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M For Montreal Announces Official Selection Artists and PRO Division Panels for 20th Anniversary Edition
Taking place November 19-22, 2025, the Montreal conference and festival is doubling down on its commitment to export the most exciting talent from Quebec and around Canada to the world.
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M For Montreal is celebrating 20 years of exporting Quebec's most exciting musical talent throughout the globe — and it's doing it in a big way.
The music festival and conference will present its 20th anniversary edition in Montreal from November 19-22, 2025.
Today (August 20), the festival is announcing its Official Selection and PRO Division programming. Both are presented by Billboard Canada, continuing the key multi-year partnership that began in 2024.
"Two decades after its debut, M for Montreal continues to channel the city’s restless creative energy into a global stage," says Mikey Rishwain Bernard, artistic director at M For Montreal. "What began as a bold experiment is now a cornerstone of the Canadian music industry — and its mission has never been clearer: to amplify Montréal and Canada's most exciting voices while connecting them with the world."
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The Official Selection is a major showcase opportunity for emerging artists from Quebec and the rest of Canada. These hand-picked artists and bands have the opportunity to perform for more than 500 Canadian and international delegates at M For Montreal, including labels, agents, media, programmers and other important industry players. Over the years, it's played a key role in the rise of artists from Grimes to Charlotte Cardin, Patrick Watson to Mac DeMarco.
This year, the official selection artists include a mix of buzzy new talent from Montreal (like rapper Mike Shabb, Polaris Prize long-listed rock band Choses Sauvages and Cult Nation pop upstart Chiara Savastra), music scene veterans like Annie-Claude Deschênes (of Duchess Says and PyPy), plus key acts from the rest of Canada including Winnipeg singer-songwriter Field Guide, B.C. hip-hop group NADUH and much more. There are 26 names announced so far, with more to come, and they're all worth checking out.
2025 Official Selection artists:
Angine de Poitrine
Annie-Claude Deschênes
BéLi
Bouvier Normal
Chiara Savasta
Choses Sauvages
distraction4ever
Eadsé
Fernie
Field Guide (MB)
Fine Food Market
Geneviève Racette
Hologramme
Jake Vaadeland (SK)
JASHIM (Lil Visions)
Koko Love
Kuzi Cee (AB)
Léonie Gray
Mike Shabb
NADUH (BC)
Patche
Sargeant X Comrade (AB)
sundayclub (MB)
The Pxrtals (SK)
Truck Violence
Virginie B
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Delegates and passholders attending the PRO Division of M for Montreal can catch all those showcases, along with a number of events designed to foster connections between music professionals and industries across the world, including special networking events, cocktails, travelling sessions and exclusive panels and keynote discussions.
M for Montreal 2025 Panels & Keynote:
Mikey B. Rishwain: 20 Years of Controlled Chaos at M for Montreal
For two decades, Mikey B. Rishwain has been the unsung hero / chaos gremlin / dad-joke dealer of M for Montreal. From sneaking indie bands into official showcases to decoding industry jargon like a human Shazam, Mikey B has seen things. Join us for a fast-paced, meme-worthy look at his 20-year run of barely controlled musical mayhem, existential artist wrangling, and questionable fashion choices. This panel is part roast, part TED Talk, and fully Mikey-core. We’ll unpack wild stories, bad emails, and how one man became the connective tissue between garage slacker punks and Grammy winners. Whether you’re a young industry hopeful or just here for the Mikey lore, come witness the legacy of a guy who still somehow knows everyone and your mother’s maiden name.
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How Can Developing Artists Discover and Grow Their Audience with the Power of Data – An Interactive Workshop Presented by Chartmetric
With millions of artists across the globe, it may seem impossible for developing artists to break through the noise and establish their fanbase. However, with the power of Chartmetric, you can leverage your artist’s data to find your core audience and develop strategies to maximize your success. This will be an interactive session where the audience can access Chartmetric and follow along all the steps during the event.
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Less ego, more ecosystem : Redefining Authentic Connections in the Music Industry
This panel is for the new generation of music leaders — the directors of tomorrow — who are done with gatekeeping and done playing solo. They believe in collaboration over competition, in passing the mic, and in building something real through kindness, trust, and open sharing. For them, sharing is caring isn’t just a catchphrase — it’s a strategy and a mindset.
Join us for a conversation with those who are rewriting the rules of the industry, one real connection at a time. Less ego, more ecosystem. Because at the end of the day, stronger careers don’t come from closed rooms — they come from open circles. Presented by Disco
Electronic Music: An Underestimated Cultural and Economic Power?
The dance music industry has long been a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and innovation. From its underground roots in the clubs of Chicago and New York, it has evolved into a self-sustaining global ecosystem - one that generates billions in revenue despite limited support from mainstream radio or traditional media.
This panel will explore how the dance/electronic music community has built and scaled a thriving international network involving artists, DJs, producers, remixers, singer-songwriters, festivals, independent radio (including college mixshows), influencers, and niche media platforms. We’ll look at how these elements have combined to create deep fandoms, cultural stickiness, and economic viability - often while maintaining an independent, underground ethos.
The International Media Roundtable
Connecting International Medias & Labels As part of The International Media Roundtable, this curated professional meet-up brings together leading international media outlets — including KCRW, Notion Magazine, Wonderland Magazine, Dork Magazine, The Needle Drop and Kaput Mag — alongside cultural thought leaders and labels for a high-level exchange of ideas, stories, and opportunities.
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This roundtable is designed to foster mutual discovery, strategic connections, and the exploration of editorial and promotional partnerships on a global scale.
Expect more exciting panels to be announced soon, in collaboration with Billboard Canada.
M For Montreal will also have a full public-facing festival, featuring acts from around the country at venues throughout Montreal. Acts playing the M For Montreal Festival will be announced in September.
These announcements go along with a fresh new look and image for M For Montreal, reflecting its renewed commitment to amplifying the best in Canadian music. Expect even more big things to come.
"We are welcoming international industry OG's and newbies to the city that refuses to chill," says Mikey Rishwain Bernard. "Across packed showcases and late-night sessions, the festival proves that the next wave isn’t just coming; it’s already here and we are damn proud of it."
Full info at M for Montreal's website.
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