing TME branded ‘pop up’ programming is planned digitally and in locations across the GTA. 

Denise Donlon, celebrated music industry and broadcast executive and member of TME’s Advisory Board, says, “Toronto’s artists have long punched above their weight on the world music stage – but there’s never been a space dedicated to telling that story. The Toronto Music Experience will be more than just a modern museum; our mission is to build an experiential space where artifacts meet immersive experiences in tribute to the artists, communities, and cultures that make our city sing. It’s a powerful way to celebrate our past and inspire the next generation of creators.”

Backed by over 250 of Canada’s most respected voices in music, media, and culture, the organization’s Board of Directors is a diverse and passionate group of Torontonians with backgrounds in the music industry, business, media, arts and culture and government, including: Derek Andrews, Elaine Bomberry, Kim Cooke, Del Cowie, Lorna Day (Chair), Mike French, Mark Garner, Nicholas Jennings, Syma Shah, Stephen Stohn, Klive Walker and Liz West.

An equally distinguished Advisory Board lends further expertise, including Donlon, Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, Ray Danniels, Bob Ezrin, Bernie Finkelstein, Molly Johnson, Randy Lennox, Riley O’Connor, Joan Pierre and Dr. Duke Redbird.

“The Toronto Music Experience will be a place where visitors and Torontonians from all walks of life can come together to explore the soundtrack of their city — and in doing so, better understand one another,” says Day. “This is about creating a permanent cultural space that reflects and amplifies who we are as a city and a destination which inspires future musical success stories.”

The Toronto Music Experience has officially secured Charitable Status, marking a major milestone in its development. With a five-year plan guiding its path to opening a permanent cultural home by 2029, the organization is now focused on building momentum through fundraising, partnerships, and community engagement to bring this bold cultural vision to life.