In Canada: The Weeknd’s Creative Director, La Mar Taylor, Is Billboard Canada’s 40 Under 40 Visionary Award Honoree
La Mar Taylor has made history as the inaugural honoree of the Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 Visionary Award, a recognition that underscores his significant contributions to the music industry over the past decade, particularly through his work with The Weeknd. Taylor’s journey began in Scarborough, where he and Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) met as teenagers. Their shared ambition led them to drop out of school and build their careers from the ground up. Taylor’s creative vision has been instrumental in shaping The Weeknd’s artistic trajectory, including the cover art for the groundbreaking mixtape *House of Balloons*, as well as the creative direction for numerous albums, music videos, and live performances, including the iconic Super Bowl halftime show. This summer, witnessing The Weeknd perform at a sold-out Rogers Centre felt like a full-circle moment for Taylor, reflecting the heights they have both achieved together.
Beyond his partnership with The Weeknd, Taylor co-founded HXOUSE, a Toronto-based incubator dedicated to nurturing young creatives by providing them with space, mentorship, and community support. He has been an outspoken advocate for Canadian talent, addressing the challenges they face in breaking into the industry. Taylor believes that with persistence and innovative ideas, Canadian artists can carve out their own paths to success. He will be honored with the Visionary Award at the Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 event on November 20, further solidifying his legacy as a pivotal figure in Toronto’s creative landscape and the broader music industry.
In related news, the Canadian music scene continues to thrive, as evidenced by the rising success of artists like Cameron Whitcomb. His single “Options” has climbed the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart, showcasing his journey through sobriety and personal growth. Whitcomb, who gained fame as a contestant on *American Idol*, has quickly established himself in the industry, landing multiple singles on the charts ahead of his debut album release. Additionally, a recent report by Live Nation highlights Canadians’ preference for live music as their top entertainment choice, surpassing both sports and movies. This survey reveals that live music not only enriches the cultural fabric of Canada but also significantly contributes to the economy, generating billions in revenue and employment opportunities. As the Canadian music scene continues to evolve, figures like La Mar Taylor and emerging artists like Whitcomb exemplify the vibrant and dynamic nature of the industry.
La Mar Taylor
has been named the first-ever
Billboard Canada 40 Under 40
Visionary Award honouree. It’s a recognition of the work he’s done over more than a decade with
The Weeknd
, and the impact he’s had on Toronto’s creative community.
This summer, Taylor stood inside a packed Rogers Centre watching The Weeknd’s sixth sold-out hometown show. For him, it felt like a full-circle moment. He and Abel Tesfaye met as teenagers in Scarborough, dropped out of school together and built their careers from scratch. Taylor shot the cover of
House of Balloons
, helped shape the early
XO
era and has been behind the creative direction of The Weeknd’s albums, videos, tours and even the Super Bowl halftime show.
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The After Hours Til Dawn Tour, now the biggest R&B tour in history, is the latest chapter in that run. Taylor says the aim is always to push ideas further than the last project.
Outside of XO, he co-founded HXOUSE, a Toronto incubator offering space, mentorship and community for young creatives. He’s vocal about the challenges facing Canadian talent but believes persistence and strong ideas can still break through.
Taylor will receive the Visionary Award at the Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 event at the W Toronto on November 20.
Read the full interview
here
.
— Richard Trapunski
Cameron Whitcomb’s Country Hit ‘Options’ Rises on Billboard Canadian Hot 100
Cameron Whitcomb is hitting a new peak.
After nine weeks on the chart, the Canadian country singer’s track “Options” rises 69-64 on the
Billboard Canadian Hot 100
, dated Nov. 15.
Related
Signed: Cameron Whitcomb Inks Management Deal Ahead of New Album Release & More
“Options” is an energetic folk anthem from Whitcomb. It describes his sobriety journey, and finds Whitcomb reflecting on the various paths he could take.
“I won’t but I could / pull that bottle off that shelf / it helps me cope knowing I could be that version of myself,” he sings, supported by powerful backing vocals that lift him up along the way.
The B.C.-native is having a major year. Whitcomb first broke out as a contestant on
American Idol
in 2022, and has since landed
four straight singles
on the Canadian Hot 100 — all before his debut full-length album,
The Hard Way
. It’s an impressive track record for a young artist at this stage.
Read more on the chart feat
here
.
— Heather Taylor-Singh
Live Nation Report Finds Canadians Prefer Live Music as Favourite Form of Entertainment
When it comes to entertainment, Canadians prefer live music.
In a
new report
by Live Nation, titled Living for Live, they found that nearly four in 10 people (37%) would choose live music as their preferred form of entertainment, ranking higher than both sports and movies.
Related
70% of Music Fans Prefer Seeing Concerts by Their Favorite Artists Over Sex: Live Nation Report
Based on a survey of 40,000 people across 15 countries, the report captures a shift in how people spend their time, express their identities and connect with others through live music experiences.
The report noted that fans in Canada build their livelihoods around live music — 83% said a concert is one of their most memorable life moments, while 72% claimed to plan their calendars early to catch a certain artist’s show.
Live music is a major part of the Canadian music industry. Earlier this year, the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA)
revealed
that live music contributes billions to the Canadian economy — $10.92 billion in 2023 — to be exact.
However, it’s not just consumers who are reaping the benefits. Two years ago, live music in Canada produced $3.73 billion in tax dollars and generated more than 101,640 jobs, contributing $5.84 billion in labour income.
Read more
here
.
— Heather Taylor-Singh
