Canadian industry trailblazer Alexander Mair is one of the most significant figures in the history of the country’s music industry. After a period as business manager of Gordon Lightfoot, he co-founded Attic Records with Tom Williams, which became the largest and most successful independent record company in Canadian history. Attic launched the careers of dozens of Canadian artists, and Mr. Mair’s extensive international contacts supported artists in finding success in Canada and, in many cases, reaching even wider audiences internationally.
In addition to his successful business career, Mr. Mair has played a prominent role in a wide variety of Canadian music industry associations, volunteering his considerable expertise to more than half a dozen vital organizations.
He played a major role in building the basic infrastructure of an industry that was in its infancy until the implementation of the Canadian content regulations. In fact, Mair — as the business manager of an iconic Canadian artist and as a member of the board of Canada’s leading performing rights society — played an important role in urging the passage of what has become known as “CanCon.”