#NEWMUSIC: NEIL SHANKMAN APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT TORONTO MUSIC EXPERIENCE

The Toronto Music Experience (TME) has reached a major milestone in its journey to elevate Toronto’s reputation as a world-class music city with the appointment of Neil Shankman as its first Executive Director.

Following an extensive search for a leader who embodies both the strategic rigor of a global executive and the soul of Toronto’s music scene, Shankman has been selected to guide TME into its next chapter, marking the ambition of TME from a bold visionary concept into an operational and dynamic cultural institution.

Shankman brings a unique blend of leadership experience and lived musical credibility. Over the course of his career, he has served on leadership teams at global technology innovators including Google Canada, Clio, and Wave, as well as professional services firm BDO Canada. He has also built ventures as an advertising and media entrepreneur and shared his expertise as a professor at the Schulich School of Business.

Complementing his executive background is a lifelong commitment to music. Shankman is an alumnus of the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Berklee College of Music, and has worked as a concert promoter and producer – experience that grounds his leadership in the realities of the music ecosystem TME aims to celebrate.

“Being the first Executive Director of the Toronto Music Experience is a profound honour,” said Shankman. “I am incredibly grateful to our donors and the Board for their support, which has laid the foundation for this next chapter. Our vision is bold: to create an experience and institution that moves beyond the traditional, using music as a lens to tell the vibrant story of our city’s impact on global culture, and I am eager to lead this effort.”

Shankman joins TME at a pivotal moment as the organization advances toward its goal of establishing a permanent physical destination by 2031. Under his leadership, TME will activate an ambitious 12-month Ignition Plan aligned with the Board’s North Star vision to amplify Toronto’s profile as a global music capital.

“Neil’s appointment represents more than a new hire,” said Lorna Day, Chair of TME. “It signals the evolution of the Toronto Music Experience into its next phase of growth and impact. We are deeply grateful to the many supporters who have stood by TME over the past several years as we built the foundation for this moment.”

Shankman has officially begun his role and will be connecting with members of the Toronto Music Experience community in the coming months.

About The Toronto Music Experience (TME)

The Toronto Music Experience (TME) mission is to build a bold new cultural destination dedicated to celebrating Toronto’s unique, multicultural music legacy — past, present and future. Located in an accessible downtown location, TME will preserve and showcase the city’s extraordinary music history across all genres, including jazz, blues, classical, pop, folk, rock, reggae, hip-hop, Latin, Indigenous, electronic and world music.

Through exhibitions, events, performances and educational programs, TME will honour Toronto’s musical heritage, highlight today’s artists and inspire future generations of performers, writers, creators and music industry leaders. Working in collaboration with communities across the region, TME aims to foster a deeper appreciation for the music and cultural diversity that define the city.

The Toronto Music Experience is a registered Canadian charity and a member of the Canadian Museums Association and the Ontario Museum Association.

For more information, visit www.torontomusicexperience.com.