The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and its music education charity MusiCounts announced last week the appointment of two new members, Ryan Balaski and Laurie Lee Boutet, to its 2025-2026 board of directors.
Balaski, senior vice president of music at Live Nation Canada, is a veteran live-music executive overseeing national concert strategy, with past leadership on festivals including Surrey’s FVDED in the Park, Rolling Loud Toronto and Vancouver’s Coast City Country Festival, said a CARA press release announcing the new board appointments.
Boutet, founder of Wednesday Management, is manager of music artists The Beaches, Venbee, Alex Porat and producer/writer Connor Seidel. She was named Manager of the Year by Billboard Canada in 2025.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these two accomplished leaders to the CARAS and MusiCounts Board,” said Allan Reid, president and CEO of CARAS/The Juno Awards, in the press release. “Their experience across live events, artist development, and global campaigns will help us champion Canada’s diverse music ecosystem and support music education across Canada.”
CARAS and MusiCounts also thanked all board members for their ongoing commitment to championing Canadian artists and music education, and recognized outgoing board members Helen Britton, Kristen Burke, Erik Hoffman, Jeffrey Remedios, Alexandra Bellamy and Miro Oballa, “whose dedication and service have made a lasting impact on the Canadian music community,” according to the release.
The CARAS and MusiCounts board of directors and officers for the 2025-2026 term include:
- Chair – Julie Adam, president and CEO of Universal Music Canada
- President and CEO/Executive Producer – Allan Reid, president and CEO of CARAS/The Juno Awards
- First Vice Chair – Shane Carter, president of Sony Music Entertainment Canada
- Second Vice Chair – Kate Purchase, senior director of international AI governance at Microsoft
- Secretary – Philippe Archambault, general manager of Audiogram and vice president of music at Quebecor
- Directors:
- Adam Burchill, vice president of marketing at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment
- Jennifer Dettman, executive director of unscripted content at CBC
- Mark Harrison, founder of The T1 Agency
- Hussain “Spek” Yoosuf, founder and CEO of PopArabia and ESMAA, and executive vice president of international and emerging markets at Reservoir Media
- Ryan Balaski, senior vice president of music at Live Nation Canada
- Laurie Lee Boutet, founder of Wednesday Management
Photo of (l-r) Laurie Lee Boutet and Ryan Balaski courtesy of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
