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Nominations Open for Billboard Canada Women in Music 2026

Billboard Canada’s celebration of the inspiring women of the music industry is returning this fall.

Nominations Open for Billboard Canada Women in Music 2026

One of Canada's biggest celebrations is music is back for a third year — and bigger than ever.

Billboard Canada Women in Music is a star-studded celebration of the powerful women of the music industry, shining a light on trailblazing musicians and executives and their stories.


This year's honourees will join an acclaimed roster of alumni including 2025's Women of the Year The Beaches, Trailblazer Cœur de pirate, Visionary Lights and many more. Charlotte Cardin, Alanis Morissette and Jessie Reyez were among the major honourees from the inaugural 2024 edition. They will also join a talented list of leaders from throughout every sector of Canadian music on the Billboard Canada Women in Music Industry Spotlight list.

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Nominations are open now here.

“Billboard Canada Women in Music spotlights the driving forces pushing music forward,” says Elizabeth Crisante, Chief Commercial Officer of Billboard Canada. “This celebration is integral to our industry as we celebrate the executives and musicians who inspire us every day.”

After receiving the top honour last year at Billboard Canada Women in Music, The Beaches went on to win the Global Force Award presented by Billboard Canada and FACTOR at this year's Billboard Women in Music ceremony in Los Angeles, becoming the first band to receive the honour. With tributes from Elton John, Kid Cudi and Greta Van Fleet, the moment was described as a "dream come true" for the breakout rock band.

Canada's own Tate McRae was also honoured at Billboard Women in Music in Los Angeles this year with the Hitmaker Award, after powering through 2025 as the year's top charting artist in Canada, ahead of megastars like Drake and The Weeknd.

Nominations are now open for Billboard Canada Women In Music 2026. To apply, fill out this submission form.

Applicants are encouraged to fill out the form for themselves, for their peers, for employees at their organization, or for anyone they think is worthy of recognition.

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Don’t miss the chance to put Canada’s most deserving music leaders in the spotlight — nominations close on August 28, 2026.

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Val Blavatnik
Courtesy WMG

Val Blavatnik

Business News

Val Blavatnik to Oversee Warner Music Canada in New Role at Warner Music Group

Blavatnik will oversee Warner Music Canada as managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at WMG. As part of a slew of executive announcements, Simon Robson will be leaving the company, while Alejandro Duque takes the top international role.

Val Blavatnik, the 28-year-old son of Warner Music Group majority owner and vice chairman Len Blavatnik, has been named managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at the Warner Music Group, the company announced Friday (Sept. 25). In his new role the younger Blavatnik, who has held several roles at the company in recent years, and has been a board member since 2023, expects to “unify and drive business and operational strategy across these markets while guiding the company’s investment strategy to support growth,” according to a press release.

The Blavatnik announcement is part of a flurry of new executive announcements that CEO Robert Kyncl made this morning. In addition, Atlantic Music Group chairman/CEO Elliot Grainge will take on ADA in the U.S. as its new chairman, while Alejandro Duque, who has held the dual roles of president of Warner Latin and president of ADA since last July, has been named president of Warner Music International, adding Asia-Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa under his oversight. (Duque will continue to oversee ADA outside the U.S.) Zach Friedman, currently COO at Atlantic Music Group, will add the title of vice chair of ADA U.S. to his resume.

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