What to know<\/p>\n
Vinny Cinquemani and Riley O\u2019Connor are inducted into Billboard Canada\u2019s Hall of Fame for decades of industry impact.<\/p>\n
Cinquemani helped launch the careers of major artists like Michael Bubl\u00e9 and Bryan Adams, while O\u2019Connor transformed Toronto into a global live music hub.<\/p>\n
Both legends emphasize the global potential of Canadian talent and the importance of supporting emerging artists.<\/p>\n
Their work has helped shape the Canadian music industry into a thriving, internationally recognized scene.<\/p>\n
Billboard Canada\u2019s Power Players list is out. Here\u2019s a look at some of the major contributors in Canada\u2019s music industry.<\/p>\n
Music venue Rebel Toronto hosted the Billboard Canada event to celebrate the impactful and influential executives in Canadian music. Legends Vinny Cinquemani and Riley O\u2019Connor are inducted into Billboard Canada\u2019s Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
Now Toronto talked with both legends about their experience in Canadian music and what this honour means to them.<\/p>\n
Who are these legends?<\/p>\n
Vinny Cinquemani, Co-President of Paquin Artists Agency, a leading music agency, has shaped Canadian touring since the 1970s. Cinquemani has discovered major artists like Michael Bubl\u00e9 and Bryan Adams.<\/p>\n
Riley O\u2019Connor is the Chairman of Live Nation Canada, and is known as a live music titan who\u2019s helped transform Toronto into one of the most profitable live music markets on the continent over the last five decades. He\u2019s brought to the stage Elton John and Rush, among many more.<\/p>\n
Their thoughts on the live music industry<\/p>\n
With around 40 years of industry experience, Cinquemani heard artists from all over Canada who he wanted to amplify worldwide.<\/p>\n
\u201cI listened to the music and started signing Canadian artists one at a time during the wild frontier days. I knew then that the Canadian artists, their music, just who they were, could compete worldwide,\u201d he told Now Toronto.<\/p>\n
He specifies that it\u2019s not local to Toronto, Halifax, or Vancouver, or any specific city; it\u2019s Canadian talent as a whole.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese were artists whose music should be heard all over the world. So I knew within the first year that this was a special player\u2019s place, and the music needed to be heard worldwide. So, I committed myself, and here we are today,\u201d Cinquemani said.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Connor believes Toronto has been a top market in North America for the last 25 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat has changed, though, is the incredible diversification of music and the genres of music that are able to go out here and fill stadiums,\u201d he told Now Toronto. \u201cWhen you can do 25 nights in stadiums in Toronto, no other city in North America can claim that territory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Feelings on being inducted into Billboard Canada\u2019s Hall of Fame?<\/p>\n
For Cinquemani, who\u2019s spent his career helping others take the spotlight, it feels surreal to be given his flowers in this way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am humbled and honoured to be inducted into the Billboard Hall of Fame, but even more, being inducted with Riley O\u2019Connor, who is one of my friends and promoters that I\u2019ve worked with for 45 years,\u201d he told Now Toronto.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, O\u2019Connor expresses general gratitude for still being part of the industry at his age.<\/p>\n
\u201cI made the joke about still being employed at 75,\u201d he joked. \u201cBut I think it\u2019s just about making sure that we create an ecosystem for our Canadian artists, so that they can always go out there and earn a living.\u201d<\/p>\n
Which venues and artists should you check out in Toronto?<\/p>\n
Cinquemani\u2019s so in love with Toronto\u2019s music scene that he can\u2019t choose just one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s really hard to say. I love Massey Hall, I love Scotiabank, I love the RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, and I love all the clubs. Everything from the Horseshoe Tavern to Rebel,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But Cinquemani recommends checking out Mico\u2019s music, calling him an impressive emerging artist.<\/p>\n