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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Departure
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T091500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T093000
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260407T232320Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T232320Z
UID:10000090-1777972500-1777973400@departureto.com
SUMMARY:Welcome Session / Opening Remarks
DESCRIPTION: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. \nThis week\, we bring together artists\, executives\, broadcasters\, creators\, and innovators from across the global music and audio landscape – not just to reflect on where our industries are\, but to actively define where they’re going. \nFrom the stages of Departure to the conversations driving Radiodays North America\, this is a space built for connection\, discovery\, and momentum. A place where ideas turn into partnerships\, and where the future of music\, radio\, and audio is not just discussed but created. \nWe’re proud to welcome you to Toronto\, and even prouder to build this moment together.
URL:https://departureto.com/event/welcome-session-opening-remarks/
LOCATION:Imperial Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Departure,Radiodays North America
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T104500
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260327T172740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T170633Z
UID:10000001-1777975200-1777977900@departureto.com
SUMMARY:Music\, Radio & Regulation – An Open Discussion
DESCRIPTION: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 in an open discussion as the industry awaits the CRTC’s forthcoming decision.
URL:https://departureto.com/event/music-radio-regulation-an-open-discussion/
LOCATION:Imperial Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Departure,Radiodays North America
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T104500
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260330T174746Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T170544Z
UID:10000004-1777975200-1777977900@departureto.com
SUMMARY:The Art and Science of Growing Your Podcast
DESCRIPTION:You make a great podcast…. now you just need people to hear it. How do you engage the audience\, spread the word and figure out if it’s resonating? Even if you don’t have a million bucks\, there are still tips\, tricks\, tools and strategies you can use. We bring together some of the big names and big brains in audience growth to give away all their secrets.
URL:https://departureto.com/event/the-art-and-science-of-growing-your-podcast/
LOCATION:Tudor Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Radiodays North America
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T111500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T120000
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260407T140708Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T170747Z
UID:10000060-1777979700-1777982400@departureto.com
SUMMARY:Tweets\, Tariffs\, and Tracks: The Canada-U.S. Relationship and What It Means for Music
DESCRIPTION: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 the policy and business environment for music on both sides of the border. Expect sharp insights on streaming policy\, the latest on AI policy developments\, and a discussion on the next wave of cross-border moves that will influence how artists and companies plan\, invest\, and build sustainable careers in music.
URL:https://departureto.com/event/tweets-tariffs-and-tracks-the-canada-u-s-relationship-and-what-it-means-for-music/
LOCATION:Imperial Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Departure,Radiodays North America
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T111500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T120000
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260409T180609Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T180627Z
UID:10000116-1777979700-1777982400@departureto.com
SUMMARY:USA First: The Future of Radio Imaging
DESCRIPTION:In radio\, every second counts. The moment something sounds off\, listeners are gone and so is your profit. For decades\, stations accepted something strange as normal: moments where the sound of the station and the music don’t quite align. In this session\, PURE Jingles unveils a USA-first innovation in sonic branding that rethinks how stations connect their brand to the music they play. A breakthrough designed to make radio sound more seamless\, more natural and more powerful than ever before. \nTogether with Staxx Williams\, Creative Services Director at iHeartMedia\, we’ll explore how Z100 is pushing the boundaries of what modern radio imaging can be when creativity and technology truly meet. \nWe won’t just talk about it. You’ll hear it.
URL:https://departureto.com/event/usa-first-the-future-of-radio-imaging/
LOCATION:Tudor Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Radiodays North America
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://departureto.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/RDNA_Lockups-01.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T134500
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260330T155849Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T170942Z
UID:10000003-1777986000-1777988700@departureto.com
SUMMARY:BBC Radio 6 Music: Why Curated Music Radio Can Still Win
DESCRIPTION: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\, shares how the station champions new artists\, celebrates music culture across genres\, and builds a strong connection with its passionate audience of music lovers. She’ll explore the thinking behind 6 Music’s editorial choices and why strong curation\, authenticity and point of view remain powerful differentiators in today’s music and radio landscape. Expect a thoughtful look at what happens when taste\, trust and strategy align and why “curated” doesn’t have to mean niche.
URL:https://departureto.com/event/bbc-radio-6-music-why-curated-music-radio-can-still-win/
LOCATION:Imperial Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Departure,Radiodays North America
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T135500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T144000
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260330T220020Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T153351Z
UID:10000017-1777989300-1777992000@departureto.com
SUMMARY:The Morning Shift
DESCRIPTION:Morning shows remain radio’s most important relationship… but what does a great one need in 2026? This session takes a clear-eyed look at how successful morning shows are built today: what audiences want more (and less) of\, the demands on hosts and producers\, and how ideas move from planning to on-air. It’s a practical snapshot of the people and production-thinking that sits behind the morning shows that feel relevant\, human and worth waking up for!
URL:https://departureto.com/event/the-morning-shift/
LOCATION:Tudor Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Radiodays North America
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T144500
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260330T175254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T160200Z
UID:10000007-1777989600-1777992300@departureto.com
SUMMARY:If You Knew Better: From Label Executive to Podcast Powerhouse - An Executive Keynote Conversation with Amber Grimes
DESCRIPTION:Amber Grimes has built her career at the intersection of music\, strategy\, and culture. \nFrom 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 independent labels operating under the Capitol Music Group system. \nIn this keynote conversation\, co-presented by RDNA and Departure and moderated by iHeartRadio\, Amber will reflect on her journey from streaming executive to label leader – and how she’s expanding her influence beyond recorded music. With the launch of her new iHeartRadio podcast through The Black Effect network\, If You Knew Better\, alongside her growing book club and community platform\, Amber is building a brand that bridges music\, media\, and mentorship. \nThis conversation explores scaling independent culture within major systems\, developing artists in the streaming era\, and leveraging podcasting and audio to build lasting platforms beyond the label model.
URL:https://departureto.com/event/if-you-knew-better-from-label-executive-to-podcast-powerhouse-an-executive-keynote-conversation-with-amber-grimes/
LOCATION:Imperial Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Departure,Radiodays North America
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T151500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T160000
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260330T215318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T153941Z
UID:10000008-1777994100-1777996800@departureto.com
SUMMARY:Worried About AI? Your Best Friend is AI
DESCRIPTION:In a world where it seems that lies travel a hundred times faster than the truth\, where can AI give us a creative assist? We hear about the fears and dangers but are there ways AI can help us in spreading the truth so we can win audiences in this new attention economy?
URL:https://departureto.com/event/worried-about-ai-your-best-friend-is-ai/
LOCATION:Tudor Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Radiodays North America
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T161500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T170000
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260330T174852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T150651Z
UID:10000005-1777997700-1778000400@departureto.com
SUMMARY:Being a Host in 2026
DESCRIPTION:What does the job of a radio host really look like today? This session brings together a panel of leading radio presenters from different formats and stages of their careers for an open conversation about being on air in 2026. It’s an honest look at how the role has evolved\, what audiences want more and less of\, and where presenters now make the biggest impact. From authenticity and connection to life beyond the microphone\, this discussion offers real insight into what it takes to stay relevant\, credible and human as a modern radio presenter.
URL:https://departureto.com/event/being-a-host-in-2026/
LOCATION:Tudor Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Radiodays North America
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T161500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T170000
DTSTAMP:20260412T091758
CREATED:20260330T215038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T171255Z
UID:10000009-1777997700-1778000400@departureto.com
SUMMARY:Trust Issues: Navigating a New Era of Populism
DESCRIPTION: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 dynamic but still civil…and whether it’s still possible to “disagree agreeably.” 
URL:https://departureto.com/event/trust-issues-navigating-a-new-era-of-populism/
LOCATION:Imperial Room (Fairmont Royal York)\, 100 Front St W\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 1E3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Conference,Departure,Radiodays North America
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://departureto.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/RDNA_Lockups-01.png
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