With profound sadness, Billboard Canada shares the news of the passing of David Farrell.

A dear friend and valued colleague, he was an award-winning and groundbreaking Canadian music journalist and a member of the Billboard Canada family. He passed away quietly this morning (Thursday, December 19, 2024) at the age of 73 in the home of Joan Ralph, his loving partner, his family shares.

Farrell had a long and influential career in music media. After contributing as a journalist and editor to a variety of publications in Canada and the United States, in the early 1980s he co-founded The Record. It became a crucial trade voice for the music industry in Canada over the next two decades. Shortly after founding The Record, Farrell and his collaborators The Record Conference, an annual gathering of the music industry that later became Canadian Music Week.

The Record also established the first authoritative Canadian music charts, which were also published in the “Hits of the World” section of Billboard. Farrell also served as a Canadian editor for Billboard and maintained a relationship with the magazine, a role that would come full circle decades later. In 2008, David Farrell founded FYI Music News, a trade newsletter supported by Farrell’s longtime friend and benefactor, music industry mogul Gary Slaight.

FYI was acquired by Billboard Canada in 2023, preserving its archives in a new home. Farrell stayed on as an editor, returning to Billboard after nearly 50 years.

“Known for his bold voice, keen insight and unrelenting dedication to storytelling, David brought authenticity and heart to every piece he wrote,” says Billboard Canada President Mo Ghoneim. “His work and influence have left an enduring legacy in Canadian media, touching the lives of many and shaping the industry he loved so deeply.

“David first joined Billboard as Music Editor in 1977, and we were fortunate to welcome him back in 2023 as part of the Billboard Canada family. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege to know him.”

Read Billboard Canada’s tribute to David Farrell here.