advertisement
Culture

Boi-1da Named Canada Soccer's New Music Ambassador

In the new role as National Teams Music Ambassador, the Grammy-winner OVO producer will lead creative direction for a series of anthems fundraising for youth soccer programs across the country.

Boi-1da with Canada Soccer Foundation Jersey

Boi-1da with Canada Soccer Foundation Jersey

Creo Visions

Producer Boi-1da will be scoring some wins in the studio for Canada Soccer.

The Grammy-winning Toronto artist has worked behind the scenes on some of the biggest hits coming out of the country, producing Drake since day one. Now, he's been named to a new role as National Teams Music Ambassador for Canada Soccer, the organization governing soccer at the international, national and amateur levels.


As Canada prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the "God's Plan" producer will boost the profile of the sport at home and on the airwaves.

In partnership with Infinity Records, Boi-1da will lead a new initiative, Perfect Pitch, raising funds for youth soccer programs in Canada. He will creative direct and executive producer a series of musical anthems celebrating the beautiful game, with proceeds going to the Canada Soccer Foundation.

advertisement

Boi-1da is not the only Canadian musician tapped to contribute to help craft a sound for the sport. Juno-winning engineer Hill Kourkoutis has produced a remix of the Fifa World Cup Theme 26, infusing it with the musical identity of Toronto, set to drop on March 8.

Meanwhile, Boi-1da is getting some big recognition at home for his work making global hits lately — he'll also receive the International Achievement Award at the 2025 Junos, coming up on March 30, becoming the first producer to win the award.

No word yet on which talent he'll bring in to collab on Perfect Pitch tracks, but he's got a record of working with some of the biggest names in music, like Rihanna, Eminem, Nicki Minaj and Eminem.

"Being able to combine two things that I have a deep passion for – music and Canadian soccer – has always been something that I wanted to do. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to spearhead an initiative that allows me to create a musical identity for a program that I admire," said the producer in a statement. "Everything about this moment is special."

advertisement

advertisement
Val Blavatnik
Courtesy WMG

Val Blavatnik

Business News

Val Blavatnik to Oversee Warner Music Canada in New Role at Warner Music Group

Blavatnik will oversee Warner Music Canada as managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at WMG. As part of a slew of executive announcements, Simon Robson will be leaving the company, while Alejandro Duque takes the top international role.

Val Blavatnik, the 28-year-old son of Warner Music Group majority owner and vice chairman Len Blavatnik, has been named managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at the Warner Music Group, the company announced Friday (Sept. 25). In his new role the younger Blavatnik, who has held several roles at the company in recent years, and has been a board member since 2023, expects to “unify and drive business and operational strategy across these markets while guiding the company’s investment strategy to support growth,” according to a press release.

The Blavatnik announcement is part of a flurry of new executive announcements that CEO Robert Kyncl made this morning. In addition, Atlantic Music Group chairman/CEO Elliot Grainge will take on ADA in the U.S. as its new chairman, while Alejandro Duque, who has held the dual roles of president of Warner Latin and president of ADA since last July, has been named president of Warner Music International, adding Asia-Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa under his oversight. (Duque will continue to oversee ADA outside the U.S.) Zach Friedman, currently COO at Atlantic Music Group, will add the title of vice chair of ADA U.S. to his resume.

keep readingShow less
advertisement