Breaking Down Racial Barriers

02/04/2026

Black History Month didn’t begin as a celebration. It began as correction. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week because Black contributions were being erased from the historical record. February was chosen deliberately, tied to Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. The intent was visibility.

In Canada, Black History Month was officially recognized in 1995 because of the work of Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to Federal Parliament, who pushed the country to formally acknowledge Black presence, contribution and history. Canada’s relationship with Black and Black Canadian history has always lagged behind reality.

Fast forward and we watch proudly as Canadian hip hop royalty is LITERALLY stamped into Canadian history.

Chuck D once said, “Most of our heroes don’t appear on no stamp.” For years, that line rang true. Our heroes shaped culture without institutional recognition or official validation. This moment doesn’t rewrite history. It validates what we’ve ALWAYS known. The SYSTEM was late.

Seeing Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee, and Muzion honoured through a Canada Post stamp matters. Black Canadian culture is foundational to Canadian history. INSEPARABLE.

This moment can’t stop at celebration. Progress since 2020 is already being clawed back under economic pressure and so-called efficiency. The pattern is familiar. Systemically excluded groups, often the last to ENTER institutions, are the first to go. Equity that isn’t STRUCTURAL collapses when the numbers tighten.

So, a moment of thanks. Congratulations to Wes “Maestro” Williams, Maestro Fresh Wes, whose early dominance proved that a Black Canadian rapper could lead nationally without compromising his Blackness. To Michie Mee, who kicked doors open with skill and fearlessness for women in a male dominated space (and made me proud to be Jamaican). And to Muzion, who carried Montréal, language, politics, and Haitian diasporic identity into the centre. Thank you for the inspiration, the courage, and the permission you gave so many of us to imagine ourselves fully in this story.

Black Canadian History is Canadian History.

12/16/2025

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.

12/10/2025

Publishing and royalties sit at the centre of an artist’s financial life, and managers are responsible for protecting that foundation. Yesterday’s session guided the F.A.M.E. cohort through how rights are created, how income moves, and how managers prevent revenue from slipping away.

For the final F.A.M.E. Workshop, BDRB proudly welcomed Vivian Barclay, one of Canada’s most respected publishing executives. Vivian is the former Managing Director of Warner Chappell Music Canada, where she oversaw a global catalog and signed writers and producers including Patoranking, Raghav, Machel Montano, Begonia, Aliby, and Tom French. Her career spans radio, production, artist management, supervision, and publishing. She has served on the SOCAN board, contributed to licensing and deals committees at SOCAN and CMRRA, and remains a powerful community leader as Co-Founder and Board President of ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective. She also sits on the boards of Music Publishers Canada and Phemphat Entertainment Group, and has been recognized as a Billboard Women in Music executive and International Power Player. In 2025, she launched Hot House Songs, a boutique publishing company focused on supporting songwriters from Canada and the Caribbean.

The session covered copyright basics, the distinction between compositions and masters, and the rights tied to each. Vivian walked participants through performance, mechanical, and sync royalties, and explained how PROs license, track, collect, and distribute revenue.

The cohort also explored administration, co-publishing, and exclusive songwriter agreements. Vivian broke down splits, services, advances, and how managers decide which deal fits an artist’s stage and goals.

The class closed with practical steps: register works promptly, maintain clean metadata, monitor statements, clear assets for sync, and understand where revenue can leak. Vivian reminded the cohort that informed publishing oversight protects income, opportunity, and legacy.

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📍 F.A.M.E. (Foundations

12/10/2025

Publishing and royalties sit at the centre of an artist’s financial life, and managers are responsible for protecting that foundation. Yesterday’s session guided the F.A.M.E. cohort through how rights are created, how income moves, and how managers prevent revenue from slipping away.

For the final F.A.M.E. Workshop, BDRB proudly welcomed Vivian Barclay, one of Canada’s most respected publishing executives. Vivian is the former Managing Director of Warner Chappell Music Canada, where she oversaw a global catalog and signed writers and producers including Patoranking, Raghav, Machel Montano, Begonia, Aliby, and Tom French. Her career spans radio, production, artist management, supervision, and publishing. She has served on the SOCAN board, contributed to licensing and deals committees at SOCAN and CMRRA, and remains a powerful community leader as Co-Founder and Board President of ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective. She also sits on the boards of Music Publishers Canada and Phemphat Entertainment Group, and has been recognized as a Billboard Women in Music executive and International Power Player.

The session covered copyright basics, the distinction between compositions and masters, and the rights tied to each. Vivian walked participants through performance, mechanical, and sync royalties, and explained how PROs license, track, collect, and distribute revenue.

The cohort also explored administration, co-publishing, and exclusive songwriter agreements. Vivian broke down splits, services, advances, and how managers decide which deal fits an artist’s stage and goals.

The class closed with practical steps: register works promptly, maintain clean metadata, monitor statements, clear assets for sync, and understand where revenue can leak. Vivian reminded the cohort that informed publishing oversight protects income, opportunity, and legacy.

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

11/27/2025

11/24/2025

Merchandising is one of the most consistent and controllable revenue streams available to artists, and managers are the ones who turn that potential into real, sustainable income. It is brand, story, identity, economics, and audience connection working at the same time. Today’s session examines how managers design, plan, and execute merch with intention so it supports both artistic narrative and financial growth.

We are proud to welcome Alex Harbison, Production and Brand Strategy Director at Elevated Concepts. With more than a decade in product development, D2C strategy, Shopify management, touring merch, and eCommerce ex*****on, Alex brings the cohort the knowledge of an industry professional who has guided major artists and streetwear brands through campaigns that honour creative voice while meeting commercial goals.

Alex’s approach centres on turning artistic vision into product that resonates with fans and performs financially. He works closely with artist teams, marketing departments, and creative leads to build merchandise lines that feel authentic, align with audience preferences, and maintain business integrity.

The session explores how merch functions as both a revenue engine and a storytelling tool. Participants examine product selection, pricing, inventory planning, and the eCommerce pipeline from concept to fulfillment. Alex also outlines how managers strengthen sales at live shows through limited drops, bundles, strategic placement, and mindful staffing.

Examples from artists like Drake, The Weeknd, and Daniel Caesar show how merch can evolve into full lifestyle brands and long-term cultural assets. Alex closes by reminding the cohort that a manager who understands how to turn moments into merchandise can dramatically influence an artist’s independence, visibility, and financial stability.

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

11/19/2025

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 ex*****on. 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 walked participants through how managers define their goals, identify audiences, select the right platforms, and create content that lands. The session covered everything from building a content calendar to shaping a workflow with scheduling tools and approval systems. Participants dissected engagement data, learned how to interpret spikes and drops in growth, and compared 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 a set of templates the cohort 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

11/18/2025

Live performance remains one of the most powerful engines of career growth. Understanding how touring, booking, and live strategy intersect with artist development is essential for every manager stepping into the next stage of their career. Today’s session will give the F.A.M.E. cohort an inside look at how the live sector makes decisions, builds opportunity, and elevates the artists who are ready for it.

BDRB is pleased to welcome Tao-Ming Lau, Booking Agent at Paquin Artists Agency and Founder of Blue Crane Creative, a platform dedicated to uplifting women, artists of colour, and 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians across North America and beyond.

Tao’s roster includes some of the most compelling voices in contemporary music: Mustafa, Tanya Tagaq, Tegan and Sara, Ash, Wild Rivers, Priyanka, James Vincent McMorrow, Begonia, Kiesza, Tia Wood, TOBi, Billianne, Avenoir, Logan Staats, Ikky, and others. Through Blue Crane Creative, she has programmed Pride Toronto, and curated events for Nuit Blanche, the Royal Ontario Museum, TIFF, and other major cultural institutions.

Her leadership extends across the industry. She has served on the boards of the Polaris Music Prize and the Canadian Live Music Association, and was named a Rising Star in Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential Torontonians list in 2018. Her background includes work with Billions (Chicago), Universal Music Canada, and deep roots in Vancouver on the traditional and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

As a q***r woman of colour, Tao’s work centres on opening doors and building stronger infrastructure for underrepresented talent. Her session will highlight how managers can position artists for meaningful live opportunities, how relationships with agents evolve, and how development goals align with touring strategy.

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

11/13/2025

Managers often pour everything into building an artist’s profile and forget that their own brand carries equal weight. At our midpoint in the F.A.M.E. Program, today’s session shifts the lens back onto the cohort, focusing on the power of a manager’s identity, reputation, and public presence. The way a manager shows up shapes trust, opportunity, and access long before a contract is signed.

Subject Expert: Tia Upshaw, Founder and CEO of Blk Women in Excellence (BWIE), an award-winning entrepreneur whose work has reshaped how Black women and women of colour enter, navigate, and lead in business. Her approach to branding is rooted in clarity, purpose, and lived experience.

With more than ten years as a serial entrepreneur, Tia has built companies, developed training programs, and helped thousands of women strengthen their voice, define their value, and tell their story with intention. She is also a recognized speaker and media personality, known for her candid perspective and her recurring segment “Tuesdays with Tia” on CTV Morning Live.

Her leadership has been honoured with the NS Human Rights Commission’s Burnley “Rocky” Jones Award, Top 50 CEOs in Atlantic Canada, NSCC Entrepreneur of the Year, inclusion in the JA Business Hall of Fame: Legacy in the Making, and recognition among Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch. She also serves as Professional in Residence at Acadia University’s Launch Box.

In this session, Tia guides the cohort through how managers shape their own narrative: the story they tell, the impression they leave, and the consistency that builds credibility. Participants examine what their brand communicates today and what it needs to communicate for the level of rooms they intend to enter. A manager’s brand opens doors, protects their authority, and signals the standard at which they operate.

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

11/13/2025

Artist relationships look easy from the outside. In practice, managers carry the weight of trust, boundaries, conflict, strategy, and care, often at the same time. Our 7th session pushed the cohort past the basics and into the realities that come with managing artists through pressure, growth, burnout, and public missteps.

We were joined by the incredible Greg Morrison, Operations Manager at 21 Entertainment Group, a full-service management company that has guided major Canadian careers across music, touring, television, and brand partnerships. Greg brought grounded insight from years inside an operation that supports artists at scale, where relationships must survive high-stakes moments and constant change.

The session examined long-term trust, renegotiations, power dynamics, and the emotional labour managers often absorb without naming it. Participants looked closely at the moments that test a relationship: when success shifts expectations, when communication breaks down, when boundaries slip, or when the artist moves in a direction the team did not anticipate.

Greg walked the cohort through tools for preserving stability in those moments, including strategic transparency, documentation practices, relationship review meetings, and structured renegotiation. The class stepped into role-play scenarios based on real mid-career conflicts, practicing how to lead in situations where tension, urgency, or emotion threaten the partnership.

A reminder closed the session: managers support careers, not crises, and their own mental health matters. Leadership depends on clarity, boundaries, and the willingness to evaluate what a relationship is costing as well as what it is creating.

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

11/11/2025

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

11/06/2025

For emerging managers, access and visibility are everything. Conferences, festivals, and industry events aren’t just networking opportunities — they’re classrooms, incubators, and launchpads for meaningful relationships.

The F.A.M.E. cohort learned from David “Click” Cox, a respected figure whose work has shaped the Canadian music landscape from the inside out.

A member of the MMVA-winning and JUNO-nominated group The Maximum Definitive, David built his career through decades of innovation and leadership. His early work with REMG Promotions, BMG Music Canada, and later as an A&R at Universal Music Canada established him as a connector and builder of talent.

While at Universal, he founded the Stylus Awards, recognizing Canadian Hip-Hop, R&B, and the DJs who move the culture forward. Today, as founder of CLK Creative Works, he manages artists, consults, and produces film projects — continuing a lifelong mission to amplify Canadian Black music excellence.

David is also the co-founder of Breaking Down Racial Barriers (BDRB), a national initiative that sparked a historic conversation on anti-Black racism in the Canadian music industry. The BDRB Roundtables and Reports have become a catalyst for structural change, guiding organizations toward measurable, equitable action.

In this session, David shared strategies for navigating conferences and industry events with purpose — how to build relationships, identify opportunities, and turn access into advancement. His approach reminds participants that visibility without strategy is fleeting, but relationships built on intention create careers that last.

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