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Beyond Nashville - Is Canada the Smarter Move for Your Music?
For many UK Country artists, "international" has become synonymous with "Nashville." But with US working visas now costing upwards of £10,000, many talented acts are being priced out of the US market before they even play a note.
The UK-CMA is committed to showing our members that the world is much wider than Tennessee. On April 13th at 7:30 PM, we welcome Samantha Pickard (President of Strut Entertainment) to discuss the immense potential of the Canadian Country music scene.
With over 118 million streams per year and a market share that outpaces the US, Canada offers a sophisticated, welcoming, and financially viable territory for UK artists. This session will move past the "US-or-nothing" mindset and provide a practical roadmap for accessing Canadian hotspots, understanding the promoter landscape, and leveraging the strong cultural ties between our two nations.
Samantha Pickard - President, Strut Entertainment
With over 30 years of global experience in the music and entertainment industry, Samantha Pickard is a highly respected leader, mentor, and strategist. As the President of Strut Entertainment, one of Canada’s premier boutique PR, marketing, and event firms, she has spearheaded hundreds of successful campaigns for iconic artists and brands, including Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton and Lainey Wilson.
Samantha’s deep expertise spans the Canadian and Australian markets, where she has built a reputation for helping artists navigate the complexities of international career development. Her impact on the industry was recently recognised with a nomination for Music Industry Person of the Year at the 2026 CMAOntario Awards (Country Music Association of Ontario) -a testament to her ongoing dedication to the country music community.
A former board member of CARAS (The JUNO Awards) and executive board member of CMAOntario, Samantha is a sought-after speaker and industry jury member. Through her work at Strut, she continues to empower independent and major-label artists alike, providing them with the strategic tools and connections needed to reach global audiences.