The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) has released a national study identifying climate risk as a structural challenge for live music, with weather-related event disruptions rising eightfold.
It also released the first free resources from its Climate Contingency Toolkit to help live music professionals prepare for and respond to climate-related disruption.
Disruptions and economic exposure
The report, Sound Check: Climate Risk and Resilience in Canada’s Live Music Sector, draws on the CLMA’s Climate Contingency survey, national disruption data and climate projections for the 2030s and 2050s.
Canada’s live music sector contributes $10.92 billion annually to gross domestic product (GDP), supports more than 101,000 jobs and attracts nearly 20 million visitors each year.
Publicly reported weather-related disruptions averaged 8 events a year between 2010 and 2022, compared with more than 65 a year between 2023 and 2025, an eightfold increase.
If risks remain unaddressed, the study estimates extreme weather could threaten $1.2 billion to $3.0 billion in Canadian music-event and festival economic value between now and 2040.
The central estimate is approximately $1.8 billion.
Survey findings
Respondents described cancellation risks, financial losses and rising insurance costs:
- 70% report at least one high-impact weather day annually that causes partial or full event cancellation.
- 90% report direct financial costs or losses.
- 35% report moderate, measurable financial losses across multiple events, while 14% report significant or severe impacts.
- Only 15% report buying adverse weather insurance, while 40% report increased insurance costs.
- 83% agree that climate change is already affecting their events.
- 87% expect impacts to increase over the next five years.
- 82% already consider climate risk when making event-planning decisions.
Planning resources and venue preparation
The toolkit turns the findings into decision-making frameworks, hazard-specific standard operating procedures and other practical resources for live music professionals.
Maddy Oliver, the CLMA’s Interim Executive Director, said climate risk affects live music events across Canada, particularly outdoor events, but also indoor ones.
“We hope our toolkit helps to make climate preparedness more comprehensive and accessible for live music providers,” Oliver said.
The CLMA presented the findings, key recommendations and initial toolkit resources on October 1 at Werklund Centre.
Alex Sarian, Werklund Centre’s President and chief executive officer, said the research would inform preparations to operate a redesigned Olympic Plaza as a cultural gathering place in 2028.
“At Werklund Centre, we know that cultural spaces are also civic spaces, and that comes with a responsibility to prepare for the forces shaping how people gather,” Sarian said.
