About
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An in-depth reflection on the place women hold in the music industry, featuring some of its most vibrant participants: Caroline Fontanieu, ECM marketing director; Patricia Pascal, producer and director of the emerging artists program at Tomorrow’s Warriors; and Tao Ming-Lau, agent with Paquin. The discussion, moderated by Magali Ould, general manager of Secret City Records, is presented in collaboration with nonprofit organization Women in Music Canada.
Caroline Fontanieu (USA)
Jazz musicians know Caroline Fontanieu from her interviews over the last twenty years, whether on national jazz radio in France or for her critically acclaimed ECM Podcast. After over a decade of journalism and concert production in France, Caro moved to the United States to deepen her passion for Black American Music. She is now in charge of the US affairs for the legendary label ECM. When she's not listening to the piano, you can find her walking around Prospect Park in Brooklyn or on the hunt for the best croissant in NYC.
Patricia Pascal (UK)
Producer & Emerging Artists Programme Lead at Tomorrow’s Warriors - Know more
Tao-Ming Lau is an Agent at Paquin Artists Agency, and founder of Blue Crane Creative (@bluecranecreative). Blue Crane is a development platform centred on elevating women, artists of colour, and LGBTQ2S+ musicians on stage in North America and abroad.
Tao’s roster currently includes Mustafa, Tanya Taqaq, Tegan and Sara, Ash, Wild Rivers, Priyanka, James Vincent McMorrow, Begonia, Kiesza, Tia Wood, TOBi, Billianne, Avenoir, Logan Staats, Ikky, and more.
Blue Crane has programmed festivals such as Pride Toronto and curated events for Nuit Blanche, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and more.
Tao is a past board director at Polaris Music Prize and Canadian Live Music Association and was chosen as a Rising Star in Toronto Life Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Torontonians of 2018.
Previously, she was at Chicago-based touring agency Billions, Universal Music Canada, and originally from Vancouver, on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Tao is
a queer woman of colour seeking to open more doors and establish better
infrastructure for underrepresented talent.
Magali Ould is a well-established figure in
Quebec’s music industry, best known for her work with the pioneering record
label Secret City Records. She is currently the
company’s Managing Director, overseeing global album campaigns, branding, daily
operations, and staff. Born and raised in Montreal, she has been involved at
every level of the local music scene. A graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from
the Université de Montréal, Magali began simply as a music fan volunteering
with Pop Montreal; she officially launched her career at Bonsound in 2007,
working in the promotions department. In 2011, Magali joined Secret City,
becoming the company’s second employee.
She also collaborated for 12 years with the
Polaris Music Prize, where she served as the Francophone publicist and
representative. A board member of ADISQ and a mentor for the SOCAN Foundation,
she was selected in 2023 as a mentee for the inaugural edition of MERLIN’s
Engage program, which aims to “shape the next generation of women leaders in
the independent music sector.”
Through these many achievements, Magali has
placed her relationship with artists at the heart of her work, building a
career based on respect, care, and creative dialogue. “It’s never just about
the commercial product,” she says. “I want to be there for the long
haul, making sure I’ve done everything I can to help their work shine.”