\n\tThe next generation of music industry visionaries, entrepreneurs and changemakers showed up in droves for the first-ever edition of\u00a0Billboard Canada 40 Under 40<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tYesterday (Nov. 20) at W Toronto marked the first time\u00a0Billboard<\/em>\u2018s influential celebration came to Canada, recognizing the executives and innovators shaping the global music business. The night was in partnership with YouTube, W Toronto and Hendrick\u2019s.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\t\u201cThere\u2019s really a lot of optimism here,\u201d shared Richard Trapunski<\/strong>, National Editor at\u00a0Billboard Canada<\/em>. \u201cThere\u2019s so much talent coming out of Canada that\u2019s really shaping what\u2019s happening in the music industry worldwide. It\u2019s great to get a chance to celebrate those people and those voices who are pushing that conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tElizabeth Crisante<\/strong>,\u00a0Billboard Canada<\/em>\u2019s Chief Commercial Officer, noted that many driven and successful achievers don\u2019t get a chance to celebrate their wins.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe interesting thing about highly ambitious people is they have laser-like focus on the goals in front of them,\u201d she said. \u201cOften, they may not take the time to step back and look at how far they\u2019ve come, how much they\u2019ve grown and how much impact they\u2019ve had in the community \u2014 and that\u2019s why tonight is so special.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tLa Mar Taylor <\/strong>accepted the first-ever\u00a0Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 Visionary Award<\/a>, presented by YouTube. The globally successful 35-year-old is a co-founder of the culture-defining XO Records and is The Weeknd<\/a>\u2018s longtime creative director. His work with The Weeknd, including his\u00a0record-breaking After Hours Til Dawn Tour<\/a>, cemented him as one of the most influential creative directors in music today.<\/p>\n \n\tTaylor is also building the next generation of Canadian talent through HXOUSE, the Toronto creative incubator he co-founded to provide mentorship, studio space and networking opportunities for emerging artists, designers and musicians.<\/p>\n \n\tIn his acceptance speech, Taylor made sure to celebrate his hometown, thanking XO, The Weeknd and the HXOUSE community. He expressed enthusiasm about 40 Under 40 becoming an annual event, praising the strength of the music community in Canada that deserves recognition, while also calling for a stronger creative ecosystem in Canada.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIt\u2019s up to us to pave the way and really bring Canada to where it needs to be. Let\u2019s be on the journey together. Let\u2019s kill it.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe majority of the inaugural honourees came to celebrate, including SOCAN executive director and TMU assistant professor Dr. Charlie Wall-Andrews<\/strong>, MRG Live\u2019s senior talent buyer, Samantha O\u2019Connor<\/strong>, senior manager of label partnerships at Universal Music Canada, Angela De Medeiros<\/strong>, Sony Music Canada marketing manager, Vanessa Adams<\/strong>, Live Nation Canada\u2019s director of Latin music, Ricky Taco<\/strong>, senior music manager at SiriusXM Canada, Siobhan Woodrow<\/strong>, 604 Records\u2019 head of streaming, Julia Amodeo<\/strong>, Yonis, co-founder of Active Cause and many more.<\/p>\n \n\tRead more from the celebration\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0and find the full Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 list\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tWarner Music Canada has named Julia Hummel <\/strong>and Madelaine Napoleone <\/strong>as its new co-general managers, the company announced today.<\/p>\n \n\tThe Toronto-based executives \u2014 both\u00a0Billboard Canada Women in Music 2025 honourees<\/a>, and with Hummel also recognized on\u00a0Billboard Canada\u2019s 40 Under 40 list<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 will jointly lead the company\u2019s strategy across one of the world\u2019s top music markets.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\tHummel and Napoleone will report to Eric Wong<\/strong>, president of East West Records and head of global A&R for recorded music at Warner Music Group.<\/p>\n \n\tBefore their promotions, Napoleone was VP of marketing and Hummel served as VP of digital strategy and business development. Both joined Warner Music Canada in 2022.<\/p>\n \n\tThe leadership shift arrives as Warner Music Group continues implementing a global plan to streamline operations and increase investment in music. It also follows\u00a0the recent departure<\/a> of Kristen Burke<\/strong>,<\/a>\u00a0who previously served as president of Warner Music Canada.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cMadelaine and I are excited to shape the next phase of Warner Music Canada\u2019s growth,\u201d Hummel said in an exclusive statement to Billboard Canada<\/em>. \u201cWe\u2019re committed to strengthening the bridge between our global artists and Canadian fans, and to ensuring that Canadian voices are heard on the world stage.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cJulia and I are proud to help Canadian artists leverage Warner Music\u2019s global network while building more opportunities for international talent here in Canada,\u201d Napoleone added. \u201cOur passion for music and dedication to supporting artists remain at the core of our work.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tWong said he has \u201cthe utmost confidence\u201d in their leadership, citing their combined expertise in marketing and digital strategy as key to advancing the company\u2019s Canadian business.<\/p>\n \n\tThe company also confirmed that Andy West<\/strong>, who served as EVP and general manager for the past three years, has\u00a0exited the company<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRead more\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\tWarner Music Canada Appoints New Co-GMs Julia Hummel & Madelaine Napoleone\t<\/h2>\n
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