Live music executives in Canada have warned the touring industry faces a “climate of uncertainty” due to Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.

The US president imposed sweeping tariff hikes on Canada and Mexico last week, although some have been paused until 2 April. He also raised levies on Chinese imports to 20%.

Trump, who has called for Canada to become America’s 51st state, previously said he was taking action “to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country”.

A 25% tax on steel and aluminium products from all countries was imposed last week, with Canada and the EU both announcing retaliatory tariffs in the developing trade war.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said 2 April would be a “liberating day” for the US, with a new wave of levies to be introduced.

“It’s going to be reciprocal — in other words, whatever they’re charging, we’re charging,” he said. “Then in addition to that, on autos, on steel, on aluminium, we’re going to have some additional tariffs.”

“The current tariff war will create a climate of uncertainty for venues in the United States who hire artists”

Amid the ever-changing situation, Robert Baird, president of Toronto-based BAM! Baird Artists Management Consulting, advises on the likely consequences for live music.

“The current tariff war will create a climate of uncertainty for venues in the United States who hire artists: their funding may be in jeopardy and their clientele may be diminished simply because people will have less discretionary income,” he tells IQ. “A depressed economy due to the tariff will not allow for the flourishing of live performing arts.”

A former president of North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents (NAPAMA), Baird also points to potential additional hurdles for international touring acts.

“I am concerned that there may be additional rules coming which would limit the entry of foreign artists into the United States, whether by increasing the costs of work permits or putting increasing impediments on the entry visa process,” he adds.

“We could see increased costs for goods and materials such as building materials, technology, food and beverage, and merchandise”

Chris May, general manager of Vancouver’s BC Place stadium, which has hosted acts such as Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and U2, as well as the finale of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, breaks down some of the more granular implications.

“The potential impacts of tariffs on the live events industry will depend on each venue or company’s specific operations,” he says. “However, as with many industries, we could see increased costs for goods and materials such as building materials, technology, food and beverage, and merchandise.

“Fortunately, BC Place has always prioritised working with Canadian suppliers whenever possible, which puts us in a strong position to mitigate the effects of tariffs and limit any associated cost increases.”

May offers his thoughts on how the situation could play out from here – both for better and for worse.

“BC Place is thankful to have strong relationships with many Canadian partners and suppliers, and we remain committed to supporting the local economy,” he notes. “However, the worst-case scenario would involve a decline in tourism to British Columbia, which could result in fewer visitors for events, especially those travelling from the US. Depending on the event, many of our attendees come from south of the border, contributing not only to our ticket sales but also to the local economy.

“While it’s difficult to predict how things will unfold, we remain optimistic and committed to maintaining BC Place as an open, inclusive space. We look forward to continuing to welcome our friends from the US and showcasing the beauty of our province.”

“The past few years have shown us how resilient and adaptable our industry can be in the face of global uncertainty”

BC Place is gearing up to welcome AC/DC next month in advance of a multi-night run by Canadian homegrown hero The Weeknd this July, and May is determined not the let the outside issues distract from the venue’s core focus.

“Our goal of providing exceptional experiences for our guests and continuing to host world-class events remains the same,” he tells IQ. “While tariffs may present some challenges, our team is proactively working on solutions to ensure we continue delivering value for both our fans and partners.

“The past few years have shown us how resilient and adaptable our industry can be in the face of global uncertainty, and we have come out the other side stronger. BC Place’s commitment to overcoming challenges and evolving with the changing landscape has always been key to our success, and we’re confident that we’ll continue to thrive despite any external challenges.”

The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) today (17 March) published its latest Interim Economic Outlook. It projects the tariffs will lead to global growth slowing to 3.1% in 2025 and 3% in 2026, while revising its inflation forecast upwards by 0.3 percentage points to 3.8%, compared to its Economic Outlook in December.

Due to being hardest hit by the tariffs, the impact on Canada and Mexico is expected to be the most substantial, with the OECD now predicting Canada’s economy to expand by 0.7% this year and next, down from the previous forecast of 2% for both years.

Meanwhile, Mexico is projected to contract by 1.3% this year and a further 0.6% in 2026, having previously been expected to grow by 1.2% and 1.6%, respectively.

The US’ forecast has also been downgraded to 2.2% for 2025 and 1.6% for 2026, compared to 2.4% and 2.1% in the last outlook.

“The global economy has shown some real resilience, with growth remaining steady and inflation moving downwards. However, some signs of weakness have emerged, driven by heightened policy uncertainty,” says OECD secretary-general Mathias Cormann. “Increasing trade restrictions will contribute to higher costs both for production and consumption. It remains essential to ensure a well-functioning, rules-based international trading system and to keep markets open.”

“Today’s political reality creates an opportunity for our industry to help lead through these turbulent times”

Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) president and CEO Erin Benjamin says the trade war is quickly raising significant concerns within Canada’s live music industry.

“Tariffs are expected to have multiple direct and indirect impacts on live music businesses and organisations, including increased operational costs,” she says.

“Today, one of the greatest worries – which has broad economic implications – is that the trade war will lead to decreased overall consumer spending on entertainment, affecting ticket sales and attendance at live events.”

However, Benjamin is keen to accentuate the positives amid the ongoing uncertainty.

“These three things are as true today as they ever have been – Canada’s live music industry is a cultural and economic powerhouse, our incredible home-grown artists embody the essence of Canadian identity, and, concerts have always meant positive impact for tourism, job creation, artist development, and economic growth,” she says.

Benjamin references the CLMA’s public awareness campaign, #CanadaIsLiveMusic, which was recently launched “to better highlight the potential for growth our sector represents”.

“Today’s political reality creates an opportunity for our industry to help lead through these turbulent times,” she continues. “With new, compelling economic data in hand, #CanadaIsLiveMusic sends a strong signal that our industry is more than ready to be an even stronger catalyst for, and champion of, a resilient Canadian economy.”

In closing, Benjamin extends a warm welcome to Canada’s new prime minister and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau as PM earlier this month.

“The CLMA welcomes Mr Mark Carney as the new leader of the Liberal Party, and looks forward to working with all political parties to harness the true power of live music, creating a legacy of cultural vibrancy, increasing jobs, economic resilience, and community connection for generations to come,” she finishes.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

The LGBTIQ+ List 2024 – IQ Magazine’s fourth annual celebration of queer professionals who make an immense impact in the international live music business – has been revealed.

The ever-popular list is the centrepiece of IQ’s fourth Pride edition, sponsored by Ticketmaster, which is now available to read online and in print for subscribers.

To get to know this year’s queer pioneers a little better, we interviewed each of them on the development of the industry, the challenges that are keeping them up at night and more.

Throughout the next month, IQ will publish a new interview each day. Catch up on yesterday’s interview with Caterina Conti (she/her), an operations manager at 432 Presents in Glasgow, Scotland.

The series continues with Chris May (he/him), general manager at BC Place Stadium.

Chris May, general manager at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, has more than 15 years of dynamic leadership experience in global event management. With a diverse portfolio ranging from live concerts, musicals, and TV telethons to overseeing international touring logistics, May has overseen the successful execution of events on six continents, welcoming millions of guests. 

Since joining BC Place, May has been instrumental in driving its growth and diversification. Notable highlights include securing the stadium as a host venue for FIFA World Cup ’26, setting new records for the most concert nights in a year at BC Place and the most attended concert ever with Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour in September 2023, and most recently, the launch of Coast City Country Festival in collaboration with Live Nation.

Tell us about the professional feat you’re most PROUD of in 2024 so far.
This April we launched our first-ever country music festival, Coast City Country, right in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Hosting 50,000 attendees daily with an indoor-outdoor experience (not to mention, during the festival off-season), was a huge achievement and no small feat. Extraordinary collaboration between our stadium team and Live Nation is what made it possible.

“My job is to create space and amplify the voices of those who don’t have the level of privilege I do”

Your colleagues in the international live music industry have praised you for being a “fantastic ally” for LGBTIQ+ people. What does that allyship look like?
For me, being an ally to the LGBTIQ+ community is about recognising my privilege within this community as a cis-gendered white individual. It’s about leveraging that privilege to carve out space and extend support to those within our community who face systemic challenges. My job is to create space and amplify the voices of those who don’t have the level of privilege I do. My role is not to determine the path of our community, it’s to ensure that people who have had a more challenging journey than me are leading the way and I’m supporting them in the best way I can, and they want. 

What’s your most pressing challenge in the industry at the moment?
Our foremost challenge is in advocating for ourselves. Secondly, reshaping perceptions of our stadium. And importantly, finding a way to do these things through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion, while embracing the principles of Truth and Reconciliation as a venue located on the traditional Coast Salish territory of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Truth and Reconciliation involves confronting historical injustices and fostering healing and understanding among communities. In our context, it means acknowledging and addressing past wrongs and working towards a more equitable and inclusive future. 

“We all need to work together to develop what’s next and continue fostering a vibrant industry and ecosystem… This collaboration not only nurtures fresh talent but also opens doors for diverse experiences and perspectives to flourish”

How do you see the live music business developing in the next few years?
As the stadium business booms, it’s important that we aren’t losing focus. I aspire to be part of an industry where the big dogs are champions for emerging talents and venues. We all need to work together to develop what’s next and continue fostering a vibrant industry and ecosystem. Imagine a scenario where established venues, promoters, and investors actively engage with emerging talents, smaller venues, and grassroots initiatives. This collaboration not only nurtures fresh talent but also opens doors for diverse experiences and perspectives to flourish. It’s about creating beneficial partnerships where each player contributes to the growth and evolution of the industry. Without a focus on development, there won’t be a foundationally secure industry in the future.

Name one thing the industry could do to be a more equitable place.
In North America, the industry has serious work to do in making sure folks with accessible needs get fair treatment from start to finish when attending a show. It starts with ticket buying – right now in North America, accessible tickets are generally available for any guest to purchase – we need to ensure accessible tickets are reserved exclusively for those who need them. The next step is enhancing the overall stadium experience to cater to diverse needs. In September 2023, we hosted Coldplay for two nights on their Music of the Spheres World Tour, and their accessible seating options, focus on sustainability, and commitment to diversity and accessibility set an inspiring example for all of us.

“The Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival is my favourite queer space and event, and it holds a special place in my heart — it makes me proud to call Vancouver home”

Is there a queer act you’re itching to see live this year?
I can’t wait to catch another Orville Peck show. It’s been a couple of years since I last saw him perform, and he has a strong Vancouver connection (in addition to being all-around fabulous). 

Do you have a favourite queer space/venue in British Colombia or Canada?
The Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival is my favourite queer space and event, and it holds a special place in my heart. Being one of the largest celebrations in the country, the whole city comes alive in early August. It makes me proud to call Vancouver home.

How do you celebrate pride?
Professionally, we celebrate by participating in the parade, and through our Pride Pit Stop patio party, which we run alongside the Pride Festival at the finish line for the parade (located right at our stadium). Personally, my husband and I, along with our 7-year-old son, host an annual pride brunch. From 7am to noon on parade day we host 50+ people, complete with a mimosa bar and Caesar bar (the Canadian Bloody Mary, for those who are wondering).

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

IQ Magazine has revealed the LGBTIQ+ List 2024 – the fourth annual celebration of queer professionals who make an immense impact in the international live music business.

The list is once again the centrepiece of IQ’s annual Pride edition, sponsored by Ticketmaster, which is now available to read online and in print for subscribers.

The 20 individuals comprising the LGBTIQ+ List 2024 – as nominated by our readers and verified by our esteemed steering committee – are individuals that have gone above and beyond to wave the flag for an industry that we can all be proud of.

The fourth instalment comprises agents, promoters, venue directors, bookers, consultants, sustainability experts, talent buyers, managers and sound engineers from across the world.

In alphabetical order, the LGBTIQ+ List 2024 is:

Anna Sjölund, EU programming director, ASM Global (SE)
Ary Maudit, sound engineer/producer, RAK Studios/Strongroom/Saffron Records (UK)
Buğra Davaslıgıl, senior talent buyer, Charmenko (TR)
Caterina Conti, operations manager, 432 Presents (UK)
Chris May, general manager, BC Place Stadium (CA)
Dustin Turner, music marketing agent, music touring, CAA (US)
Emma Davis, general manager/agent, One Fiinix Live (UK)
Gwen Iffland, senior marketing & PR manager, Wizard Live (DE)
Jason Brotman, founder, Five Senses Reeling (US)
Joona Juutilainen, Booking Assistant, Fullsteam Agency (FI)
Luke Mulligan, director, Circa 41 (AU)
Paul Lomas, booker, WME (UK)
Pembe Tokluhan, production/founder/diversity consultant, Petok Productions (UK)
Priscilla Nagashima, VP of engineering, DICE (UK)
Rhys France, corporate & private events booker, CAA (UK)
Rivca Burns, acting head of music, Factory International (UK)
Ross Patel, green impact consultant & board member, LIVE/MMF (UK)
Sam Oldham, venue director, The O2 (UK)
Sam Booth, director of sustainability, AEG Europe (UK)
Zoe Maras, founder & artist services, Joyride Agency (NZ)

Throughout Pride Month (June), IQ will be publishing full-length interviews with each person on the LGBTIQ+ List 2024.

However, subscribers can read the full Pride edition now. Click here to subscribe to IQ from just £8 a month – or see what you’re missing out on with the limited preview below.

Check out previous Pride lists from 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.