The show must go on: Re:Sound’s Re:Wind event raises more than $28,000 for charity

TORONTO – July 23, 2020 – Re:Sound’s 8th annual Re:Wind benefit concert raised more than $28,000 in support of Unison Benevolent Fund and the Alzheimer Society Music Project.

While the pandemic may have put a hold on many events in the music industry, the Re:Sound team was determined to find a way to hold their annual Re:Wind benefit concert. The solution: a virtual show comprised of video performances by Re:Sound and Entandem (Re:Sound’s joint licensing venture with SOCAN) employees. The virtual show, which premiered July 17, 2020, was organized entirely by volunteers from Re:Sound.

“Re:Wind is one of the most anticipated events for Re:Sound each year. The team’s dedication to delivering a great online show and supporting our charitable partners has been unwavering. We’re pleased our efforts this year will help those who will benefit therapeutically from music, as well as the music creators whose livelihoods continue to suffer as a result of the pandemic,” said Lou Ragagnin, President and CEO, Re:Sound.

The change from a live event to a virtual one didn’t phase long-term and new sponsors from generously lending their support. A special thanks goes out to long-standing lead sponsors Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and Greenwald Wealth Management – RBC Dominion Securities, as well as REAL Software Systems, NagataConnex, Evron Computer Systems, Acumen Solutions and IT Weapons.

For Canadians living with dementia, music can reconnect them with the soundtrack of their lives, which leads to many benefits, including increased physical and social activity and improved mood and cognition. “Re:Wind’s support will allow us to provide MP3 players loaded with personalized music to more than 140 people living with dementia,” said Darlene Norris, Chief Development Officer, Alzheimer Society of Toronto.

Unison Benevolent Fund has seen demand for its services increase exponentially as a result of the global pandemic, according to Amanda Power, the organization’s executive director. She says, “Musicians have been hit especially hard by COVID-19. In the first six weeks of lockdown, requests for financial assistance and counseling services increased by more than 3,500 per cent. Support from events like Re:Wind provides critical support to Canadian artists.”

To view Re:Wind 2020, please visit https://youtu.be/zJgrd_gsMnU.

UPDATE – August 2020

Thanks to a matching program at Unison Benevolent Fund, our final fundraising total was more than $47,000 for ReWind 2020!

About Re:Sound

Re:Sound is the Canadian not-for-profit music licensing company dedicated to obtaining fair compensation for artists and record companies for their performance rights.

The organization advocates for music creators, educate music users, license businesses and distribute royalties to creators – all to help build a thriving music industry in Canada.

For more information, please contact:

Anne Yourt,
Director, Communications,
ayourt@resound.ca