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David Leyes
Steven Kane
Business News
National Music Centre Names Steve Kane as Chair of NMC Board of Directors
The former NMC board member and music industry veteran will join the Calgary-based organization, alongside new vice-chair, Jennifer Buchanan, and new board members Robert Frances, Patti-Anne Tarlton and Ruth Spetz.
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National Music Centre (NMC) has promoted Steve Kane to chair of the organization’s board of directors.
Previously, he served as a board member for the Calgary-based music organization, rounding out over 30 years championing Canada’s music scene and working at some of today's biggest Canadian record labels.
Kane, former longtime president of Warner Music Canada and a member of the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame, succeeds Rob Braide, who is retiring from the Board after 13 years.
As he enters this expanded role at NMC, he shares that he's excited to "amplify the power of music in Canada, both nationally and internationally."
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"I’m thrilled and honoured to be taking on this expanded role on the Board of the National Music Centre. Our songs and stories are central to our identity as Canadians from coast to coast to coast," he tells Billboard Canada. "At NMC, we don’t just preserve the past. We are helping create the future of Canadian music with educational programs, artist development initiatives, world-class recording studios, and unique live events that incorporate NMC’s historic collection of musical instruments."
In the late '90s, Kane kicked off his music industry career as senior vice president of Polygram Records and Universal/Island/Def Jam Canada. While he stayed at the latter label for four years, his longest stint was as president of Warner Music Canada for 20 years, starting in 2001. In 2021, he was succeeded by Kristen Burke at the Canadian major label, who remained in the role until 2025, when Eric Wong was tapped for the position.
Throughout Kane’s decades-spanning career, he has served on various music boards, including Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA), Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and Unison.
Kane will be joined by current board member Jennifer Buchanan, who is stepping into the role of vice-chair. The Montreal-born broadcaster helped to open and launch NMC, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. In celebration, the organization has kicked off a year-long lineup of exhibits, events and programs.
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Along with Kane and Buchanan’s appointments, NMC is bringing in three new board members: Robert Frances, founder, chairman and CEO of PEAK Financial Group; Patti-Anne Tarlton, vice-chair of Live Nation Concerts Canada at Live Nation Entertainment; and Ruth Spetz, former partner at Borden Ladner Gervais Law Firm.
A former member of Ticketmaster’s leadership team, Tarlton was an honouree at last year’s Billboard Canada Women in Music, following her appointment as Live Nation’s vice-chair in 2024.
“The experience and networks of our new chair and new board members make them exactly the kind of leaders we need for our next chapter,” says Andrew Mosker, president and CEO of NMC. “Their passion and commitment will help guide our work as we continue to grow our impact and share Canada’s music story with audiences at home and around the world.”
As NMC approaches this major milestone, they will continue their mission of educating Canadians on the country’s most integral and emerging acts, including Sum41, Nelly Furtado and Gordon Lightfoot, among others. Additionally, it represents four of Canada’s music halls of fame: the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame.
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While most initiatives are spearheaded from its headquarters at Calgary’s Studio Bell, NMC launched a satellite hub in Montreal last year to deepen the province’s connection to Canada's music scene.
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