Billboard Canada is announcing a major new honour for legends of the music industry.
The Billboard Canada Hall of Fame will celebrate the influential icons who shaped music in Canada, and it's starting with two people who had an immeasurable impact on live music in the country: Vinny Cinquemani and Riley O'Connor.
"The Billboard Canada Hall of Fame represents our highest honour. It will enshrine the players and artists who have fundamentally changed music in this country." says Richard Trapunski, national editor of Billboard Canada. "At Billboard Canada, we are telling the story of the industry. Launching this initiative allows us to formally cement the history of our industry as we continue to champion its future."
Both Cinquemani and O'Connor will accept the Hall of Fame honour at Billboard Canada Power Players at NXNE on June 10, 2026, at Rebel in Toronto. The celebration will bring together the most powerful members of the Canadian music industry.
Vinny CinquemaniLane Dorsey
Cinquemani, now co-president of the biggest booking agency in Canada, Paquin Artists Agency, has worked with some of the most influential Canadian artists as a booking agent since the 1970s, and has played a major role in some of the biggest recent tours by major artists like Michael Bublé, Bryan Adams, Simple Plan, Jann Arden, Sarah McLachlan and more.
Arriving from New York, he's helped build a Canadian star system and helped tours scale into global blockbusters. A well-known figure to many in the music industry and a true force, he's one of the most connected agents in the country.
Riley O'ConnorSamuel Engelking
Riley O'Connor is the chairman of Live Nation Canada and has helped turn the company into the country's biggest player in live music. His history also stretches back to the '70s, and he's worked on tours from major Canadian artists from Rush and The Tragically Hip to global stars like Elton John and Bruce Springsteen.
Along with colleagues Erik Hoffman and Melissa Bubb-Clarke, O'Connor was named Power Player of the Year for 2025, where he talked about his own history as intertwined with the history of concert promotion in Canada. He helped turn the business from a rough-and-tumble network of independent promoters into a major global industry, with Toronto as one of the continent's most profitable live music hubs.
Billboard Canada Power Players takes place June 10, 2026, at Rebel in Toronto. Tickets are available below.
