West Anthem is a volunteer-driven advocacy group advancing the growth and sustainability of Alberta’s music ecosystem through research, policy development, and community connection.  Originally called the Alberta Music Cities Initiative, West Anthem was co-orchestrated by the National Music Centre and the Scotlyn Foundation in 2012. Since then, West Anthem has championed music as both cultural infrastructure and a key economic driver for the province.

Building on a series of key research reports and ongoing sector-wide engagement with thousands of Albertans, West Anthem released municipal music city strategies for Calgary and Edmonton and created a digital Rural and Small City Music Toolkit in 2024. In 2026, a provincial government-led Alberta Music Action Plan and music commission were announced—directly referencing strategies and engagement findings of West Anthem.

West Anthem continues to gather industry insights through informal chats and sector-focused engagement sessions called Sound Bites. By combining what is heard with knowledge of industry data and music-friendly policy, West Anthem aims to help decision-makers align policy and investment with local context: forging a more coordinated, sustainable, and inclusive music ecosystem across Alberta. Across rural, small city, and urban contexts, West Anthem tenaciously makes the economic, social and creative case for investing in Alberta’s music ecosystem.