South Asian talent has been leaving a lasting mark on Canada’s music scene, with record-breaking concerts, chart-topping hits, and prestigious awards such as the Junos. It’s no surprise then that some of the executives behind these musical achievements have earned their place in Billboard Canada’s newly-released “40 Under 40” list, which recognises the next generation of music industry leaders.
Among the honorees is Baldeep Randhawa, tour promoter at Live Nation Canada. Randhawa has been involved in major projects like Diljit Dosanjh’s 2024 tour across Canada and Karan Aujla’s global tour this year, which includes a headlining performance at Rolling Loud India this weekend. Randhawa is also the founder of the Breaking Borders Punjabi music festival, which held its debut edition in September in Malta. Additionally, he played a key role in introducing the South Asian Recording of the Year category at the Juno Awards.
Also featured on the list is Shivam Malhotra, founder and CEO of Malsons Media, the artist management company representing Shubh, the independent Punjabi pop sensation who has dominated streaming platforms.
The list also includes Gabriel Obadia, Head of Music at YouTube Canada, where Punjabi-language artists are frequently topping the charts, and Matt Sousa, Vice President of A&R at Warner Music Canada, a label home to South Asian acts like Aujla.
This recognition highlights the growing influence of South Asian talent in Canada’s music industry and the executives behind their success.