Chip Sutherland spent his formative years in Belleville. This past weekend he was honoured at the 2024 Juno Awards in Halifax.
Sutherland attended Harry J. Clarke and Moira Secondary schools in Belleville.
He received a BA from Trent University in Peterborough in 1985, before getting a Law Degree in Halifax at Dalhousie’s Schulich School of Law in 1988.
During the 2024 Juno Awards in Halifax, the former Quinte area resident was honoured for his contribution to the Canadian music industry, with the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award for 2024.
Sutherland was also part of the band BlackPool, and co-authored a bestselling book “Teachers and the Law: A Practical Guide for Educators.”
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Chip Sutherland and (Leslie) Feist on the red carpet at the 2024 Juno Awards (Photo: Chip Sutherland to Quinte News)
Sutherland says the Moira music teacher Ron Mason (Eastside Secondary) was the first domino that would lead to a life in music.
“Ron Mason invented a club, just so we could have access to the music room at night during the week. We can’t let you have the room, you’re like 17 years old, but if we call you something, then they allow you to use the school.”
Sutherland says a lot of musicians at the time can look back at Ron Mason for his influence on them.
“I wanted to be a musician and I was very excited, I played a bunch of instruments, and I wanted to go to Queen’s (University) and study music. He was like you could do that, but you should go to law school, because music will always be a part of your life.”
Sutherland says he would perform in local bands including the Fred Garvin Blues Band with Phil Sedore. Sedore would go on to be a part of the band BlackPool in Halifax.
He worked with dozens of national and internationally recognized bands and would also perform with the likes of Tom Cochrane and The Tragically Hip.
His award was presented by (Leslie) Feist.
The Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award is award by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. It goes to individuals who have contributed to the growth and development of the Canadian music industry. Sutherland was mainly a commercial music lawyer and artist manager.
His sisters Kim and Wendy, who live in Whitney and Plainfield respectfully, were in Halifax over the weekend for the award ceremony.
A bio for Chip Sutherland from the Juno Awards is Below
Chip Sutherland’s journey began in Montreal, but it was in Belleville, Ontario that he spent his formative years. Graduating with a BA from Trent University in 1985, he continued his academic pursuits at Dalhousie’s Schulich School of Law in Halifax, obtaining his degree in 1988.
While carving his path as a commercial litigation specialist at Patterson Kitz, focusing on education law, Chip showcased his versatile talents as the drummer for the acclaimed east coast band BlackPool – named ECMA’s Pop Rock Artist of the year in 1990. Simultaneously, he co-authored the bestselling textbook “Teachers and the Law: A Practical Guide for Educators,” a testament to his expertise in education law.
In 1992, Chip entered the commercial music industry when he negotiated a record deal for Sloan with Geffen Records in Los Angeles. This marked the beginning of his managerial career, as he took on the management of Sloan and later co-managed The Rankin Family until their retirement. As the explosion of interest in Atlantic Canadian artists unfolded in the early ’90s, Chip found himself representing prominent bands like Jale, Thrush Hermit, Ashley MacIsaac, and Great Big Sea. This soon spread to other artists across Canada such as Rheostatics and Spirit of the West.
His influence expanded further in 1994 when Deane Cameron invited him to join the board of CARAS, becoming the first-ever director from Atlantic Canada. Serving as vice president until 2000, he oversaw the transition to live shows and initiated the Music Counts Program.
In 2001, Chip embarked on another groundbreaking venture, spearheading the development of the Radio Starmaker Fund. Starting from scratch he guided the design of a cutting-edge web-based platform that focused on artist-centred funding and live touring support. This was all accomplished with the enthusiastic support and flexibility of the CRTC as well as a diverse board of directors representing all segments and regions of the music industry. As its executive director since 2005, he has played a pivotal role in distributing $170 million over the past 23 years, making the fund a cornerstone of the Canadian music industry’s funding ecosystem.
Beyond his accomplishments, Chip’s influence extends to artist representation. Since 2004, he has served as Feist’s lawyer and co-manager, achieving great success with the album “The Reminder.” His managerial portfolio has since expanded to include Alvvays and Mustafa Ahmed, showcasing his ongoing commitment to shaping musical careers.
In 2012, Chip was entrusted by legendary music industry lawyer Donald Passman to co-author a Canadian edition of “All You Need to Know about the Music Business.” A devoted father of two, Kate and Will, Chip divides his time between Halifax and Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Outside the music industry, he is a fervent wilderness canoeist, fly fisherman, and river conservationist. Chip Sutherland’s impact on the Canadian music scene is not only enduring but continues to shape the industry’s landscape.
