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The 20th edition of M for Montreal wrapped up on Sunday (Nov. 23), bringing together artists, industry players and music lovers for four days that showcased the beating heart of Montreal’s creative scene. From high-impact panels to underground club nights and discovery-driven showcases, here are five standout moments from this year’s anniversary edition, in partnership with Billboard Canada.
Less Ego, More Ecosystem: Rethinking How the Industry Connects
Wednesday, November 19 — Maison du développement durable
Katrina Balcius (Director, DISCO), Laurie-Lee Boutet (Wednesday Management), Nicholas Douglas (Notion Magazine), Camille Gervais (Billboard Canada) and Grace Larsen (Rareform) Alexanne Brisson
Presented by DISCO, the Less Ego, More Ecosystem panel brought together a new generation of leaders who are actively redefining how collaboration works in today’s music landscape. Moderated by Katrina Balcius (Director, DISCO), the conversation gathered Laurie-Lee Boutet (Wednesday Management), Nicholas Douglas (Notion Magazine), Camille Gervais (Billboard Canada) and Grace Larsen (Rareform) to explore how authentic connections, knowledge-sharing and community-first thinking are reshaping the future of the industry.
As M for Montreal marked its 20th edition with more than 500 delegates, the discussion landed at exactly the right moment. Instead of focusing on competition or closed networks, the speakers emphasized transparency, mutual support and building ecosystems that lift everyone.
Billboard Canada's Gervais underscored how essential this shift has become, noting, “What stood out was the diversity of perspectives… the industry can’t grow if everyone stays in their silo.” She added that genuine progress comes from "showing up for each other" — creating space, sharing resources and building bridges across sectors rather than guarding them. The panel’s takeaway: the music industry moves further — and faster — when it moves together.
M for Mixer: Where the Real Deals Happened
Wednesday, November 19 — Les Grands Ballets, Studio Théâtre
Alexanne Brisson
The always-anticipated M for Mixer networking session delivered once again. Meticulously curated by a dedicated committee, this year’s edition paired artists, managers, labels and industry delegates through personalized matchmaking sessions tailored to their goals, artistic identity and specific professional needs. The result? An afternoon buzzing with discovery: dozens of new relationships, creative sparks and future collaborations took shape.
LATAM’s Global Sound: A Deep Dive Into the Future of Sync
Wednesday, November 19 — Maison du développement durable
One of this year’s most engaging panels, LATAM’s Global Sound, dug into the rapidly growing influence of global music — from reggaeton, dembow and cumbia hybrids to experimental electronic sounds — on the emotional and cultural identity of Latin American film, TV and advertising. With streaming platforms expanding their investment in Spanish-language productions and Latin America emerging as one of the fastest-growing audiovisual markets, the conversation highlighted how supervisors and creators are increasingly seeking music that reflects the region’s diversity while remaining globally resonant.
A standout moment was the live sync pitch, where audience members submitted tracks for a real project and received instant expert feedback. The exercise exposed the practical side of sync: what makes a track licensable, how cultural nuance plays into music selection, and why the region is becoming a strategic gateway for artists looking to enter the international sync ecosystem.
It was a rare, insightful look into a market where demand for innovative, border-blurring music is accelerating quickly.
distraction4ever, Crasher & Gloin: A Packed Night at L’Escogriffe
distraction4ever : Beau GesteM pour Montreal
Presented by DORK, the Thursday night showcase at L’Escogriffe (Nov. 20) turned the packed St-Denis venue into a frenzy of sweaty walls, roaring guitars and nonstop energy. The bill featured Montreal duo distraction4ever (Beau Geste and Split Shift), known for their post-punk-meets-analog-synth edge and raw live presence; Crasher, the electro-punk trio led by Airick Asher Woodhead of Doldrums, gearing up to release their full-length Odditi Populaire; and Gloin, the Canadian noise-rock/post-punk outfit (originally from Toronto) whose acclaimed debut We Found This and upcoming album All of Your Anger Is Actually Shame… have cemented their reputation for high-octane, unrelenting performances.
Official Afterparty: Lil Visions XR Takes Over Datcha
The official afterparty — Lil Visions XR — quickly emerged as one of the festival’s most sought-after events. Curated by Jashim, a rising underground Latin artist whose fusion of experimental club, urbano textures and left-field electronic influences has made him a driving force in Canada’s Latin alt scene, the night also served as an exclusive first listen to his upcoming Lil Visions EP (2026).
Showcasing selections from the project, Jashim demonstrated exactly why so many see a bright future ahead of him — the room was packed wall-to-wall, buzzing with local energy and genuine excitement. Sets from Syana, Nana Zen, Yaya La Bae, Jaijui, and angelnumber2020 turned Datcha into a futuristic crossroads at Montreal’s iconic alt-club Datcha.
SLM, Laroie, Lunice & Beamskii Deliver a Heavy-Hitting Showcase at Le Belmont
Thursday, November 20 — Le Belmont
SLMM pour Montreal
Montreal artist SLM marked her album launch alongside Laroie, Lunice and Beamskii. Each artist brought a distinct energy to the night: SLM with her high-voltage presence, Laroie with an introspective and emotionally layered rap performance, and Beamskii with precision-sharp, tightly curated DJ work.
LuniceM for Montreal
Lunice — an iconic Montreal producer whose résumé includes collaborations and credits with renowned artists like Lil Wayne and Azealia Banks — added his signature experimental edge, pushing the room into unexpected territory.
