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Breaking Down Racial Barriers

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Catalyst for Nat'l 🇨🇦 dialogue on anti-Black racism in the Music&Creative Industries | Equity+Data Research | Programming ✍️BDRB Declaration+Reports

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BAGPIPES - M4TM
M FOR THE MOVEMENT
M FOR THE MUSIC
#M4TM

#bagpipes
#hphop
#latina

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Attending the Women in Music Summit 2026 is both inspiring and energizing.

As the founder of Boss Up Talent Inc., spaces like this are especially meaningful to me. Being surrounded by so many talented and accomplished women who are shaping the future of the music industry across management, creative, business, and leadership roles is a powerful reminder of how important it is to continue building community and opening doors for one another.

The conversations, insights, and shared experiences throughout the summit reinforce the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and representation in every part of the industry.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect, learn, and grow alongside so many phenomenal women who are making an impact. Experiences like this continue to fuel the work I do in supporting artists, building opportunities, and contributing to a more inclusive and empowering music ecosystem.

Looking forward to continuing the work and to seeing even more women lead, innovate, and thrive in music.

#WomenInMusic #scotianqueenbee #WomenSupportingWomen #MusicIndustry #BossUpTalent

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What a week in music. And culture. And revolution.

Last night on the biggest commercial stage in the world, Bad Bunny delivered a performance full of Puerto Rican imagery - Jíbaros, straw hats, rural labour references, plantation backdrops, and a performance mostly in Spanish. Jíbaros symbolize survival, land, autonomy, and resistance under colonial rule. Plantation imagery points directly to sugar economies, forced labour, and extraction that built wealth for others while hollowing out the island.

I LOVED the intentionality of it all. I saw a few “deport him” captions - ignorance too is slavery. Puerto Rico is an American territory (colony).

Bad Bunny reminded the world that Puerto Rico’s culture exists alongside, and in spite the U.S.

At the same time, Haiti - the first free Black republic and the first formerly enslaved people to successfully overthrow a colonial power and establish a nation (1804) - and one that all Black nations owe respect - came with the same revolutionary fire. Their Olympic uniforms told a quiet story. The IOC forced the removal of Toussaint Louverture as it represented a “political image”. Louverture represents the only successful slave revolt in modern history, Black self-determination, and the collapse of European supremacy myths. His absence reflects how institutions grow uncomfortable when Black history isn’t inspirational but disruptive.

Yet Haiti still showed up. Colours intact. Identity intact. Meaning intact. S/o to Ogou (the red (Trojan) horse) on some LL Cool J wearing FUBU in the Gap commercial type ish.

This week sat at the intersection of music, sport, fashion, and equity. Representation and access without context and narrative control is STILL erasure. Equity isn’t only about who gets ON the stage. It’s about what histories are allowed to come with them.

This week was a masterclass in symbolism. Like the cane row in Black enslaved women’s hair held maps to freedom, sometimes the symbols are speaking directly to those who know how to listen.

Entertainment didn’t just entertain this week. It didn’t just shut up & dribble either. Gil Scott Heron has never been so wrong & right at the same time. 🇭🇹🇵🇷

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Publishing remains one of the most powerful drivers of long-term revenue and protection for artists, yet it is often misunderstood. Yesterday’s session gave the F.A.M.E. cohort a clear understanding of how rights work, how royalties move, and how managers protect the systems that ensure creators are paid.

For our final full session, Breaking Down Racial Barriers was proud to welcome Vivian Barclay, one of the most accomplished and longest-serving Black music executives in Canadian history. As former Managing Director of Warner Chappell Music Canada, she oversaw a major global catalog and played a key role in signing talents like Patoranking, Machel Montano, producer Aliby, and the catalog of Garnett Silk. Her background spans radio and audio production, hosting and programming, artist and event management, music supervision, and publishing. She is the co-founder and President of ADVANCE, with additional board service at SOCAN, CMRRA, Music Publishers Canada, and Phemphat Entertainment Group. Billboard has recognized her as both a Women in Music executive and an International Power Player. In 2025, she launched Hot House Songs, a boutique publishing company focused on supporting songwriters from Canada and the Caribbean.

Vivian guided the cohort through the distinction between publishing and master rights, how copyright is created upon fixation, and how compositions and recordings generate income. She explained how writer and publisher shares work, how ownership is retained or assigned through co-publishing or administration deals, and why audits, accurate registrations, and clean metadata remain essential to royalty collection.

The session also covered major royalty types, the role of PROs, sampling and clearance, and how sync opportunities grow when rights are well organized. Vivian closed by reminding the cohort that publishing is the financial engine of a creator’s career, and managers who understand these systems protect both revenue and legacy.

#BDRB #FAMEProgram #BlackMusicManagers #MusicPublishing #Royalties #Copyright #VivianBarclay #CulturalExcellence

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Tonight’s Unison Holiday Schmoozefest was such a vibe — the perfect mix of good energy, great conversations, and real networking.
Loved reconnecting with my F.A.M.E (Foundations & Acceleration for Management Excellence) – BDRB cohorts. It’s always inspiring to be in a room with people who understand the vision, move with intention, and push the culture forward.
A beautiful night of community, connection, and like-minded creatives coming together. ✨🖤

#Unison #HolidaySchmoozefest #BDRB #MusicIndustry #WomenInMusic #BossUpTalent #Networking #TorontoMusicScene #scotianqueenbee

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Streaming may look simple on the surface, but behind every play sits a network of platforms, algorithms, pitching systems, data signals, and strategic decisions that shape whether an artist grows or disappears. Today’s session breaks open that ecosystem for the cohort, focusing on how managers read data, build momentum, and understand how DSPs function from the inside.

We are proud to welcome Kingsley Tabi, Associate Director of Label Analytics at RCA Records in Los Angeles. Kingsley transforms streaming data into strategy, offering a rare view into how major labels evaluate performance and make decisions that affect artist development and commercial outcomes.

With more than eight years inside the Sony Music system, Kingsley has become a trusted voice in DSP performance analysis, playlist strategy, and audience intelligence. Since relocating from Toronto to Los Angeles, he has contributed to the analysis of campaigns for Tate McRae, Doja Cat, and other breakout artists across RCA’s roster. His work translates complex platform data into clear recommendations for marketing, digital, and A&R teams.

Before joining RCA, Kingsley spent eight years at Sony Music Canada, moving from Data Analyst to Manager of Analytics and Insights. His expertise spans chart analysis, forecasting, Python, SQL, Excel, and advanced visualization tools, but it is his ability to apply data to real industry outcomes that marks his impact. His insights continue to shape major release strategies across multiple territories and genres.

In this session, participants receive a full breakdown of how DSPs operate, how distribution works, and what managers must track to push their artists forward. The cohort examines distributor choices, release workflows, playlist ecosystems, editorial submissions, third-party pitching, algorithm triggers, and monthly metrics every manager should monitor. Kingsley underscores how managers turn raw numbers into informed action, and how data awareness directly influences visibility, playlist traction, and sustained career growth.

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Social media shapes visibility, credibility, and opportunity. For managers, it is no longer an optional skill. It is a core part of how careers are built, how audiences are nurtured, and how strategy meets execution. This session gave the cohort a practical, behind-the-scenes look at how to plan, create, measure, and optimize content in ways that reflect the role of a modern manager.

F.A.M.E. is proud to be joined by Seny K, a multi-hyphenate marketer whose work spans both recorded and live music. Since entering the industry in 2020, Seny has led digital advertising and marketing campaigns for Warner Music Group and other major players, handling projects for Kehlani, Megan Thee Stallion, Burna Boy, Benson Boone, Omah Lay, and several chart-topping releases in the US and globally.

Seny will walk participants through how managers define their goals, identify audiences, select the right platforms, and create content that lands. The session will cover everything from building a content calendar to shaping a workflow with scheduling tools and approval systems. Participants will dissect engagement data, learn how to interpret spikes and drops in growth, and how to compare their metrics to competitors and benchmarks.

This session focuses on social media best practices, UGC, influencers and strategic collaboration, with a clear breakdown of how managers can attract attention from the right voices, evaluate partnership types, and use analytics platforms to find and connect with creators whose audiences match their goals.

The cohort will work through pixel advertising and targeting, learning how campaigns are measured, optimized, and scaled, social media strategies and receive templates which they can begin using immediately.

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📍 F.A.M.E. (Foundations and Acceleration for Management Excellence)
Rooted in Culture. Driven by Excellence.
🔗 www.bdrb.ca/fame

#BDRB #FAMEProgram #BlackMusicManagers #MusicManagement #DigitalStrategy #SocialMediaMarketing #ArtistDevelopment #CanadianMusic #SenyKassaye #MarketingForManagers #EquityInMusic #CulturalExcellence

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In this business, communication is everything. It shapes how managers earn trust, build influence, and sustain meaningful relationships. Whether with artists, partners, or peers, every connection can change the course of a career.

For Session 7 of F.A.M.E., we were blessed to be joined by Sandy Pandya, Founder and CEO of ArtHaus Media Inc., and one of Canada’s most respected artist managers and executives. With over 25 years in the music industry, Sandy has guided the careers of major artists, built cross-sector partnerships, and remained a steadfast advocate for creative integrity and equity.

Through ArtHaus Media, which integrates management, label, publishing, and nonprofit initiatives, Sandy helps nurture the next generation of artists and cultural leaders. The company supports creative development for emerging talent, including those from racialized and systemically excluded communities, creating space where art and access meet.

Her session explored how communication and relationship-building form the backbone of effective management. Sandy encouraged participants to develop authentic, values-driven connections that last, to protect their energy, and to move strategically through rooms that recognize their value.

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📍 F.A.M.E. (Foundations & Acceleration for Management Excellence)
Rooted in Culture. Driven by Excellence.
🔗 www.bdrb.ca/fame

#BDRB #FAMEProgram #BlackMusicManagers #MusicManagement #ArtistDevelopment #CanadianMusic #SandyPandya #ArtHausMedia #EquityInMusic #BreakingDownRacialBarriers #CulturalExcellence

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*10.14.2025 | F.A.M.E.‘s 1st subject matter expert Jermayne Clayton, brings years of leadership & proven success across management, production and A&R - embodying what excellence in artist support truly looks like. He’s a true power player wearing hats in many of the spaces that make decisions that shape the industry.
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Jermayne builds music industry infrastructure that serves artists, not extracts from them. As President of Awesome Productions & Management Inc. and Principal/Head of A&R at Sincerely Yours, Clayton operates companies at opposite ends of the artist development spectrum-proving that management and label services can coexist without conflict when structured correctly.

His Awesome Productions roster includes Polaris Prize-shortlisted artist DijahSB, JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter & producer Dylan Sinclair & multi-platinum producers Jordon Manswell, Bryan Allen, & AkaMatisse. At Sincerely Yours, he engineered breakthrough campaigns like artist-producer 646yf4t’s 2,435% growth in three months - from Toronto artist to Spotify’s Pollen, R&B Weekly & Vanguard playlists, culminating in a Times Square billboard.

His influence extends through industry leadership roles as Vice-Chair of Music Managers Forum Canada & Board Member of FACTOR Canada, which channels $24 million annually into Canadian music development. His work centers a singular thesis: the future belongs to partnerships that build with artists and their communities, not on them.

Kicking off the F.A.M.E. program, we begin with a deep dive into one of the most essential positions in the music industry — The Role of the Manager.

From strategy and structure to advocacy and accountability, this session explores how great management shapes careers, builds sustainable infrastructure, and keeps artists at the center of every decision.

📍 F.A.M.E. (Foundations & Acceleration for Management Excellence)
Rooted in Culture. Driven by Excellence.
🔗 www.bdrb.ca

#BDRB #FAMEProgram #BlackMusicManagers #MusicManagement #ArtistDevelopment #CanadianMusic #EquityInMusic #JermayneClayton #AwesomeProductions #SincerelyYours #BreakingDownRacialBarriers #FACTORCanada #OntarioCreates #MMFCanada #CIMA #BDRB

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Facilitated by iconic Canadian music manager Katrina Lopes, F.A.M.E. is rooted in culture and driven by excellence - redefining what leadership in music looks like for next generation Black Canadian managers.

Katrina Lopes is the President of KL Management, where she has guided her clients to national and international success, earning JUNO Awards, MMVA Video of the Year, SOCAN #1 Awards, SOCAN Pop Song of the Year, and multiple platinum and gold certifications.

Her roster has toured with Backstreet Boys and Selena Gomez, opened for John Legend, Nas, SWV, Van Hunt, Anderson .Paak, and Drake, performed alongside Sir Elton John, and been shortlisted for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. Her clients have appeared on leading festival stages including SXSW, A3C, Manifesto, Pride, Luminato, CMW, NXNE, and POP Montréal, with sync placements across Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, CityTV, and CBC.

Recognizing persistent inequities within an industry built on Black creativity, Katrina — an African Nova Scotian — founded Maidie Music House, the first full-scale artist development company in Nova Scotia created by and for Black talent. Named after her grandmother, Maidie Music House is dedicated to nurturing excellence, community, and legacy within Black music culture.

Katrina also contributes to the broader music ecosystem through board service with Manifesto and Music Nova Scotia, and through mentorship with Femme It Forward, shesaid.so, Diverse Voices, and the Black Artist Mentorship Program (Music PEI). She teaches music industry education with F-You: The Forgiveness Project, supporting young men in custody.

Her leadership and advocacy have earned recognition on the Alternative Power 100 Music List, the ANSMA Industry Development Award, and the Women in Music Career Achievement Honours.

🔗 klmanagement.co
📍 @katrina_lopes

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Welcome to F.A.M.E. | Foundations & Acceleration for Management Excellence

A BLACK MUSIC MANAGERS PROGRAM CREATED FOR AND BY BLACK MUSIC PROFESSIONALS.

Created, developed and executed by Breaking Down Racial Barriers, with financial support from Ontario Creates, FACTOR, and the Government of Canada, and with program support from Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI).

With a curriculum developed by music industry mainstay, A&R & manager David “Click” Cox & facilitated by iconic artist manager Katrina Lopes, F.A.M.E. will develop the next generation of Black Canadian music artist managers.

“F.A.M.E. was developed from the ground up with a detailed curriculum specifically curated to the needs of Black music artist managers from the perspective of Black music industry professionals who have successfully navigated the industry”, said Ian Andre Espinet, BDRB Co-Founder.

Apply now at www.bdrb.ca/fame

#BreakingDownRacialBarriers #equity #BDRBFame #BlackMusicManagers #CMI #OntarioCreates #Factor #BDRB

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