Bedtracks and APTN have launched the world’s first Indigenous-created production music library for media.

Toronto-based Nagamo Publishing is a subsidiary of APTN-created holding company Dadan Sivunivut, which also includes Red Music Rising and First Peoples Radio. Of note, Nagamo’s goals include providing Indigenous composers with opportunities to showcase their talent as well as giving clients access to their music, which spans all genres and nations.

“Dadan Sivunivut couldn’t be more excited to establish a partnership with an industry leader in the field to foster the creation and dissemination of this never-before-heard music library,” said a statement from former APTN CEO Jean La Rose, who currently serves as president and CEO of Dadan Sivunivut and CEO of Nagamo Publishing. “We are confident it will be the best place to find not only incredible Indigenous sounds but also high-quality production music that just happens to be made by an incredible group of Indigenous composers.”

Alongside La Rose, Nagamo Publishing sees Bedtracks artistic director Oliver Johnson serve as managing director. Additionally, Toronto-based Cree composer and artist Nigel Irwin – who joined in April 2020 – is the organization’s co-creative director.

Irwin told Playback Daily that in his role he is tasked with finding composers and connecting with musicians and communities; expanding Nagamo Publishing’s library; media relations; as well as guiding composers and offering mentorship. Further, current clients include CBC, the NFB, Corus Entertainment and APTN.

“We kept finding that our clients wanted authentic Indigenous music for various projects and we realized there wasn’t a centralized place to find traditional and contemporary pre-cleared music of this kind. We wanted to change that,” said Johnson in a statement.

Of note, Nagamo Publishing’s beginnings started in early 2017 with the first iteration of the library, which was called Storytellers. The project was led by Bedtracks with the sponsorship of imagineNATIVE. Nagamo Publishing was incorporated under Dadan Sivunivut in 2019.

Image of a Nagamo recording session courtesy of Nagamo Publishing