The list honours execs from all over the global music landscape, and includes Canadian entries from all three major record labels, Reservoir, Oak View Group, The Feldman Agency and more.
Every year, Billboard celebrates the executives from key industry sectors — nominated by their firms and peers and chosen by Billboard editors including from Billboard Canada — who have primary responsibility for markets outside the United States. Countries like Japan, the U.K., Germany, China, France, South Korea, Canada, Brazil and Mexico account for 60% of the world’s recorded-music revenue, according to IFPI’s 2025 Global Music Report.
The Canadian executives featured on the list span a range of expertise, including music groups, publishing, labels, distributors, artist and label services, touring and agencies. In 2026, there are 13 execs from the country, down two from 2025.
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Over the past year, Warner Music Canada has gone through major changes. In September, Eric Wongwas named president of the major music label, taking over leadership duties from former CEO Kristen Burke, in addition to his role as president at East West Two months later, the New York-based executive was appointed EVP of recorded music at global Warner Music Group. Wong is a supporter of Canadian artists through his work with Punjabi star Karan Aujla — who made history debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart with P-Pop Culture — and rising Vancouver singer Jade LeMac, who recently scored her debut entry on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100.
The recent Billboard Canada executive of the week, Reservoir founder & CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi, has been a champion of global music. Spanning publishing, recorded music, management and catalogue acquisitions, the company works with major artists including Joni Mitchell, k.d. Lang, De La Soul and Miles Davis' catalogue. Recently, Reservoir invested in the U.K. company Lightroom, further expanding its international moves. “Success for us will come in the form of a global hit,” she told Billboard Canada. “A hit that will travel around the world, transcend culture and language, a hit whose creators are global themselves.” Khosrowshahi is joined by Hussain “Spek” Yoosuf, EVP of international and emerging markets, and founder & CEO of publishing group PopArabia.
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Hamilton’s newly opened TD Coliseumis one of the most talked-about venues. Nick DeLuco, senior VP and general manager of the Oak View Group-owned venue, has become instrumental in the opening of the major Ontario stadium, which kicked off with Paul McCartney and has already seen a host of mega-talented stars like Nine Inch Nails. The venue will continue its streak of concerts, with acts including Cardi B, the recently-reunited The Guess Who, Three Days Grace, Triumph and Hilary Duff set to take the stage and will welcome the Canadian music industry for the Juno Awards at the end of March.
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Other executives featured on the list include Shane Carter, president of Sony Music Entertainment Canada for the second year in a row, Brianne Deslippe, senior VP of marketing at Big Loud Records, who works with major recent success stories like Owen Riegling, The Feldman Agency’s Jeff Craib, Tom Kemp and Joel Baskin, known for fronting highly successful tours from Shania Twain and Avril Lavigneand France Margaret Bélanger, president of sports and entertainment at Groupe CH, an entertainment powerhouse that includes the Montréal Canadiens, evenko and Équipe Spectra.
Read the full Billboard Global Power Players list here.
