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FYI

Offair Imprint Partners With Universal Music Canada

Universal Music Canada has partnered with Offair Records, a new creative imprint launched by creative agency Versus Creative with UMC and Virgin Music Artists’ labe

Offair Imprint Partners With Universal Music Canada

By David Farrell

Universal Music Canada has partnered with Offair Records, a new creative imprint launched by creative agency Versus Creative with UMC and Virgin Music Artists’ label artists division responsible for global distribution.


Versus’ Creative’s founder Rishi Shah and partner Nate Auerbach co-founded the new imprint, which hopes to take a fresh approach in marketing ambient and other instrumental music styles using different platforms to brand and promote Offair’s music and artists.

“Instead of music getting stuck in your head, we want your head to get lost in the music,” the partners explain about their “foreground music” imprint.

“Finding ways to unplug and stay present while leaning into music that brings focus to our intentions is so powerful – and perhaps more important now than ever, UMC Chair and CEO Jeffrey Remedios said in a statement, adding that the imprint’s team “has created a distinct and compelling brand that invites artists to explore mood music while centring the creative process.” 

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Among the first artists signed to the new label is Highland Park Sleep Collective, a duo formed by producers Tim Anderson and Filip Nikolic (formerly of Poolside) whose production credits include Billie Eilish, Pabllo Vittar and King Princess. They put their own twist on the ambient genre with their album OFFAIR: Music For Water, out now.

Releases from Anders Fridén, Swedish singer-songwriter and vocalist of the metal band In Flames, Niia (born Niia Bertino), an American singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, with record producer Oh No and recording artist, music director and drummer, Pauli the PSM, to follow, with more to be announced soon.  

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Tyla, Doechii at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Christopher Polk

Tyla, Doechii at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Awards

Billboard Women in Music 2025: 12 Best Moments From the Star-Studded Night

Doechii was honoured as Woman of the Year, Erykah Badu received the Icon Award and performed, and much more.

Billboard’s Women in Music event took over the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday (March 29). Airing for free on VIZIO TVs and in the VIZIO mobile app, the annual event honours influential women in music, from artists to industry power players.

The 2025 Billboard Women in Music event was hosted by Laverne Cox and honoured: Doechii, 2025 Woman of the Year Award; aespa, Group of the Year Award; Ángela Aguilar, Breakthrough Award; ANNA, Billboard Italy Woman of the Year; Charlotte Cardin, Billboard Canada Woman of the Year; Erykah Badu, Icon Award; GloRilla, Powerhouse Award; Gracie Abrams, Songwriter of the Year Award; JENNIE, Global Force Award; Megan Moroney, Rulebreaker Award presented by Crown Royal Whisky; Meghan Trainor, Hitmaker Award; Muni Long, Rising Star Award presented by Honda Stage; Tina Knowles, Mother of the Year Award; and Tyla, Impact Award presented by Bose.

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