Yes, the FYI gang is off for the Canada Day weekend and won't be back in your inbox until Wednesday.
By David Farrell
Yes, the FYI gang is off for the Canada Day weekend and won't be back in your inbox until Wednesday, barring major breaking news when we can be counted to ditch our whatevers and tap out a bulletin to keep you in the loop.
So from us to you, enjoy; drive safe, act wisely and have a blast.
DF
Matt Sousa
The executive comes from Universal Music Canada, where he signed UMC's first South Asian artist thiarajxtt. He's also worked with rising stars like Valley, Jamie Fine and Sukha.
Warner Music Canada has a new VP of A&R.
Matt Sousa joins the leadership team, coming from Universal Music Canada (UMC) where he was director of A&R. Sousa has worked with rising Canadian acts like Jamie Fine, Valley and Sukha, helping to propel acts on the international stage.
Sousa joins Warner Canada as the label invests heavily in South Asian music. Warner Canada and Warner India launched the joint label 91 North Records in 2022, with creative direction from producer Ikky and acts like Chani Nattan and Jonita Gandhi growing their global profiles. (91 North is a case study for international collaboration in the 2025 IFPI global report, released this week.)
Warner Music Group also recently inked a deal with Punjabi producer Intense, providing distribution through ADA for his label Double Up Entertainment.
According to WMC, Sousa led the strategic signing of UMC's first South Asian artist, thiarajxtt — who produced Diljit Dosanjh's Ghost — making him a natural fit for a label that's putting resources behind South Asian music in Canada.
“Warner Music Canada has a proven track record of championing exceptional talent, and I'm excited to be a part of that," Sousa says. "My focus will be on discovering and developing artists with unique voices that resonate on a global scale. I’m looking forward to working with the team here to build on their momentum.”
“Matt’s deep belief in the artists he works with has earned him the respect of many artists and management teams," adds Kristen Burke, president of Warner Music Canada. "His passion for discovering and developing new talent for the global stage is infectious, and I’m excited to welcome him to the team.“
