Oshawa Music Week is organized by students of the Music Business Program at Durham College. This annual event takes place in April and includes live music showcases, entertainment for music lovers, and music-industry education for aspiring and established music-business practitioners.
Durham College acknowledges the lands and Peoples of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. OMW recognize the lands on which we gather are covered under the Williams Treaties and rest within the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the Anishinaabeg Nation, which also includes Algonquin, Chippewa, Odawa, Ojibway and Pottawatomi. It is through the treaty process that we are able to live, learn, teach and prosper in this region.
In 2025, OMW will celebrate 25 years of operation. After three rebranding exercises, OMW’s mandate remains consistent: to develop, support, and unite the music community. OMW reflects the diverse voices of Oshawa’s cultural landscape by showcasing musical talent from Oshawa, throughout the Durham Region, and beyond. Bands, recording artists, and DJs will perform. Local and international music practitioners will discuss timely and important music-industry topics. Emerging talent will participate in songwriting competitions and raise funds for music initiatives.
Over the last 24 years, OMW has hosted emerging musical talent, prominent guest speakers and up-and-coming music business managers. Previous performers include Haviah Mighty, Rural Alberta Advantage, Cale Crowe, The Professors of Funk, Kelsi Mayne, Rooks McCoy, DJ NDN formerly of A Tribe Called Red, Robyn Ottolini, Excuses Excuses, Ill Scarlet, Michou, Amorak, Constellations, Brighter Brightest, Eleven Past One, and many others in a variety of genres.
Notable past guest speakers: David Baksh (Sum 41), David Marsden (broadcaster and creator of CFNY – EDGE 102.1), Alan Cross, Eric Alper (Canadian Music Correspondent), Greig Nori (Treble Charger, Manager of Sum41), James Linderman (Berklee School of Music), Ian Stranger (Black Box Music - Classified, Crash Parallel, Teenage Kicks), Jessica Lemmon (event coordination and production management), and Tyler ‘T-Minus’ Williams (producer for Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Ciara, Drake, and Justin Bieber).
Past sponsors, funders and partners include: Faculty of Media, Art & Design, Durham College, 94.9 The Rock, City of Oshawa, Durham College Student Association (DCSA), Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR), Henry’s, Indie Week, Killthe8, Plato’s Closet, Comic Alley Toys, Riot Radio, Smoke's Poutinerie, The SOCAN Foundation, The OMAs, TD Canada Trust, Long & McQuade, and many others. These companies share our enthusiasm for independent music. We appreciate their commitment and support.
We look forward to an exciting celebration in 2025!
