Universal Music Canada Bolsters A&R Team

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Pictured (L-R): Phil Hotz, Lisa Lorenz, Ivan Evidente, Don Kitchen, Morgan “MJ” James, Shawn Marino, Amanda Kingsland, Widney Bonfils, Shirley Ichkhanian, Kwaku Agyemang, Natassha Cuachon-Cruz; (L-R, seated): UMC President & CEO, Julie Adam and Shannen Serrano. Photo: Katherine Holland

Universal Music Canada (UMC) has named Amanda Kingsland and Shawn Marino as co-heads of A&R for the label. As VP of A&R and VP of A&R Operations, respectively, Kingsland and Marino are tasked with leading the department to sign, develop and break the next generation of Canadian artists on the world stage.

UMC’s domestically signed acts continue to make significant impact in Canada and international markets. In the country space, breakout star Josh Ross continues to climb the charts in the US and beyond and rising act Owen Riegling completed his first headline tour. Other recent signings include award-winning songwriter Lindsay Ell, country act James Barker Band and plenty of artists across pop, R&B, dance music and more.

“Music – and the artists who create it – are our driving force. We focus our hustle, passion, care, creativity, and abundance of forward-thinking ideas on helping the artists we work with achieve personal, artistic, and commercial success. And at the centre of our mission to sign, develop, and break artists is our industry-leading A&R team,” says Julie Adam, President & CEO, Universal Music Canada.

“They are tastemakers and genre experts who scout, sign, and cultivate talent, bringing deep international connections, musicality, skills, and insights to a range of musical projects. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Amanda and Shawn lead A&R efforts out of Canada as we continue to support, elevate, and invest in artistic voices.”

Since joining UMC in 2021, Kingsland rebuilt UMC’s award-winning country music roster and reinvigorated A&R across multiple projects. In her new role, she’ll bring her passion, sharp ear, creative insights and big picture strategic thinking to UMC’s full artist roster. Marino, a 30-year industry veteran, continues to oversee 80A Studios, The Academy (UMC’s dynamic performance and event space), A&R operations and technology and leads A&R for artists creatively approaching ways to revitalize their vast catalogues, from The Tragically Hip to Anne Murray.

Kingsland and Marino will work in lockstep with UMC’s A&R team Kwaku Agyemang, Widney Bonfils, Natassha Cuachon-Cruz, Ivan Evidente, Morgan “MJ” James, Shirley Ichkhanian and Shannen Serrano, supported by UMC’s venue and studio team Don Kitchen, Lisa Lorenz and sound engineer Phil Hotz.

Reporting directly to Adam, Kingsland, Marino and their teams are actively scouting and signing new prospects, developing UMC’s existing roster and building new partnerships with artists, songwriters, producers, publishers and partners industry wide.

LB Cantrell
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