Shain Shapiro is the UK and EU manager for CIMA, the Canadian Independent Music Association. They operate the de-facto music export entity for Canada. He is responsible for all Canadian showcasing opportunities Europe wide under the Canadian Blast brand, which includes MIDEM, Great Escape, Iceland Airwaves and now, Music Connex. In addition to that, he is writing his PhD at the London Consortium, University of London, writing a study on music funding. He used to be the press manager at One Little Indian and FatCat Records and is an internationally published music journalist who has written for VICE, Timeout, DrownedinSound and many others.