NXNE celebrates its 30th anniversary from June 11–15, 2025, in Toronto, supported by a powerhouse Board of Advisors comprising music industry leaders from Canada and beyond. This team includes top executives in radio, artist management, booking agents, award show heads, and media strategists, all guiding NXNE’s growth and legacy of discovering major artists before they break globally.
NXNE President & CEO Michael Hollett emphasizes the festival’s commitment to evolving through learning and industry collaboration. The new strategic partnership with Billboard Canada will further strengthen NXNE’s global ties, featuring Billboard Canada Power Players and Managers to Watch.
Notable advisors include:
- Panos A. Panay, President of the Recording Academy (Grammys), known for innovation in music technology and artist promotion.
- Michelle Mearns, Senior VP at SiriusXM Canada, with a 20+ year career in music programming and marketing.
- Tom Kemp, President of The Feldman Agency, representing top Canadian and international artists.
- Sarah Cummings, Director of Radio Content for Bell Media’s iHeartRadio & Orbyt, a veteran of Ontario radio and audio strategy.
- Vinny Cinquemani, Co-President of Paquin Artists Agency, a legendary Canadian booking agent.
- Dr. Charlie Wall-Andrews, Executive Director of SOCAN Foundation, dedicated to equity and innovation in music.
- Paddy Harrington, Founder of Frontier Design, expert storyteller and filmmaker.
- Ralph Singh, Senior Director of Film & TV Music Placement at Universal Music Canada Publishing.
- Billy Eff, Head of Content at Rolling Stone Canada, advocate for emerging talent.
- Sonali Singh, CEO of Ripple Effect Studios, manager of Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh.
- Vahishtai Ghosh, Project Manager at AMG and Billboard Canada, focused on inclusion and equity in music.
Each advisor brings unique expertise and passion, reinforcing NXNE’s enduring influence and vibrant future.
