Unlike many of Billboard‘s annual power lists, the yearly 40 Under 40 requires that honorees only appear on it once. Despite that limitation, Billboard receives hundreds of nominations of qualified young executives — which of course poses a challenge to our editors, but is also a heartening reminder of the constant influx and ascent of new talent in the business.
This year’s edition of the 40 Under 40 is no different. As the music business continues to confront challenges ranging from artificial intelligence to fair ticketing, the executives on this list aren’t just helping to find solutions — in many cases, they’re taking the lead in conceiving and executing those strategies, in service of the artists they work with and the broader industry.
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The 2026 40 Under 40 is led by Hilary Gleason, co-founder/executive director of Backline, the nonprofit that’s committed to connecting music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources. Gleason’s work in the nonprofit space may differ from her follow honorees across the management, agency and label worlds, but she and the other 39 executives here share their creativity, resourcefulness, diligence — and, perhaps most importantly, their passion for music.
