Canadian Music Week is pleased to welcome the following industry members to the CMW 2016 Co-Chair Committee:
CO-CHAIR COMMITTEE
Susan De Cartier, President, Starfish Entertainment
Susan de Cartier has been managing artists and developing talent since 1990.
Throughout our history, Starfish has been directly involved in the creation and release of more than 45 albums and our clients include Blue Rodeo, The Sadies, Oh Susanna, Skydiggers and The Jim Cuddy Band. Starfish also runs and operates The Woodshed Recording Studio.
Rob Farina, VP Content/Programming, Rogers Broadcasting
An accomplished and creative broadcast and digital media executive who delivers organizational competitiveness and profitability by creating new revenue platforms, delivering strong consumer engagement channels, and driving innovation.
Rob Farina is VP Content for Rogers Media’s radio division. Prior to joining Rogers Rob Co-Founding and served as COO of Black Box, a Los Angeles based music consultancy led by Music Industry veteran Livia Tortella. Black Box works closely with artists to develop their careers and create opportunities in the new music economy. Rob continues to support Black Box’s media strategies for clients, dividing his time between Canada and US.
Prior to Black Box, Rob served as EVP Content & Platforms at Astral Media where he was responsible for all programming, digital operations, marketing and promotions. Rob also oversaw the operations of Orbyt Media, Canada’s largest syndicator of radio programming, services and digital content.
Rob was Vice President of Programming for CHUM Radio. He was responsible for the division’s national programming initiatives, license acquisitions, the creation of innovative new content and format platforms and for CHUM’s commitment to fostering new Canadian artists.
Rob has also acted in the past as Executive Producer of a variety of syndicated national shows including the Award-winning series Music Online with Marilyn Denis. Prior to joining Astral Media Inc., Rob was Vice President of Programming for CHUM Radio and has programmed radio stations in Toronto, Winnipeg and Ottawa for Rogers Communications.
Rob Farina has also served on the boards of the MAC VIVA GLAM Fashion Cares Event, Radio Starmaker Fund, FACTOR and CARAS. One of the country’s most recognized programmers, Rob has been honoured as the Canadian Music Industry’s Program Director of the Year in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2007. He has also been recognized by the International Broadcast Association, CMW, and the New York Festivals World Medal for his creative work.
Adam Gill, President, Embrace
Adam Gill founded Embrace in 2001 while at University in Montreal by organizing parties. Since then Embrace has grown to become one North America’s leading independent live entertainment companies, producing more than 600 shows per year. Based in Toronto, Embrace owns and operates 5 venues including Toronto’s iconic Danforth Music Hall. Festivals and tours produced by Embrace include Mad Decent Block Party, Bestival, TIME Festival, Skrillex’s Full Flex Express, Electric Island, and more. Embrace also acts a marketing and sponsorship agency for brands including Red Bull, TD Bank, iHome, Wrigley and more. Through 2+2, Embrace’s artist management company, Adam represents some of today’s hottest artists including Zeds Dead, Keys N Krates, Grandtheft and more.
Erik Hoffman, SVP Talent, Live Nation Canada
Erik J. Hoffman, Live Nation Canada’s Senior Vice-President of Talent, started in the Canadian music business at the ripe age of 16. From his early days as a live sound engineer and tour manager for a variety of Canadian artists, Erik has always had keen interest in developing careers. After moving on from his independent concert company (PRS Concerts) in Ottawa, he joined House of Blues Concerts in 2004 (now Live Nation) to book the legendary Commodore Ballroom. These days Erik produces tours for some of the biggest and most critically acclaimed acts on the planet. The Black Keys, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons, Jack White, and Muse …. just to name a few. Erik works out of Live Nation’s Vancouver office, overseeing the national promoter team, and is the booker / co-producer of the Squamish Valley Music Festival, Contact Music Festival, FVDED in the Park, and Field Trip Arts & Music Festival. In addition to this, Erik sits on both the CARAS and MUSICOUNTS Board of Directors.
Steve Parsons, Operations Manager, Newcap Toronto
As Operations Manager, Newcap Toronto and National Director of Programming, Newcap Radio, Steve is responsible for all manner of programming as it relates to boom 97.3 and Flow 93.5 specifically in Toronto and Newcap Radio in general.
Steve is a 24 year radio veteran having worked behind the mic and, for the past 21 years, in programming management. Steve’s interest in radio was sparked at the University of British Columbia while volunteering at the campus radio station, CiTR. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree at UBC, Steve received his Broadcast Radio Diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).
Currently based in Toronto, Steve has worked across Canada in both small (Trail, BC – KBS), medium (Winnipeg – Power 97) and large (Toronto – boom 97.3/Flow 93-5, Vancouver – Rock 101 & Hamilton Country 95.3 & Y108) radio markets and as National Content Manager for Astral Radio giving him exceptional insight from coast to coast.
He currently also sits as a Program Advisor for Humber College, Board Member of FACTOR and Board Member of the Radio Starmaker Fund.
Steve is a married father of two, an avid golfer and die hard Vancouver Canucks fan.
Gary Schwartz, Author & CEO, Impact Mobile Inc.
Gary Schwartz founded Impact Mobile in 2002 having worked in the IT and telecommunications industry for over 20 years. Gary developed programming for the first satellite networks in Japan with Asahi and Dentsu broadcast and media divisions. Over the past six years, Gary has played a leadership role in the mobile industry, running the first cross-carrier short code campaign in North America, and founding the CWTA Mobile Content Committee to establish policies and increase awareness to promote standards and adoption.
Gary is the founder and co-chair of the Mobile Marketing Committee for The US Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and is a director on the board of the Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF).
Gary is an honors graduate from Columbia University and the Stanford University Center in Tokyo. He is the recipient of the Macromedia People Choice Award as well as the Dodge Foundation award for innovation.
Impact Mobile has been an industry leader in North America promoting Mobile as a media channel. Impact Mobile provides carriers, global agencies and brands managed and self-service marketing platforms for any aspect of their mobile marketing needs. In addition to connecting through national carriers to all mobile subscribers, Impact Mobile activates mobile inventory and helps drive consumers to high-ROI destinations such as retail point of sale, live event gate, lead generation engine, etc.
Taylor Jukes
As a creative young Radio Programmer and Personality who loves to work with talent, Taylor is currently the Program Director of 99.9 Virgin Radio Toronto for Bell Media. Taylor recently moved from Newcap Vancouver where she managed the Alternative Rock station Shore 104, and launched the new LG 104.3. Prior to that, she was Assistant Program Director of the successful Virgin Radio Vancouver. Starting in the industry at a young age, she has gained over 15 years experience on-air, in music and in promotions at stations like 99.9 Sun FM Kelowna and 91.7 The Bounce Edmonton. She has a Broadcast Diploma from Columbia Academy in Vancouver and continues to enjoy mentoring up-and-coming on-air talent, attending live shows and travelling.
Rob Zifarelli, Sr. VP, United Talent Agency
A music industry executive veteran for more than 20 years, Zifarelli has been with UTA/The Agency Group for over a decade. During that time he has helped to develop and build the domestic and international touring careers for acclaimed artists such as City and Colour, Feist, Broken Social Scene, Bahamas, Stars, K-OS, Dan Mangan, Dinosaur Jr, Bombay Bicycle Club, Hawksley Workman, James Vincent McMorrow, and many more.
Zifarelli is one of the country’s leading international booking agents representing an extensive roster and sharing his clients with colleagues in London, New York, Nashville, Los Angeles and Malmo. He personally books North and South America, Japan, Southeast Asia and Australia, where he proudly represents some of that countries most acclaimed artists including Vance Joy, Xavier Rudd, The Cat Empire, The Jezabels, Boy & Bear, The Paper Kites, Airbourne, Holy Holy, Violent Soho, and Washington.
Pegi Cecconi
Pegi Cecconi is V.P. of SRO/Anthem (home of the Original 360 Deal), one of Canada’s leading full service entertainment firms, located in Toronto.
Active in the international and national market for over 30 years, Ms. Cecconi draws upon diverse knowledge and experience in the music industry acquired through her involvement in the publishing, legal affairs, touring, merchandising, management, recording and record and video production fields.
Ms. Cecconi is currently sits on the board of directors for CIMA, CMRRA and IDLA and was recently honoured with the MMF’s Brian Chater Pioneer Award, as well as CIMA’s inaugural Brian Chater Leadership Award.