Radiodays North America has unveiled the first group of speakers and sessions for this year’s conference, set to take place May 6-8 at Hotel X Toronto, during the Departure Festival + Conference.

Welcoming radio, podcast, and audio professionals from Canada, the U.S., and around the globe for a third consecutive year, this year’s speakers lineup includes best-selling artist and iHeartRadio Canada host Bryan Adams; Chief Insights Officer​ for Cumulus Media and Westwood One​, Pierre Bouvard; Senior Managing Director for CBC British Columbia, Alison Broddle; Director of Radio Content, iHeartRadio & Orbyt for Bell Media, Sarah Cummings; Vice President of Programming and Operations for Audacy in Los Angeles, Chris Ebbott; Program Director of KNX Los Angeles​, Alex Silverman; VP Digital Strategy, Hubbard Radio​, Jeremy Sinon​; and Director of Programming, Pattison Media, Ross Winters.

“We’re pleased to welcome the best and brightest in radio and podcasting to create an environment where invention and imagination meet,” said Peter Niegel, General Manager and Head of Programming for Radiodays North America, in a conference announcement. “This year’s lineup will explore the most important issues and opportunities facing our industry, from the role of AI to the future of local news, to learn and share knowledge with each other. We hope to encourage conversations that push the audio space forward.”

Among the hot-button issues the conference will tackle this year are reporting on critical issues like the L.A. fires, audience measurement, and radio and podcasting’s relevance for the music industry.

Running concurrent to the Departure Festival + Conference, all Radiodays North America attendees will have access to those events, May 6-11. The “reimagined” Canadian Music Week features a lineup reflective of the intersection of music, technology, art and comedy, featuring performers like Mustafa and Tia Wood, tech trailblazer Matt McGowan, among others.

“The ​Departure Festival + Conference is a space where innovation drives conversation and we’re proud to help cultivate impactful growth in the radio and podcast industry with our ongoing partnership with Radiodays,” said Kevin Barton, Executive Producer at Loft Entertainment, which acquired Canadian Music Week, alongside Oak View Group, last year. “The audio landscape is evolving at lightning speed, and both Radiodays Europe and North America have been at the forefront of bringing together forward-thinking leaders to share knowledge and spark positive change.”