The Origins of the France Power Players
Billboard has been at the centre of the music business since 1894. In the United States, the Power Players have long stood as one of the industry's most recognised annual honours, a formal acknowledgement of the executives and professionals who shape its direction. Over the years, the format has expanded to the United Kingdom, Canada, the Middle East and Latin America.
In France, Billboard France carries this initiative forward. This inaugural edition recognises professionals who shape the music industry across all its disciplines: live entertainment, labels and distribution, music publishing, streaming, technology, management and collective rights organisations. Honourees are nominated by their peers and selected by Billboard France's editorial committee based on their impact over the previous twelve months.
The Six Honourees
The evening also paid tribute to three recently departed figures of the music industry: Daniel Colling, Jean-Philippe Allard and Olivier Caillart. The tribute was performed by pianist Gaël Rakotondrabe, first prize winner at the Montreux Jazz Festival piano competition in 2008.
Alongside the awards, the ceremony introduced the Billboard France scholarship recipients: Marie Goubaud-Picard and Smith Jordan Ndento Tchouaffe. The scholarship fully funds one year of study for two music students, as part of a programme dedicated to equal access to careers in the music industry.
Bolero as Event Partner
Bolero was a partner of this inaugural edition. As a music rights investment platform, Bolero lets you invest in songs and artist catalogs with a proven track record, and earn the royalties they generate. A type of investment long reserved for record labels, specialized funds, or a handful of institutional investors, and one Bolero is working to open up to everyone. Supporting this kind of industry gathering reflects our ongoing engagement within the French music ecosystem, alongside artists, labels, and everyone who keeps the industry moving.
