Press Release

🎙️ GRAMMY-WINNING PRODUCER STEVE PAGEOT APPOINTED HEAD OF BLACK MUSIC MANAGERS NETWORK CANADA

Bridging Global Excellence: From Montreal to Amsterdam, Black Music Leadership Enters a New Era in the Pop Industry

Montreal / Amsterdam, July 2025 — The global music industry takes a decisive step forward with the announcement that Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum producer Steve Pageot has been appointed Head of Black Music Managers Network (BMM Network) Canada. This appointment is part of a strategic initiative led by George O Janssen, the visionary founder of Poort Stage and architect of Europe’s Pop Music Hub based in Amsterdam Zuidoost.

Steve Pageot, renowned for his work with Aretha Franklin, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, MTV, and VH1, brings over two decades of high-level experience in both Black music culture and the broader pop music industry. As a Governor of the Recording Academy (Grammys) and a respected AKG-endorsed artist, Pageot’s appointment signifies a bold new chapter in connecting Black excellence with global pop industry infrastructure.

“This is more than a title — it’s a movement,” said George O Janssen. “We are building long-term infrastructure that reflects the cultural roots and commercial reach of Black music, while elevating a new generation of professionals across the global pop landscape.”

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🔗 A GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR MUSIC INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION

The Black Music Managers Network (BMM Network) is a rising force aimed at empowering Black executives, artist managers, producers, and creatives through strategic leadership, mentorship, and international collaboration. With the establishment of its Canadian chapter under Pageot’s leadership, the network will serve as a bridge between North America, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, with a focus on:
• Cross-border industry partnerships
• Pop music education and mentorship
• Professional development for Black music managers
• Equitable access to touring, sync, and production markets

“We’re not just managing talent — we’re managing the future of global music,” said Steve Pageot. “With BMM Canada, we are giving Black professionals a seat at every table, from the studio to the boardroom.”

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🎶 BLACK MUSIC HERITAGE, POP MUSIC FUTURE

While rooted in the legacy of Black music — from gospel and soul to hip-hop and Afrobeats — the BMM Network is designed to operate fully within the modern global pop music industry, where genres converge, digital tools evolve rapidly, and cultural influence is borderless.

Poort Stage, Janssen’s European flagship based in Amsterdam’s Atlas Arena, serves as a launchpad for emerging talent and industry training in one of the most culturally dynamic regions of the continent. Together with Pageot’s leadership in Canada, the network is activating a transatlantic infrastructure for music business education, policy, and performance.

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📍 ABOUT STEVE PAGEOT

A classically trained musician and award-winning engineer, Steve Pageot’s credits span Aretha Franklin, Krayzie Bone, New Edition, MTV’s Run’s House, and dozens of commercials and film scores. His career, which began with $400 and a dream in New York, is a testament to the power of craft, discipline, and culture. Today, he is one of the few Canadian professionals born in New York USA ever elected as a Governor of the Recording Academy.

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📍 ABOUT GEORGE O JANSSEN

Founder of Poort Stage and initiator of the Black Music Managers Network, George O Janssen is a Dutch-Surinamese entrepreneur and cultural strategist. His work focuses on building inclusive music ecosystems, particularly for Black and multicultural youth, through education, infrastructure, and international collaboration.

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🔊 JOIN THE MOVEMENT

The appointment of Steve Pageot as Head of BMM Canada is just the beginning. The organization invites music professionals, institutions, and brands to join a movement that blends cultural legacy with industry innovation.

📩 For interviews, partnerships, or more information:
Contact: George O Janssen
Email: george@bmm-network.com
Website: www.pageotproductions.com |
www.bmm-network.com

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