W Montréal Strikes a Chord: Billboard Live Debuts with CRi in a Sonic Celebration of Luxury and Local Sound
Source: W Hotel x Billboard
Reported By: Matthew Kennedy
Where Sound Meets Style: A New Era at W Montréal
July 31 marks more than just another night in Montréal—it signals a dynamic new chapter in the intersection of music and luxury hospitality. W Montréal, the unapologetically chic hotel known for flipping the script on conventional travel, is debuting Billboard Live at W Montréal, an exclusive new series that celebrates the city’s sonic identity with unmatched style. Leading the inaugural show: Montréal’s own CRi, the genre-blurring electronic artist whose textured soundscapes have earned both critical acclaim and a huge following.
This launch event is more than just a concert—it’s a cultural collaboration between two powerhouses of influence. The W brand, with its deep-rooted passion for music and lifestyle, joins forces with Billboard and Rolling Stone Canada to reimagine how luxury spaces host, showcase, and celebrate performance.
CRi Headlines the First Edition
It’s fitting that CRi, a Montréal native, will set the tone for this first edition. Known for his atmospheric production and introspective melodies, CRi is a natural choice for an event designed to spotlight artistic depth and emotional resonance. His live shows aren’t just performances—they’re immersive, genre-agnostic journeys that redefine what electronic music can feel like.
With this launch, Billboard Live becomes a platform not only for discovery, but for full-sensory connection. And at W Montréal, where each experience is a curated scene, that connection is both elevated and deeply personal.
A Strategic Collaboration Rooted in Culture
Music has always been more than background noise at W Hotels—it’s one of the brand’s signature “passion points,” alongside Taste, Scene, Body, and Stance. Through global programs like W PRESENTS and immersive local activations, the brand has cemented its role as a tastemaker across the hospitality and music industries.
“We’re thrilled to announce a bold new partnership between W Montréal and Billboard & Rolling Stone Canada—two icons at the intersection of music, culture, and lifestyle. With a powerful editorial footprint and a trusted voice in championing both emerging and established talent, Billboard and Rolling Stone Canada bring unmatched credibility and cultural relevance to this collaboration.”
Alexandre Tessier, Director of Sales and Marketing at W Montréal
A Hotel That Lives at the Beat of the City
Located between historic Old Montréal and the pulse of downtown, W Montréal isn’t just a place to stay—it’s an invitation to engage. The hotel features 152 sleek rooms and suites, many with private city-view terraces, but it’s the programming that truly sets the stage.
In-house venues like the Living Room feature rotating DJ sets, the hidden Vinyl Bar delivers a moody cocktail-and-analog vibe, and the Retro Gaming Box channels nostalgia through pixel-perfect details. Mediterranean-inspired restaurant Tbsp. offers bold culinary takes for bold palates, while the 24/7 Whatever/Whenever® concierge service ensures no craving—auditory or otherwise—goes unanswered.
“The energy of Montréal is electric, and music is the heartbeat of it all. This collaboration with Billboard marks a new chapter for us—bringing together artists, creatives, and our guests in a way that’s deeply immersive, uniquely local, and undeniably W.”
Sarah Le bars, Marketing Manager at W Montréal
More Than a Series—A Cultural Pulse Point
Billboard Live at W Montréal isn’t just another hotel residency. It’s a high-impact platform for artistic expression, storytelling, and celebration. The series will evolve with future performances, each amplifying Montréal’s creative community while welcoming global talent into an editorially rich, design-forward environment.
With a launch this sharp and a roster this strong, Billboard Live is poised to become a fixture on the luxury event calendar—one where the dress code calls for style, and the soundtrack refuses to be background noise.