Julie Adam is having a milestone year — and it's getting even bigger.
Adam was promoted to the head role at the beginning of this year, and is now the only woman heading a major label in Canada. But her trailblazing influence didn't start this year. Adam’s rise comes after decades of breaking barriers. She started in radio, becoming Canada’s first female Vice President of Radio Programming, and spent more than 20 years at Rogers Sports & Media before moving to Universal in 2023 as EVP & GM. It wasn't long before she stepped into the top role, taking charge of Canada’s largest record company during a moment of change.
UMC is the market share leader amongst labels in Canada (the label has 7 of the top 10 albums year to date), with both domestic success for international artists and rising stardom for homegrown artists. The past year has seen chart breakthroughs for artists like Josh Ross (who was among the most nominated artists at the Junos and CCMAs) and Toronto pop artist Sofia Camara, who hit the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 for the first time this week. Other artists, like Mae Martin and Owen Riegling, continue to make a big mark.
What makes Adam stand out — and what this award underlines — is not just the business, but the way she leads. Her book Imperfectly Kind doubles as her philosophy: that empathy and generosity can fuel success. Colleagues and artists alike point to her ability to create space for others to thrive, a rare quality in an industry often driven by competition.
