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Billboard Canada Branding Power Players 2025

By Richard Trapunski, Peony Hirwani, Heather Taylor-Singh

Behind every great artist and unforgettable concert is a network of partners working quietly and powerfully in the background. In Canada, some of the country’s most influential brands are doing more than supporting the music industry. From funding artist development and music education programs to backing major award shows and festivals, these brands have become essential players in pushing the culture forward.

Their involvement goes far beyond traditional sponsorship. Whether it’s building platforms for emerging talent, producing exclusive fan experiences, or investing in live music infrastructure, each brand on this list has contributed to elevating Canadian music at every level.


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This year’s Brand Power List recognizes those companies that aren’t just aligned with music but are actively moving it. They understand that music is more than entertainment – it’s identity, community, and storytelling. And by showing up in meaningful ways, these partners are not only strengthening the industry’s ecosystem but also helping to define what the future of Canadian music can look like.

See the full list below.

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Kehlani
Courtesy Photo

Kehlani

Rb Hip Hop

Kehlani Performs in Toronto Two Years After Last-Minute Cancellation: ‘I Need to Explain Myself’

Last night (Aug. 16), the R&B singer took the stage at RBC Amphitheatre, nearly two years after she had to cancel her Toronto show in 2024, only hours before she was set to perform.

Kehlani made her grand return to Toronto last night (Aug. 16). Nearly two years after the R&B singer’s last show in the city was cancelled just hours before she was due to perform, she pulled up to RBC Amphitheatre and didn’t mince words.

“I need to explain myself,” she told the crowd. “I know y’all was waiting on this...I got stuck at y’all’s border for like 12 hours last time, and that’s why my show was cancelled.”

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