Darryl Hurs, with over three decades in the music industry, launched the VENUExVENUE music festival, the DIT (Do It Together) online music community, and the NATIONxNATION music export program in 2023. As Indie Week Canada's founder, he transitioned INDIE WEEK to an online conference and initiated Music Pro Summit, indie101, and SCREENxSCREEN. His 4 year tenure as Market Development Lead for Canada at Downtown Music / CD Baby was marked by significant contributions to the company's distribution and brand visibility. Darryl's extensive roles include venue booker, talent buyer, event manager, and educator. His digital graphics and branding expertise, notably with Live Nation (8 years), encompassed company branding and VIPNation.com's launch. He has also contributed to advertising projects for Jay-Z, U2, Nickelback, and Beyoncé, positioning him as a key player in music, tech/virtual, and brand experience sectors.