Billboard Canada Power Players is back with renewed energy in 2025, relocating to the vibrant atmosphere of Toronto’s NXNE festival.
The premier ranking of the music industry’s most influential executives ? a significant extension of Billboard?s esteemed Power 100 list ? made its debut in Canada in 2024. Last year’s event attracted a star-studded lineup of industry leaders to a lively celebration held at the iconic CN Tower, Canada?s tallest building. This year promises to elevate the experience even further at NXNE, a cherished music festival that is marking its 30th anniversary, thanks to a strategic partnership with Billboard Canada.
Nominations for this prestigious recognition officially opened this week and will remain open until March 7, 2025.
?We?re excited to elevate Power Players at Canada?s leading music conference and festival,? states Mo Ghoneim, president of Billboard Canada. ?Power Players shines a vital spotlight on the executives who are driving Canada?s music industry on a global scale, and we are eager to take it to new heights in 2025.?
With a rich tapestry of talent, Canada is home to some of the most influential figures in music, both locally and on the international stage. In 2024, Billboard Canada honored Arthur Fogel, the CEO of global touring for Live Nation, by ranking him No. 1. This industry icon, who has significantly shaped the modern global touring landscape, attended the event and shared insights about how Canada?s vibrant live music scene has impacted his illustrious career.
As the market for stadium concerts and music festivals in Canada continues to flourish, alongside ongoing discussions regarding Canadian Content regulations, there are numerous compelling narratives and factors that could influence this year’s Power Players list.
Billboard Canada Power Players honors professionals across various sectors of the music industry, including record labels, publishing, legal services, streaming platforms, radio, and creative media, among others. This highly competitive accolade reflects a combination of market share, industry influence, accomplishments, and various other key metrics.
The Power Players list is compiled through a peer-nomination process and finalized by the dedicated team at Billboard Canada.
To participate, find the submissions form here. A version is also available in French here. ? Richard Trapunski
?
Cancellation of CIMA?s Canada House at SXSW 2025 Due to Political and Economic Tensions
One of the most anticipated showcase opportunities for Canadian musicians at SXSW will not occur this year.
The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) has made the decision to cancel its Canada House event at the upcoming Austin music festival amid escalating political and economic tensions between Canada and the United States.
Andrew Cash, CIMA?s president and CEO, explains that this decision resulted from a combination of factors, primarily influenced by the deteriorating relationship between the two nations since Donald Trump began his second term as U.S. President.
This includes the impending 25% tariffs on Canadian goods set to take effect on March 12, coinciding with the SXSW festival dates from March 7-15, along with Trump?s persistent threats to annex Canada.
?The increasing instability in the United States right now, combined with the high costs of organizing events there and the fluctuating value of the Canadian dollar ? all of these factors together made it impossible for us to feel confident about participating in this environment,? Cash tells Billboard Canada.
?The timing is less than ideal,? he adds. ?We would be heading down right after the 30-day tariff pause ends. With a new Prime Minister expected in Canada following Justin Trudeau?s resignation, I felt uncomfortable exposing CIMA to such an unstable context.?
For over a decade, Canada House has been a vital platform for Canadian bands and artists to export their music at this prominent American music festival. The event, usually hosted at the Swan Dive music venue, provides vital networking and showcasing opportunities for Canadian musicians and entrepreneurs, attracting significant attention from local and international music industry members. CIMA had intended to host a one-day daytime music showcase on March 12.
CIMA informed its partners and invited artists about the cancellation on February 13, officially notifying them that the event would not take place this year.
Applications for the showcase opened last fall, and four Canadian and Indigenous acts had already been extended offers to participate in CIMA?s Canada House showcase, only to learn of the cancellation last week.
?We can?t predict the political climate going forward,? Cash adds. ?It seemed dissonant to host an event dubbed Canada House in Texas while the President of that country is openly discussing the possibility of annexing our nation. We opted to make the best decision with the information we could control in a situation filled with uncertainties.?
CIMA remains committed to offering Canadian bands opportunities at networking events with international music offices and export partners from Australia, England, New Zealand, and other regions. Although the Canada House showcase is paused for 2025, there are possibilities for its return in future years, depending on the geopolitical landscape.
In the interim, Cash indicates that CIMA will redirect its resources and investments toward other international markets and opportunities within Canada. This decision will not impact the organization?s other Canada House events at the German festival Reeperbahn, the British festival The Great Escape, or SXSW Australia.
Cash expresses hope for a swift resolution to the situation in the U.S., emphasizing that the country represents Canada?s largest export market ? not only for music but across various sectors of the economy.
?I believe everyone is aware that we are navigating unprecedented times,? Cash states. ?There is a collective sense of uncertainty regarding how to respond.?
For further details on the cancellation and its impact on the artists who were invited to perform, click here. ? Richard Trapunski
?
Kendrick Lamar?s ?Not Like Us? Achieves Historic No. 1 Spot in Canada Following Super Bowl Performance
Kendrick Lamar?s track ?Not Like Us? has soared to the No. 1 position on the Canadian charts this week ? marking its first time achieving this milestone.
Despite previously not reaching the top in Drake?s homeland as it did in the U.S. last year amid a highly publicized rap feud, this week Canadian listeners have propelled the polarizing single to a new peak on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 for the week ending February 22, 2025, following an electrifying Super Bowl halftime performance that attracted record viewership.
Leading up to the Super Bowl, there were uncertainties about Lamar’s legal ability to perform the track due to an ongoing lawsuit involving Drake and Universal Music Group, the label behind the song. However, Lamar not only performed the controversial track but also included lyrics that call out Drake and accuse him of predatory behavior, with Serena Williams, Drake?s ex-partner, dancing alongside him during the performance.
Following the success of ?Not Like Us? last year, Lamar surprised fans with a new album titled GNX, which currently sits at No. 2 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. Additionally, Lamar has made a significant impact on the Canadian Hot 100, with 11 of his tracks currently charting.
He also performed ?Luther,? a collaboration with SZA from that album, during the halftime show, with SZA joining him for the duet. Following the performance, ?Luther? experienced a surge in popularity, climbing from No. 18 to No. 2 on the Canadian Hot 100, while SZA?s 2017 album Ctrl made a comeback, re-entering the Canadian Albums chart at No. 91. Meanwhile, SZA?s SOS album fell from No. 2 to No. 3 behind GNX.
The two artists are set to embark on the Grand National tour this summer, with stops in Toronto on June 12 and 13. ? Rosie Long Decter
