TMU's Professional Music Program earns the sole Canadian placement on the list for the second straight year. This year began a partnership with Billboard Canada that included a first-of-its-kind course centred around Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh taught by National Editor Richard Trapunski and co-developed with TMU's Charlie Wall-Andrews.
TMU is the sole Canadian entry for 2026. After appearing on last year's list, it lands alongside fellow international institutions "educating the next generation of music industry leaders" such as Berklee College in Boston and Abbey Road Institute in London, U.K. Billboard chooses which schools to honour based on industry recommendations, information from power list alumni and information requested from the schools themselves.
"Located in downtown Toronto, TMU’s Professional Music program is designed for both artists and nonartists. Students develop expertise in music business, production, entrepreneurship, marketing, management and live events," writes Billboard.
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Billboard Canada began a partnership with TMU's Creative School and its Professional Music program last year with the launch of The Music & Influence of Diljit Dosanjh, a first-of-its-kind class in Canada centred around a Punjabi artist. Students spent the Winter 2026 semester studying the Punjabi star's global impact and takeover as he continued to rack up achievements, from collaborating with J Balvin to becoming the first Punjabi artist to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon twice.
Billboard recognizes TMU's Professional Music Program's commitment to exploring emerging trends and diverse music markets and Wall-Andrews' incorporation of principles about the ethical use of AI for students getting ready to work in the music industry in all of her courses.
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Billboard Canada will continue its partnership with TMU with a brand new course offered in the 2027 Winter semester.
