Our History

 

Imagine a place where you can listen to every Canadian album ever recorded by a Canadian. And to provide a much broader, deeper, well researched, more accessible, ever-expanding library and overall better listening experience. Well you have arrived - and that is what is aimed to bring to you. To date, Robert Williston has archived more than 680,000 Canadian sound recordings, supported with more than 25,000 scans. All genres are represented including garage, psych, indigenous, punk, funk, blues, metal, folk, hip-hop, jazz, rock, etc. Over the past 15 years, tens of thousands of 78 rpm, 45 rpm and  33 1/3rd rpm vinyl; cassettes, and CD's by Canadian musicians and artists have been digitized. Every effort is made to provide the best possible sound with the least compression and best definition. This website has the largest and most comprehensive catalogue of more than 100 years of Canadian sound recordings. It is also the first all-Canadian music streaming service. Started in 2010, this website pre-dates cbc music, spotify, and nearly every other music streaming service. This is Canada's deepest, most accessible and perhaps one of the most important Canadian music websites/collections in existence. This service preserves Canadian music artifacts and culture. This is Canada's first and only private National Music Museum and is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. There are nearly 1,500 featured artists and many thousands of albums are represented from multiple record labels and Canadian musicians.  Explore the sights, sounds, and stories of music in Canada. The work here continues so please check back often to make new discoveries....  If you would like to participate please email me at: ryder@robertwilliston.com

This is Canada's first National Museum specifically relating to music and other sound recordings by Canadian artists. The purpose of the website is to collect, research, preserve, re-patriate, protect and promote Canadian music and culture. As well as an encyclopedia and listening post for Canadian music of all genres and decades, the Museum provides artists and Canadian record labels with a free venue to promote, market and help to sell their music. Sound files are posted to enhance the experience of the visitor by exposing him or her to our expansive and rich Canadian culture. 

The Museum of Canadian Music contains the largest private collection of Canadian music artifacts anywhere in the world. The physical collection includes approximately 110,000 (Canadian artists only) items comprised of 33.3 LP's, CD's, 45 rpm singles, 78 rpm vinyl, 16" recordings, acetates, sheet music (specifically patriotic, war related, Canadiana, hockey, etc), books, magazines, posters, and general music Paraphernalia.This collection is likely the top four or five largest collections of Canadian music artifacts in existence, comparing the Canadian government and CBC archives (recently reduced/ dissolved). However, and importantly, much of this collection contains the rarest psychedelic, garage, punk and other rock related recordings, which likely is not present in other, larger government and radio station collections. Additionally, this collection contains near mint items that are unmarked and not mutilated. Much of the collection has been handpicked. Importantly, the Canadian government collections do contain thousands of items not included in this private collection.

Canadian artists are encouraged and welcome to have their music posted on this website. For our address, go to the 'About Us' - 'Contact Info' tabs. You can also send your digital music. Please contact ryder@robertwilliston.com.

If you are the owner of a sound recording that has been posted on this website and you do not want your music to be heard here, kindly contact me and I will remove it.

The Museum of Canadian Music was started in 2005. The Museum of Canadian Music Trade mark was applied for in 2007 and The Entity was Trade Marked in February, 2009. 

The website went live on July 1, 2010. 

Sales:

Please support Canadian music and buy music from the artist's or their distributors. I attempt to put links to the Artists site on each album page.

We do not sell any digital media or allow downloads. Sound files are made available to be heard through the Fair Dealing provision in the Canadian Copyright Act. Examples of usages include reviews, news reporting, research, and education.

Artists and Members:

There are approximately 1,500 artists and bands that have agreed to share their music and stories on this website.

Enjoy your visit and thank-you for supporting music from Canada.

-Robert Williston