The Toronto Urban Music Festival (TUMF) has created Urban Music Week, celebrating Urban Music, Urban Arts and Urban Music Industry Conference.

TUMF is presented by WORD Magazine. It continues to showcase the best in urban music and culture since 1997.

Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Bilal, K-OS, Pharoahe Monch, Slum Village, Divine Brown, Dwele, Jully Black, Jaguar Wright, Melanie Durrant, Gary Beals, Michie Mee, Royce Da 5’9, J Live, Butta Babees, Eternia, Masia One, Citizen Kane, Saukrates, El Da Sensei, Wordsworth, Dan-e-o, Jeff Hendrick, Dwayne Morgan, Rochester, J-Diggs, Cali, Ayah are among the many talented performers who have taken the stage at TUMF over the years.

Toronto Urban Music Festival Incorporated is a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing the best in Canadian and international urban music and multidisciplinary talent and providing professional developmental opportunities via conference workshops, seminars and master classes.

WORD Magazine, the soul of urban culture, is the presenting sponsor of the Toronto Urban Music Festival. WORD is now in its 15th year of publication and is available free of charge in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Southern Ontario, and other select cities. Visit www.wordmag.com for more information.

Hit the jump for a list of events and live performances happening this week.

Monday, January 25

R&B/Soul Showcase featuring Eric Roberson
The Mod Club, 722 College St @ Shaw St.

This showcase will feature Grammy nominated Eric Roberson and hot new soul/r&b artists who are creating an underground buzz in the music scene. Just added are A.K.A. Subliminal and Prita Chhabra.

Admission: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Available at Play De Record, Rotate This, Soundscapes, and Ransom.

Tuesday, January 26
Black Lotus Media in association with Urban Music Week
Acoustic Soul Tuesdays (open mic)
Trane Studio, 964 Bathurst St. (8:00 p.m.)

Hosted by Hajile Kalaike and featuring Poet Dwayne Morgan and A.K.A. Subliminal, Accoustic Soul celebrates five years of some of the City’s freshest talent on stage along with a hot five-piece band.

Admission: $10 at the door.

Wednesday, January 27
REMG Entertainment and TUMF Urban Music Week present:
The Return…Doom featuring Mos Def
with special guests D-Sisive and Mix Tape Massacre
Kool Haus, 132 Queen’s Quay East
(All Ages, 8:00 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show.)

Tickets: $39.50 (plus any additional fees) in advance and available at Ticketmaster, Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record and Ransom.

This event is presented in association with TUMF’s Urban Music Week.

Friday, January 29
Urban Music Industry Conference: The Business of Urban Music
Fairmont Royal York Hotel, 100 Front St. W.
(Upper Canada Room, 18th Floor, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.)

The aim of the Urban Music Industry Conference is to foster and develop, support and champion a vibrant, dynamic urban industry in Ontario. The first day of the music conference targets urban businesses, artist-entrepreneurs, managers, indie labels, publishers, booking agents, graphic designers, event and concert promoters, and web masters. The conference will assist urban businesses and artist-entrepreneurs network and develop professional and successful business practices in this rapidly changing music industry and new digital age through panel discussions and networking opportunities. Panels include: Music Publishing, Managing for Success and Indie Labels. Keynote address by Al Branch, GM for the management firm Hip Hop Since 1978, whose roster includes Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Drake, Young Jeezy and the producers Noah “40″ Shebib and Just Blaze.

Admission: $25 (includes keynote address, conference & Networking Reception), two-day Conference Pass: $40 (includes all) available at the door.

Hip Hop Notables 2010
Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. (Doors at 9:30 p.m.)

This showcase will provide a glimpse into the future, featuring Canadian artists with the potential for international success. Featuring Tona, Rich Kidd, The Get By (Justis Mantis), KJ (88 Days of Fortune Collective), Rayhaan, DJ Ariel. Hosted by 4th Pyramid.

Admission: $6 before 10:00 p.m., $10 after 11:00 p.m. (at the door)

Saturday, January 30
Urban Music Industry Conference: Urban Artist Boot Camp
Fairmont Royal York Hotel, 100 Front St. W.
(Upper Canada Room, 18th Floor, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

The second day of the music conference will target independent urban artists. Panels include: Funding & Juries, Social Networks & Music, Festivals & Tours and Finding the Next Hot Producers.

Admission: $25 (includes conference & Networking Reception), two-day Conference Pass: $40 (includes all) available at the door.

Monday, February 1
Public Forum: The Caribbean Roots of Hip-Hop
North York Central Library Auditorium, 5120 Yonge St. (6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.)

With a panel of authors, journalists, DJs and promoters, we will explore the early and ongoing contributions to the culture by people of Caribbean descent.

Admission: Free!

****Programs are subject to change****

Toronto Urban Music Festival Incorporated acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage). We also acknowledge the support of FACTOR, OMDC, the Ontario Arts Council. Sponsors include: WORD Magazine, CIUT 89.5 FM, Eye Weekly, Just Entertainment, REMG Entertainment, Fusicology, The Cyberkrib, Planet 3 Communications, Lyrical Knockout.

Please add this information to your listings. Images and interviews will be available in early January 2010.

For media information:
Planet3 Communications Ltd: Leanne Plummer / Joanne Smale
T: 647-346-4101
e: info@planet3com.net