The most influential leaders in Canada’s music industry gathered at the exclusive celebration for Billboard Canada Power Players at Toronto’s Rebel on June 10, as part of NXNE. It was a prestigious night with impactful and emotional remarks, heartfelt tributes and one historic, and strange, surprise honour to close the festivities.

Many of the Power Players honoured on the 2026 list were in attendance, including Gary Slaight, Warner Music Canada co-GM Madelaine Napoleone, Universal Music Canada president & CEO Julie Adam, Live Nation Canada’s Erik Hoffman, Wayne Zronik and Melissa Bubb-Clarke, Allan Reid of the Junos/CARAS and many more.

Following a viral KEXP performance in February, Quebec-based math rock duo Angine de Poitrine have skyrocketed into international fame. The polka-dot-clad pair — who perform under the pseudonyms Khn de Poitrine and Klek de Poitrine — are everywhere. In a surprise moment, they got to accept the Billboard Canada Global Breakthrough Award, presented by FACTOR, in front of the most powerful executives in Canada. When their name was announced, many in the room were questioning if they were really there and what they would do.

True to their artistry, the two members took the stage in full black and white polka dot costumes as their music played, walked up to the microphone, and then didn’t utter a single word. While they lingered on stage it seemed like they might say something, if even in their otherworldly language. Instead, Khn reached up and touched his hat, and a burst of black and white confetti showered the audience. Then, they left. Without saying a word, they had one of the big moments of the night.

Two icons of the live music industry were honoured for their decades-long devotion to the country and its artists. Paquin Artists Agency co-president Vinny Cinquemani and Live Nation Canada chairman Riley O’Connor became the first-ever inductees into the Billboard Canada Hall of Fame.

When Meg Symsyk, president and CEO of FACTOR, stepped onstage to accept the Visionary Leadership award, she revealed that earlier in the day, she was on a flight from Los Angeles where she was with Rush at The Forum on their comeback 50th anniversary tour. Billboard Canada national editor Richard Trapunski personally presented her with the award, and outlined that it’s been a whirlwind month for Symsyk, as news that FACTOR and Scotiabank had settled their lawsuit became public at the beginning of this month. Throughout it all, Symsyk ensured that the music funder has continued — and in many ways, expanded — its support of Canadian artists.

“When you are surrounded by people who share your values and challenge each other to be better, you discover that leadership is less about pursuing your personal achievements and more about helping others find theirs,” she said. “Our work has always been about more than streams and charts and ticket sales and market share.”

Margaret McGuffin, CEO of Music Publishers Canada, received the Impact Award. She was recognized for her advocacy ensuring that Canadian creators are fairly compensated and licensed in the age of AI, as well as her mentorship for the next generation.

“As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into the creative ecosystem, we must ensure that creators and the companies that invest in them have a voice in shaping the future,” she said during her speech. “These are the people I’ve spent my career working with and advocating for. I have the great privilege of working with music publishers, many who are in this room.”

Read more highlights here.

Daniel Caesar Pays Surprise Tribute to His Managers at Billboard Canada Managers to Watch 2026

The most influential managers from across the globe gathered at SOUNDSTAGE in Toronto on June 11 at NXNE to celebrate Billboard Canada Managers to Watch. The celebration spotlighted the people who put in the behind-the-scenes work to elevate artists across the country following the release of this year’s coveted Managers to Watch list.

“If you want to get something done, call the manager,” said Billboard Canada national editor Richard Trapunski in his opening remarks. “You are the ones who are closest to the artists, the unsung heroes of the music industry. You have the vision and the tools to open doors and build careers, yet you are rarely in the spotlight yourselves.”

Daniel Caesar is one of the biggest Canadian success stories of the last decade, and he flew straight from Thailand to make a surprise appearance to honour the two powerhouses who have been with him on an adventure from the very beginning: his managers, Matthew Burnett and Jordan Evans.

The R&B star proudly invited both of his managers onstage to crown them Billboard Canada’s 2026 Managers to Watch, greeting each of them with a powerful, lasting hug and leaving Evans teary-eyed.

“We’re in the middle of an adventure and I love it so much. If I could bottle up that feeling, I would pay every cent I have to give that feeling to the people I love,” Caesar said.

Burnett joked about his working relationship with Evans being “each other’s most successful relationship,” with the pair celebrating two decades of working together this year. He gave a special nod to Canadian producer Boi-1da for giving them their start in the industry back when they were producers, and boasted that nobody in the world can captivate a room like Daniel Caesar playing acoustic guitar, be it in a small room, an arena or even a stadium. He was proud to call Evans and Caesar his brothers and his family, and left the audience with words about what he considers to be the utmost principle of management: care.

Sébastien Collin is the man behind the year’s biggest global breakthrough: the polka-dotted, viral math rock band Angine de Poitrine from Saguenay, Quebec. In just four months, Collin and the group have booked an international tour that’s sold over 100,000 tickets worldwide and racked up over 16 million views on the band’s breakthrough KEXP live performance.

Collin is this year’s Manager on the Rise. “I think we can be proud of the music without compromise and I hope that it will help build bridges,” he said. “I hope it will put some spotlight on the Quebec scene. We’ve got really nice bands right now, and I hope it will help us find the good bands everywhere.”

Tommas Arnby, meanwhile, won the International Manager Award, highlighting his work building the global rise of rock star Yungblud.

See all the highlights here.

Peso Pluma wasn’t going to let Mexico’s win in its first match of the 2026 World Cup 2026 go uncelebrated.

On Thursday (June 11) La Doble P joined soccer fans at the Adidas 2026 World Cup Opening Watch Party at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, where he headlined the massive show. Before taking the stage to perform, the Jalisco native sat down with Billboard to discuss Mexico’s 3-0 victory against South Africa earlier that day, his enthusiasm for the team and his most recent success on the charts.

The artist described himself as euphoric and expressed pride in wearing the jersey while watching the match: “Mexicans are the most bada–, man,” said Pluma. When asked what he wished for the team as it prepares to face South Korea in its next match on June 18, he replied, “May God bless them and may they give it their all, so that this time we’re in that [final] game. And we’re going to be supporting from [the] outside, as it should be.”

The Grammy winner also admitted that he has high hopes for his country’s team during this World Cup. “Well, [I’m] really happy because we debuted on the right foot. Mexico’s going to win. Mexico has to win. Attract it — the law of attraction — Mexico’s going to win,” he said.

The artist also weighed in on the current success of his song “Daño,” from his 2026 album, Dinastía, which peaked at No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs and is currently sitting at No. 9.

“We are very happy, because it’s a song we all really like from the album,” Pluma said. “It’s a song from Dinastía that stood out. The fans in Mexico really liked it and also here in the United States. And it’s a song that throughout the whole tour, [fans] cried and sang and yelled the lyrics to, and that fills our soul.”

Watch Peso Pluma’s interview with Billboard here:

Lil Baby’s hemp company is facing counterclaims after accusing its joint venture partner of shipping illegal and contaminated cannabis products across the country.

The rapper’s business entity, The Holding Co., sued Florida cannabis company Bay Smokes in April for allegedly mishandling his WHAM product line, which was marketed as a low-THC hemp product that was legal nationwide. The Holding Co. claimed it tested the product and found THC levels of 22% — far above the federal limit of 0.3% — as well as microbes like E. coli, yeast and mold.

Bay Smokes has denied these allegations, telling Billboard in an April statement, “We stand by the quality and legality of all of our hemp products, which undergo independent third-party laboratory testing.” Now, the cannabis company is accusing The Holding Co. of breaching a confidentiality and non-disparagement clause from their joint venture deal.

“The complaint filed by plaintiff in this action publishes false allegations of product contamination that are directly contradicted by Bay Smokes’s contemporaneous October 10, 2025, certificate of analysis for the ‘THCA Flower Gelato 45’ batch that plaintiff purports to have independently tested,” reads Bay Smokes’ Thursday (June 11) countersuit, obtained and first reported by Billboard.

The countersuit also alleges that The Holding Co.’s principal, Eric Anderson, has further disparaged Bay Smokes to customers at industry trade shows “while steering those customers to competing sources of supply in which plaintiff’s principal holds an undisclosed personal financial interest.”

Bay Smokes is seeking financial damages from The Holding Co. for its alleged contract violations, including a refund of legal fees. It also claims The Holding Co. has been overpaid by more than $206,000 in its share of the joint venture profits.

Reps for Lil Baby and The Holding Co. did not immediately return requests for comment on Friday (June 12).

The Holding Co. and Bay Smokes formed their joint venture in 2024 for a WHAM hemp line, named for Lil Baby’s nickname. This would go on to be the title of the rapper’s 2025 album WHAM, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

In the April lawsuit, The Holding Co. alleged Bay Smokes had tarnished Lil Baby’s reputation by associating his trademarks with “unauthorized illegal cannabis sales, concealed sales, contaminated products and unlawful conduct.” The suit also claimed that Bay Smokes’ founders were inappropriately marketing the cannabis brand with “erotic videos.”

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With Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour underway, the pop/R&B singer is traveling across the United States with nearly 30 stops scheduled in big cities, like Brooklyn, Austin, Atlanta, Boston and others.

If you are planning on attending, one thing’s for sure: You’ll want merch and apparel. Thankfully, Urban Outfitters dropped a line of tees all priced at $40 apiece from different eras of Grande’s career, from Yours Truly to Eternal Sunshine. Considering most concert merch can run you more than $100 per tee, this $40-line is a stellar option.

You can’t find these pieces anywhere else, meaning once these t-shirts are sold out, they’re gone for good. We’ve shared a few of our fashionable favorites from the collection, including baby tees and shirt dresses, and how to style them.

The glory days of Grande wearing baggy shirt-esque dresses will never be forgotten, and this style is proof. The boxy silhouette features artwork from the artist’s Eternal Sunshine era on both the front and back in red, contrasting the cream-colored base. The neckline is slouchy, sitting off-the-shoulder.

If you’re tired of regular old graphic tees, you can shake up your collection and try out this piece that is more dress than shirt. This style stops around the mid-thigh, depending on your height. If you are heading to one of the singer’s stops on her tour, this is a comfortable option that you can wear with combat boots or bloomers. Or go full-on 2018 Grande and wear thigh-high booties to elongate your legs.

If you’re up for showing a little skin, this baby-tee is beyond adorable. The shirt’s graphics reference Grande’s Yours Truly era, her debut studio album, released back in 2013. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just getting into the pop star, this shirt is a very flattering option. The circular neckline gives way to short sleeves and a short and trim hemline. Graphic tees are often baggy and boxy.

This baby style is a offers a reprieve from the oversaturated market of similar silhouettes, offering prospective buyers something form-fitted and sleek. To style, we’d opt for something high-waisted like jeans or shorts for extra coverage. For a 2000s moment, wear low-rise denim.

My Everything was released in 2014, and quickly became a hit with tracks like “Problem,” which took the number two spot on Billboard Hot 100 charts or “Bang Bang,” taking the third spot and “Break Free,” which took the number four spot.

This tee is a reminder of that glorious era, pulling art straight from Grande’s second studio album. This throwback design is 100% cotton, which not only makes it breathable but also super soft as well. It is another oversized casual piece that you can comfortably wear to a concert, even when it gets hot from dancing and singing your heart out. And because it’s so breezy, it could double as a lounge or sleep shirt.