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Departure conference

Conference.

YOUR LAUNCHPAD TO NEW IDEAS

An innovative new conference bridging music, art, comedy, and technology.

Each year, Departure brings together leaders in the creative industry for a groundbreaking conference highlighting the intersectionalities of artistic expression with exciting keynotes, panels, workshops, networking happy hours, and much more.

Conference
Speakers

The first wave of visionary speakers confirmed for Departure.

Matty Matheson Chef, Entrepreneur, Actor
Bryan Adams Musician
Dallas Green City and Colour, Alexisonfire, You+Me
Shad JUNO AWARD-WINNING RAPPER AND BROADCASTER
Sinead Bovell FOUNDER OF WAYE
Brian "B.DOT" Miller Multimedia Journalist
Molly McPherson Crisis Communications Expert
Jully Black JUNO AWARD-WINNING RECORDING ARTIST
Notorious Cree DANCER, PUBLIC SPEAKER, STORYTELLER
Bob Lefsetz TOP MUSIC INDUSTRY COMMENTATOR
Click and Tell Podcast INTERVIEW PODCAST BY SANGITA PATEL AND CARLOS BUSTAMANTE
Conscious Economics Rhiannon Rosalind and Aseel El-Baba
Danny Hastings Filmmaker, Creative Director
Joey “Vendetta” Scoleri HEAD OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS
LIVE NATION
Johnnie Walker FOUNDER AND CEO
NABFEME
Justin Bua AWARD-WINNING ARTIST
Katina Bynum EVP, URBAN CATALOG,
Universal Music Enterprises
Kyle Kazanjian-Amory Founder and CEO
Don’t Tell Comedy
Lisa Zarzeczny Co-Founder and CEO
Elevate
Mark Williamson Co-Founder and CEO
The ROSTR Group
Matt Biffa Music Supervisor
Matt McGowan General Manager
Snapchat Canada
Merck Mercuriadis Founder
Hipgnosis Songs Fund
Shaggy AWARD-WINNING REGGAE LEGACY ARTIST
Shayla Stonechild Indigenous Trailblazer & Advocate
SPEXDABOSS MULTI-AWARD WINNING DJ
CANADA’S REGGAE AMBASSADOR
T-Minus Record Producer
Tim Leiweke Chairman & CEO
Oak View Group
Toa Dunn President
Visibility Media
Tom Windish EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
WASSERMAN MUSIC
James Cridland Audio/Podcast Futurologist
Jeremy Sinon VP of Digital Strategy
Hubbard Radio
Phil Mackey Director of Digital Content Development
SKOR North
Josie Dye CHUM 104.5
On-Air Host
Mark Angly Freelance Sound Designer, Mixer & Editor for Podcasts, Film & TV
Fred On-Air Personality
The Fred Show, iHeart
Nik Goodman Bounce
Dan Misener Co-Founder
Bumper
Arielle Nissenblatt Director of Community and Content, Founder
Audily, EarBuds Podcast Collective
Helen Zaltzman Podcaster
The Allusionist
Krystal Seymour-Marconi Jungle Media
Alex Silverman Program Director
KNX
Jeff Federman Regional President
SoCal Audacy
Angela Perelli President
Angela Perelli Coaching
Mike Bendixen National Director of Talk & Talent
Corus Entertainment
James Howard Senior Regional Vice President
iHeartMedia
Chris "Dunner" Duncombe Director of Streaming & Podcasting
Corus Entertainment
Sean Ross Vice President of Music and Programming
Edison Research
Hollie Taylor Station Manager for White Oaks Communication Group
Troy McCallum Program Director/Content Creator
Stingray, boom 973 Toronto
Barb McKergow Senior Vice President, Advertising
Corus Entertainment
Samantha Bruton Account Executive Multiplatform
Bell Media
Diana Keay Senior Manager Frequency Podcast Network 
Rogers Sports & Media
Warren Kurtzman President
Coleman Insights

Frequently
Asked

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Departure is a reimagination of Canadian Music Week. Our audiences have grown alongside CMW for the past 42 years and have been integral to our success. By expanding our offerings, while staying true to our roots in music, Departure will create an inclusive and vibrant environment that will also attract international artists and creatives of the younger generation, allowing for a deeper, more diverse conversation and a better representation of the cultural hub that is Toronto. Departure honours where we’ve come from, and celebrates where we are going.
Departure While Hotel X Toronto, the urban resort on the Lake Ontario Waterfront, will serve as Departure’s host hotel for the conference, the global event will reach audiences across Toronto with festival and concert venues in every corner of the city, from May 6–11, 2025.
Taking place May 6–8 at Hotel X Toronto, ​Radiodays North America is the premier conference for radio, podcasting, and digital audio professionals, Radiodays will feature inspiring speakers about the latest trends and strategies shaping the future of audio.

Have a question we didn’t answer? Reach out at hello@departureto.com