Hamilton’s Main Stage Rehearsal Studios recently celebrated a huge success, winning the “Best Use of Music in Real Estate or City Planning Award” at the globally renowned Music Cities Awards, held during Riyadh Music Week in Saudi Arabia. This award recognizes exceptional projects that use music to transform urban environments. Main Stage shined above 300+ applicants from 19 countries across six continents. In this blog, we’ll dive into the transformative Riyadh Music Week experience and explore what this global recognition means for Hamilton.
Tackling an Industry-Wide Challenge
Main Stage stood out by addressing a universal issue for musicians: the lack of affordable, high-quality rehearsal spaces. Many cities worldwide struggle to offer reliable creative coworking spaces for artists. Main Stage, however, has tripled Hamilton’s inventory of music rehearsal spaces, setting a new standard. Kelly Ng (one-half of the dynamic duo behind Main Stage) elaborates, “We’ve successfully created an all-inclusive space where musicians at all levels can grow together. Our studios come in different sizes, with various gear and pricing options for different music styles and budgets. Whether it’s a solo artist or an orchestra, our spaces are equipped to handle any setup.”
This all-encompassing approach serves as a model for cities worldwide. “By listening to our community and designing studios that meet their evolving needs, we’ve ensured that our facilities remain accessible, affordable, and inclusive,” stated Ng.
Main Stage’s 35,000-square-foot facility has become a cornerstone of Hamilton’s music ecosystem in three years. Thousands of musicians rehearse, record, write, network, and perform there. Ng notes: “This award reaffirms our commitment to supporting our local community and fostering growth at every level.”
Positioning Hamilton as a Global Music Destination
Winning this prestigious award has put the world’s attention on Hamilton. Ng enthuses, “This award has shown the world what Hamilton has to offer! Our city is positioned to become a global destination for collaboration. With state-of-the-art facilities like Main Stage, we can host productions of all kinds. Our proximity to Toronto and lower costs give Hamilton a unique advantage. Add in our international airport and vibrant music scene, and Hamilton has all the ingredients to become a hub for artists from around the globe.”
Insights from Riyadh Music Week
Co-founders Kelly Ng and Justin Dobbin reflect on the awards ceremony and their time in Riyadh. “It was an eye-opening experience. The scale of development and infrastructure in Riyadh was incredible,” said Ng. “It was amazing to witness a supportive government, its people, every industry and policymakers all aligned toward a unified vision,” Dobbin adds.
The Music Cities Awards, produced by Sound Diplomacy and Music Cities Events, brought together high-profile stakeholders like Billboard, The Recording Academy, MDLBEAST, and the Music Commission yet had an approachable feel, “We felt the warmth and hospitality of the staff and executives and were inspired by their commitment to shaping the Middle East’s music ecosystem. It was a rare and rich experience that taught us so much about how Main Stage can contribute to elevating Hamilton’s ecosystem too,” Ng stated.
Bridging Hamilton and the Middle East
Main Stage has already begun leveraging this global recognition to foster creative collaborations. Dobbin highlights the opportunities for Canadian artists in Saudi Arabia, “With a young, open-minded population and a deep appreciation for cultural value, there’s a genuine willingness to engage, listen, and learn. Touring in the Middle East offers Canadian bands a chance to build a strong and loyal fan base in a region rapidly growing its’ music scene.”
The duo envisions Hamilton becoming a “global collaboration hub” for artists worldwide. Ng notes, “The exchange of ideas benefits everyone. By showcasing our strengths internationally, we can attract more artists and projects to produce in Hamilton, elevating the city as a destination for music innovation and collaboration.”
Looking Ahead
Main Stage is committed to creating opportunities for Canadian and international musicians alike. Ng concludes: “We strongly encourage Canadian artists to explore this emerging market. But we’re also eager to return their hospitality and show them the vibrant music community we’re building here in Hamilton!”
