Photo by Brad Ardley. Left to right/De gauche à droite : Eric Baptiste, Chester Krupa Carbone, Grandson.

Grandson, co-writers receive $10,000, other prizes, for “Blood/Water”

Story by Howard Druckman | Thursday August 8th, 2019

SOCAN Songwriting Prize 2019 winners Grandson (aka Jordan Benjamin) and co-writer Chester Krupa Carbone dropped by SOCAN’s Toronto offices on Aug. 7, 2019, to receive their prizes – a SOCAN cheque for $10,000, a Yamaha PSR-S970 keyboard, and a $500 gift card from musical instrument retailer Long & McQuade – for co-writing the winning song, “Blood/Water” along with Kevin Hissink (BUMA), who was unable to attend.

Accompanied by his touring guitarist Ramón Blanco, Grandson – who writes songs from a very strong social, political, and moral viewpoint – played a powerful, authentic, three-song acoustic SOCAN Session in the Harmony Lounge at our Toronto office. The songs were “Despicable,” “Apologize,” and the prize-winning “Blood/Water,” an intense anti-climate-catastrophe screed, featuring lines like, “The price of your greed is your son and your daughter,” and “You poisoned me for just another dollar in your pocket.”

Long & McQuade’s Sheri Katz then presented the pair with their $500 gift card; Yamaha’s Charmain Dennison gave them their prize keyboard; and SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste handed Grandson and Krupa (and Hissink, in absentia) their $10,000 cheque. “We’re celebrating songwriting, but we’re also celebrating work,” said Baptiste. “It’s clear that Grandson and Krupa, have talent, they work hard, and they’re very nice people, too. ’Blood/Water’ is an important political song.”

As befits a purveyor of social comment, Grandson wore a T-shirt shouting out the mostly low-income, downtown West-end Toronto neighbourhood of Parkdale. The surprisingly charming and good-humoured singer-songwriter talked about his often lengthy song-creating process with Krupa and Hissink; how he was so grateful to be able to make music for a living, to SOCAN for the prize and other support, and to all of the collaborators and supporters on his team; and how at least some of the prize money will be donated to his XX Resistance Fund, which funds organizations that help young people across America to empower themselves to create positive change (especially among his fanbase of “grand-kids”).

After receiving their awards, Grandson and Krupa sat for a SOCAN video interview, so stay tuned here at www.socanmagazine.ca for that.

The winning song of the equivalent 2019 Francophone prize, the Prix de la chanson SOCAN, was “On fouette,” written by Teddy Laguerre, Shawn Volcy, Marc Casseus, and Vladimi Methelus, and performed by Tizzo, featuring Shreez and Soft.

SOCAN congratulates Grandson, Chester Krupa Carbone, and Kevin Hissink once again on winning our 2019 songwriting prize!

Apply now for 2019 SOCAN Foundation Incubator for Creative Entrepreneurship

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday August 14th, 2019

The SOCAN Foundation invites emerging music creators (songwriters, producers, and composers) over the age of 18 to apply now to the Incubator for Creative Entrepreneurship (sponsored by TD), a program that provides them with seed funding, mentorship, and the opportunity to participate in a progressive webinar series that will hone their skills of entrepreneurship, while providing them with the tools and resources needed to turn their talent into a sustainable career.

Each participant in the program will receive:

  • A cash grant of up to $3,000, intended to defray start-up costs (such as those spent on marketing, business development, branding, etc.)
  • Mentorship by an industry professional.
  • Access to an exclusive webinar series led by industry professionals and experts, to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit of the participants.

For more information about the program and to apply, please visit www.creativeincubator.ca. The deadline to apply is Sept. 7, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

“The Incubator for Creative Entrepreneurship is designed to foster high-potential music creators, and to help them evolve their passion and talent into a sustainable career,” said Charlie Wall-Andrews, Executive Director of the SOCAN Foundation.

The program is made possible with the generous support of TD.  “Music has the power to strengthen communities by connecting people.,” said Valerie Picher, Associate Vice-President, Community Relations at TD Bank Group. “This program empowers music creators from all backgrounds to develop the necessary skills to enhance music creation and sharpen their entrepreneurial abilities, so music continues to enrich our lives in a sustainable way.”

Apply now for Musicworks 2019 Electronic Music Composition Contest

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday August 7th, 2019

SOCAN member composers are invited to submit an experimental piece in any electronic music genre (acousmatic, electroacoustic, glitch, soundscape, intelligent dance music, turntable art, or video music) to the Musicworks 2019 Electronic Music Composition Contest. The juried contest spotlights new musical talent, offers a cash prize and an opportunity to be heard.

The contest entry fee is $25 (with each additional entry only $5, unlimited), and includes a one-year subscription to Musicworks magazine. First prize is $500 cash, a composer profile in Musicworks, Issue 136 (Spring 2020 issue, both in print and online), and your composition released on the Musicworks 136 CD. Second prize is $200 cash and composer coverage on musicworks.ca in 2019, and third prize is $100 cash and composer coverage on musicworks.ca in 2019. The contest closes October 25, 2019.

For further 2019 Contest prize details, eligibility and assessment criteria, rules and restrictions, and entry forms, click here.