Photo by Jeff Knights

Meghan Patrick wins SOCAN honour, two others, at 2020 Ontario country music awards

Story by Howard Druckman | Monday October 5th, 2020

For the third consecutive year, Meghan Patrick earned the SOCAN-sponsored Songwriter of the Year honour at the 2020 Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) Awards, held October 4, 2020, as the first ever live, drive-in country awards show took place on The Raceway at the Western Fair District in London, Ontario.

Patrick won the award for co-writing “Wild As Me” with Jordan Rager and Michael Whitworth. She also earned two other awards, for both Album (for Wild As Me) and Female Artist of the Year. This is her third consecutive win in the Female Artist category, and her second in the Album category.

Other multiple winners at the eighth annual CMAO Awards included Tim Hicks (for Male Artist of the Year and the Nielsen Compass Award); James Barker Band (for Single and Video of the Year, both for “Keep It Simple”); and The Reklaws (Group or Duo of the Year, and the Fans’ Choice Award).

Les Rats d’Swompe win the Francophone Artist or Group of the Year, The Abrams won Roots Artist or Group of the Year, and Aaron Allen won the Rising Star Award.

For a complete list of winners, click here.

ADISQ Gala: The nominees have been announced

Story by Marie-Michèle Bouchard | Thursday October 8th, 2020

On Oct. 1, 2020, ADISQ announced the nominees for its 42nd annual awards gala, which will be hosted, for the 15th consecutive year, by Louis-José Houde. The 2020 gala will be televised on ICI Radio-Canada Télé on Nov. 1.

Over 116 artists and 90 music industry professionals have been nominated for awards in three separate galas: the Industry Gala, on Oct. 26, which will be broadcast via the palmaresadisq.ca platform; the Premier Gala de l’ADISQ, on Oct. 28, which will be televised on Télé-Québec, and the main gala, on Nov. 1.

Once again this year, SOCAN music creators are nominated in many award categories, including Author or Composer of the Year:

  • Louis-Jean Cormier, Daniel Beaumont, Alan Côté, and David Gaudreault, for “Quand la nuit tombe,” performed by Louis-Jean Cormier
  • Mathieu David Gagnon, for “Volume 1,” performed by Flore Laurentienne
  • Akena Okodo and Louis-Nicolas Imbeau, for “Sainte-Foy,” performed by KNLO
  • Pierre Lapointe, for “Pour déjouer l’ennui,” performed by Pierre Lapointe
  • Stéphanie Boulay and Mélanie Boulay, for “La mort des étoiles,” performed by Les sœurs Boulay

Members of the general public are invited to join the Academy in selecting the Song of the Year from a list of 10 finalists:

“À tous les vents” by 2 Frères
Songwriters: Steve Marin, Sonny Caouette, Erik Caouette
Published by: Éditions du Baume, Éditions Marcha, Les Éditions ESC S.E.N.C

“Coton ouaté” by Bleu Jeans Bleu
Songwriters: Mathieu Lafontaine, Christian Adam Gilbert
Published by: Chalet Musique

“Que sera ma vie” by Ludovick Bourgeois
Songwriters: Ludovick Bourgeois, Nelson Minville, Fred St-Gelais
Published by: Éditions Bloc-Notes Music, Éditions et chansons du suisse, Éditions LABE, Éditions LO PHAT

“Aime-moi encore” by Roxane Bruneau
Songwriters: Roxane Bruneau, Mathieu Brisset
Published by: Les Éditions Musique Variole

“Ne m’appelle pas” by Cœur de Pirate
Songwriter : Béatrice Marin
Arranger : Marc Vincent (Ruffsound)
Published by: Dare to Care

“Je Me Moi” by Louis-Jean Cormier
Songwriter: Louis-Jean Cormier
Published by: Yeux Boussoles, David Murphy et Cie

“Le Bonheur” by Corneille
Songwriters: Marc Leonce Volcy, Corneille
Lyrics: Sofia Demedeiros
Published by: C-Way music inc.

“Par amour” by Lara Fabian
Songwriters: Lara Fabian, Moh Denebi, Sharon Vaughn, Kelly Paige
Published by: Song Tree

“L’Amérique pleure” by Les Cowboys Fringants
Songwriter: Jean-François Pauzé
Composer : Marie Annick Lépine
Published by: Les Éditions JFP inc, Les Éditions de La Tribu

“Pour toi” by Ariane Moffat
Songwriter: Ariane Moffat
Publisher: Les Éditions MO FAT

SOCAN congratulates its members for their nominations, and wishes them the best of luck!

You can find the complete list of nominations, visit the Gala section of the palmaresadisq.ca website.

SOCAN Launches Inclusion Review with Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario

Story by SOCAN | Thursday October 1st, 2020

SOCAN has launched a six-month diversity review with Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario, a leader in organizational equity audits and change programs for arts organizations, as part of its goal to create and foster an even more equitable company.

Inspired to action by Black Out Tuesday, SOCAN responded with the creation of an employee-led team to consider equity issues and make recommendations for equitable hiring and opportunity practices, training and awareness, and support for SOCAN members from diverse communities.

“The goal of our diversity review is to establish the baseline from which SOCAN can improve as an employer and leader in Canada’s creative landscape,” said Interim CEO Jennifer Brown. “By tapping even further into both operational and creative talent in Canada’s racialized and marginalized communities, SOCAN will become a more inclusive and equitable workplace. Making meaningful and positive changes requires a willingness to take an honest look at past processes.”

The review includes the comprehensive study of equity and inclusion standards in all aspects of SOCAN’s governance and operations, and the development of a corresponding diversity, inclusion, and equity action plan.

The action plan will comprise a framework that will cultivate a workplace culture that inspires and fosters diversity and inclusion, placing attention on the particular needs of each equity-seeking group.