Welcome to Departure Festival & Conference and Radiodays North America - two platforms united by a shared belief in the power of music, media, and storytelling to shape culture. This week, we bring together artists, executives, broadcasters, creators, and innovators from across the global music and audio landscape - not just to reflect on where […]
At last fall’s CRTC hearing on Canadian Content – The Path Forward, broadcasters and music industry groups called for urgent updates to the regulatory framework. Issues included Cancon definitions and quotas, regulation of online streamers, declining local radio news, revenue pressures, funding for Canadian and Indigenous content, and ownership limits. This panel revisits these issues […]
Leading social creators, talent agents, and talent development executives come together to unpack how the creator economy has evolved into a fully functioning entertainment and business ecosystem. Today’s creators are building multi-platform companies, driving global cultural moments, and shaping how audiences discover and engage with content. From major brand partnerships and appearances in established film […]
As headlines from Washington increasingly intersect with decisions in Canada's music boardrooms and recording studios, understanding that connection has never mattered more for our industry. In this fireside chat, Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO of RIAA, joins Patrick Rogers, CEO of Music Canada, to unpack how U.S. trade priorities, digital rules and debates are reshaping […]
Hollywood Jade—fresh off his win on The Traitors Canada—joins forces with breakout pop artist Rêve for a candid fireside conversation on what it really takes to break through in today’s culture. Together, they’ll unpack the discipline, strategy, and creative risk behind building a modern pop career—where performance, choreography, and identity must cut across stages, screens, […]
BBC Radio 6 Music is one of the UK’s most distinctive music brands - a home for listeners who value discovery, depth and genuine musical passion. Built on trust, taste and cultural credibility, it proves that curator-led music radio can still thrive at scale. In this session, Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, […]
Amber Grimes has built her career at the intersection of music, strategy, and culture. From leading Artist & Label Partnerships at Spotify to serving as EVP & GM of LVRN (Love Renaissance) - the Atlanta based label behind artists including 6LACK, Summer Walker, DVSN, Sadboi and more, Amber now oversees one of the most influential […]
As independent music continues to expand globally, artists and labels are redefining what growth requires. The most resilient indie models focus on partnership rather than control, providing access to capital, technology, and infrastructure without sacrificing independence. This panel examines how these approaches are reshaping the indie landscape, challenging traditional power structures, and enabling long-term value […]
In this age of all-caps opinions passing for political discourse, we’ll hear from the frontlines… hosts who are successfully making programs that privilege facts and build audiences, whether it’s on radio or in a podcast. You’ll hear how to choose the right topics and guests, how to structure a debate versus a conversation, making things […]
Radio and podcasting aren't competitors - they're the ultimate combination. In this session, Tom Webster will share new research on how radio delivers unmatched reach and frequency while podcasting delivers something radio can't: deep attention and parasocial trust. Together, they form an audio advertising strategy that no other medium can match. You'll learn why the […]
Join us as we kick off our first day at the Bluma Appel Theatre as part of Departure Festival & Conference, welcoming a global community of artists, creators, executives, and innovators for a day of ideas, connection, and culture. As the festival continues, this moment marks a shift into the heart of Departure’s programming. Today […]
Advertising dollars are the clearest signal of where media power is shifting. In this keynote and executive conversation, WPP Media CEO Kevin Johnson unpacks how global brands are allocating billions across traditional broadcast, streaming platforms, podcasting, and emerging digital ecosystems in 2026. What’s working? What’s measurable? What’s overvalued? And where is audio — from terrestrial […]
