Next Generation Leaders From Across The Music Industry Celebrate Billboard Canada's First-Ever 40 Under 40

The next generation of music industry visionaries, entrepreneurs and changemakers showed up in full force for the first-ever edition of Billboard Canada 40 Under 40.

Yesterday (Nov. 20) at W Toronto marked the first time Billboard's 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's.

“There’s really a lot of optimism here,” shared Richard Trapunski, National Editor at Billboard Canada. “There’s so much talent coming out of Canada that’s really shaping what’s happening in the music industry worldwide. It’s great to get a chance to celebrate those people and those voices who are pushing that conversation.”

Elizabeth Crisante, Billboard Canada’s Chief Commercial Officer, noted that many driven and successful achievers don't get a chance to celebrate their wins.

“The interesting thing about highly ambitious people is they have laser-like focus on the goals in front of them,” she said. “Often, they may not take the time to step back and look at how far they’ve come, how much they’ve grown and how much impact they’ve had in the community — and that’s why tonight is so special.”

La Mar Taylor accepted the first-ever Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 Visionary Award, presented by YouTube. The globally successful 35-year-old is a co-founder of the culture-defining XO Records and is The Weeknd's longtime creative director. His work with The Weeknd, including his record-breaking After Hours Til Dawn Tour, cemented him as one of the most influential creative directors in music today.

Taylor 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.

Laura Pearce, head of marketing, Google Canada, presented Taylor with the award, praising his ability to accomplish so much at such a young age. A supporter and collaborator of Taylor for many years, Pearce recalled the moment when, nearly a decade ago, the XO co-founder made a promise to build a facility for young creatives in Toronto. Now, HXOUSE is thriving and includes a new partnership, CNCPT, with YouTube.

“He’s never forgotten to lift those around him up, and in fact, he’s made it his mission. And he’s never faltered,” she said.

In his acceptance speech, Taylor made sure to celebrate his hometown.

“Whenever we do anything, Toronto, Canada is always in the back of our minds and hearts, so to be up here on the stage is humbling beyond words,” he said. “I’m very appreciative of my team that’s here — XO, The Weeknd — everyone that has come through the doors of HXOUSE really believes in the mission and continues to believe in the mission.”

He praised the Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 list, 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.

“It’s up to us to pave the way and really bring Canada to where it needs to be. Let’s be on the journey together. Let’s kill it.”

The majority of the inaugural honourees came to celebrate, including SOCAN executive director and TMU assistant professor Dr. Charlie Wall-Andrews, MRG Live’s senior talent buyer, Samantha O’Connor, senior manager of label partnerships at Universal Music Canada, Angela De Medeiros, Sony Music Canada marketing manager, Vanessa Adams, Live Nation Canada’s director of Latin music, Ricky Taco, senior music manager at SiriusXM Canada, Siobhan Woodrow, 604 Records' head of streaming, Julia Amodeo, Yonis, co-founder of Active Cause and many more.

To celebrate the newly appointed Warner Music Canada co-GM and 40 Under 40 honouree, Julia Hummel, her co-GM, Madelaine Napoleone and the Canadian major label's leader, Eric Wong, walked the gold carpet, along with fellow honouree, vice president of A&R Matt Sousa.

Honourees mingled and shared ideas while listening to music from DJ Mr. Saturday (also a fashion designer and the creative director in residence at Roots) and forming new connections with other bright rising stars of the Canadian music industry.

Find the full Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 list here.