CBC Music's Searchlight 2024: meet the judges

The next milestone for this year's Searchlight competition will be reached on Friday, Aug. 16, at 8 a.m. ET., when the Top 10 artists are revealed.

From there, the judges will determine Canada's next breakthrough musical act, and select the artists who will be the four secondary winners for outstanding Indigenous artist, outstanding country artist, top teen, and the songwriting prize. 

So, who are the music industry professionals evaluating this year's contenders? Read on to get to know Charlie Wall-Andrews, Alan Greyeyes, Andrés Mendoza and Keziah Myers before seeing who they select to win CBC Music's Searchlight on Monday, Aug. 26, at 8 a.m. ET.

Charlie Wall-Andrews

Celebrated as one of Canada's top 100 most powerful women by Women Executive Network, Charlie Wall-Andrews is a leader in the creative industries: she's the executive director of SOCAN Foundation, where she created programs such as the creative entrepreneur incubator, and the equity X production development program, which prepares artists to turn their passion and talent into sustainable careers. She is also a faculty member at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is on the Canada Council for the Arts board of directors and the inaugural vice-chair of Music Canada's advisory council. In 2019, she was appointed as a global legacy fellow for the Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship and is an associate composer at the Canadian Music Centre. 

Alan Greyeyes

Alan Greyeyes serves as the festival director for the sākihiwē festival and describes himself as a music industry helper. He also volunteers with the Polaris Music Prize board of directors; the RBC Convention Centre board of directors; and the Indigenous committees at the National Music Centre and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. In 2023, he received the Making a Difference Award from the Winnipeg Arts Council and in 2020 he earned the Arts Award of Distinction from the Manitoba Arts Council. Greyeyes is a member of Peguis First Nation.

Andrés Mendoza

Andrés Mendoza began his music career in 1991 when he became an artist manager, promoter and agent with Antara Productions, a Montreal-based Latin Music company he co-founded with Edgardo Linares. His subsequent roles have included label executive, content developer and sponsorship leader.

He also created Cuto, a music marketing and strategy consultancy. His resumé also includes working at Virgin/EMI Music Canada, Ent! Marketing, Harbourfront Centre and he's been a jury member for the Canada Council for the Arts, FACTOR and Ontario Creates, as well as a counselor at AMP Camp (now Indigenous Music Camp) and co-producer of live events at the AfroCubanismo Festival.

Currently, Mendoza leads the team responsible for brand strategy at the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), working on marketing, communications, creative, digital, social and partnerships for the Juno Awards, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Allan Slaight Juno Master Class and year-round CARAS initiatives.

In addition to amplifying and celebrating Juno nominees and winners, Mendoza has worked with many artists over the years including Alex Cuba, Coldplay, Janet Jackson, Corinne Bailey Rae, and more. 

Keziah Myers

Keziah Myers, the executive director at ADVANCE Music Canada, has been named a changemaker by the Globe and Mail and a distinguished leader by Women in Music Canada. She has over 15 years of experience in the music industry working with Lu Kala, Maroon 5, Deborah Cox, Jessie Reyez, Boi-1da and hundreds more.

Myers has been called upon by the Canadian government and many businesses operating in the music industry for advisement, and has also served as a guest lecturer, workshop facilitator and keynote speaker to inspire and empower students in secondary and post secondary schools.

She has also managed PR campaigns, drafted marketing strategies, analyzed royalties and copyright, and worked in label operations and management to build programs with a lasting impact on the music ecosystem.