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Ron Harwood
Record Labels
Canadian Country Music Label Veteran Ron Harwood Retires After 37 Years: 'Left a Lasting Mark'
Currently director of national promotion with BMLG/Blue Highway, the popular veteran is leaving the industry later this month. Donna Lidster, head of Canada at Blue Highway, sent an exclusive tribute to Billboard Canada.
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Ron Harwood is hanging up his spurs.
The highly-respected and award-winning veteran Canadian record label executive announced this week that he will be retiring from the music industry at the end of the month, marking the end of a long and distinguished career.
Harwood is currently director of national promotion with Blue Highway (recently rebranded from Big Machine Label Group by HYBE America.
Donna Lidster, head of Canada at Blue Highway, sent a tribute to Billboard Canada celebrating Harwood's 37-year legacy in the industry.
''After an incredible 14 years as director of national promotion with BMLG/Blue Highway, music industry veteran Ron Harwood will officially retire on November 27, bringing to a close an extraordinary 37-year career in the music business," Lidster announces.
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''It’s difficult to put into words the impact Ron has made since joining BMLG on November 1, 2012. Securing an incredible 61 No. 11 songs is an achievement few can match, but that milestone only begins to tell the story of his remarkable career and contributions across radio, PolyGram, EMI, Universal and BMLG/Blue Highway. His six CCMA [Canadian Country Music Association] Awards as label person of the year awards speak volumes about the respect, admiration and affection he has earned throughout the Canadian music industry.''
''And beyond the numbers and accolades, no one navigated the road quite like Ron! Whether flying or driving artists across Canada, coordinating interviews, managing radio rooms or fielding what seemed like an endless stream of ticket requests, Ron approached every challenge with dedication, professionalism and his unmistakable sense of humour. He was always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done.
''Throughout his career, Ron has also been a passionate and unwavering champion of Canadian music, supporting artists from Shania Twain and Terri Clark to Anne Murray and so many others. His commitment to Canadian artists and the industry has left a lasting mark. And, of course, we all know he didn't earn the nickname 'Hosehead' for nothing!''
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''Please join us in congratulating Ron on an incredible career and celebrating all that he has accomplished. Ron, your humour, passion, friendship, generosity and kindness have made you so much more than a respected colleague. You've been a valued friend and an important part of the fabric of this industry. Your presence will be missed, but your contributions, friendships and legacy will live on. You've certainly earned your next great adventure!''
In a Nov. 2 Facebook and Instagram post, Harwood reflected upon his career with his own retirement message: '
''What do you do?' For 37 years, my answer to that question has been, 'I work for a record label.' Of course I always did more than just that, but when someone asks that question they want to know what it is that you do for a living.
''As of November 27, my answer will no longer be, 'I work for a record label.' Instead my answer will be some of the other stuff that was overshadowed by my career. I might say, Domestic Engineer. Lisa, my devoted and loving partner, would like that. I might say World Explorer or Ornithologist or maybe Photographer or Writer and Podcaster.''
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''It will depend on the day I guess.I look forward to this retirement phase of life.I will have more time to be the other important things in life. Most importantly, I will have more time for Lisa. After November 27th she will be my only 'boss.'
”As I head into retirement, there are so many people that I need to thank for making this dream career happen, and for keeping me in it as long as I have. I will be posting about those people in the coming weeks and months. All of them will be in my book (if I ever get around to writing it), and mentioned or interviewed on my podcast.
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''I was truly blessed to do something I loved for 37 years. Now it’s time to do more of the other things I love. Stick around to see what Hosehead does in this next chapter of life.''
Ron Harwood studied Radio and Television Arts at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), where he was named radio student of the year in 1987. In those youthful days, he also fronted Edmonton rock band Worms Don't Surf.
He was based out of Edmonton before relocating to Niagara Falls. Harwood worked at multiple Canadian record labels, beginning at PolyGram Records in Dec. 1989 as a customer service rep and moving on to roles at Universal Music Canada in Edmonton (in promotion) and EMI Music Canada (in 2007 as manager, national promotions), prior to settling in at Big Machine Label Group (BLMG) and Blue Highway Records.
The Nashville-based Blue Highway is a country, Americana and roots rock record label launched in February 2026. The label was formed as a rebranding and restructuring of HYBE America's Nashville division (formerly Big Machine Label Group / BMLG).
Its artist and distribution roster includes such major American country stars as Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, Midland, Justin Moore, Carly Pearce, Preston Cooper, Jackson Dean, Riley Green, Shaylen and The Band Perry, and Harwood worked very closely with those artists.
His tireless promotion of their music was rewarded with extraordinary success on the charts. The most recent one was Riley Green’s “Change My Mind” back in May, which went to No. 1 on the Mediabase charts (and No. 2 on the Billboard Country Airplay charts in both the U.S. and Canada.
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''It’s my 61st Country number one since becoming a one person promo team with Big Machine Canada a little over 13 years ago," he wrote at the time. "I appreciate all of the support radio has given our artists and music. You have helped us build careers and launch future superstars. We couldn’t do it without your airwaves.''
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