Julie Adam of Universal Music Canada Is the 2025 Executive of the Year at Billboard Canada Women in Music
The President & CEO of Universal Music Canada is steering Canada's biggest record label into a new era and will receive a big honour this year.
Julie Adam
Julie Adam is having a milestone year — and it's getting even bigger.
The President & CEO of Universal Music Canada is this year's Billboard Canada Executive of the Year. She will accept the award at Billboard Canada Women in Music on October 1 at Rebel in Toronto.
Adam was promoted to the head role at the beginning of this year, and is now the only woman heading a major label in Canada.
But her trailblazing influence didn't start this year. Adam’s rise comes after decades of breaking barriers.
She started in radio, becoming Canada’s first female Vice President of Radio Programming, and spent more than 20 years at Rogers Sports & Media before moving to Universal in 2023 as EVP & GM. It wasn't long before she stepped into the top role, taking charge of Canada’s largest record company during a moment of change.
UMC is the market share leader amongst labels in Canada (the label has 7 of the top 10 albums year to date), with both domestic success for international artists and rising stardom for homegrown artists.
The past year has seen chart breakthroughs for artists like Josh Ross (who was among the most nominated artists at the Junos and CCMAs) and Toronto pop artist Sofia Camara, who hit the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 for the first time this week. Other artists, like Mae Martin and Owen Riegling, continue to make a big mark.
It's no surprise Adam was named to the Billboard Canada Power Players list this year and to Billboard's Global Power Players.
What makes Adam stand out — and what this award underlines — is not just the business, but the way she leads. Her book Imperfectly Kind doubles as her philosophy: that empathy and generosity can fuel success. Colleagues and artists alike point to her ability to create space for others to thrive, a rare quality in an industry often driven by competition.
Billboard Canada Women in Music will be one of the country’s most important nights for the music business. Hosted by Keshia Chanté at Rebel in Toronto, this year’s edition brings together artists, executives and innovators to celebrate women and gender-diverse voices making an impact across the industry.
Alongside Adam, the 2025 honourees include The Beaches, who are named Woman of the Year, and Lights, who receives Canada’s first-ever Visionary Award. Charlotte Day Wilson will receive the Innovator Award, while Coeur de pirate is this year's Trailblazer. Julia Wolf will be the first ever Global Rising Star.
Along with Julie Adam, Billboard Canada Women in Music will recognize and honour inspiring women from all across this music industry as part of our Industry Spotlight. Read the whole thing at Billboard Canada on Friday, September 26.
Billboard Canada Women in Music takes place October 1, 2025, at Rebel in Toronto. A limited number of tickets are available to the public here.
