Register now for SOCAN Foundation / TuneCore Creative Entrepreneur Summit for Emerging Music Creators

Story by SOCAN Foundation / Fondation SOCAN | Wednesday June 23rd, 2021

The SOCAN Foundation, part of the SOCAN Group of companies, has partnered with TuneCore, the world’s leading independent digital music distributor, owned by Paris-based Believe, to launch the Creative Entrepreneur Summit, an online, interactive event geared towards enhancing the business acumen of emerging music creators and industry professionals. The summit will be held on July 20-29, 2021.

Music creators from across Canada can attend the six-day, live-streamed event, which will cover a host of discussions led by expert speakers. Topics explored will relate to music and business, including sessions on publishing, distribution, licensing, and legal fundamentals. Workshops will cover entrepreneurism, social strategy, data analytics, business planning, and more. Speakers include TuneCore’s Director of U.S. & Canada, Dan Rutman, TikTok Canada’s Music Lead, Jordan Sowunmi, Warner Music Group’s Director of Data and Insights, Christine Osazuwa, and many more.

“The music industry is a complex ecosystem, especially for emerging music creators pursuing their dreams,” said Charlie Wall-Andrews, Executive Director of SOCAN Foundation. “The goal of the Creative Entrepreneur Summit is to empower the next generation of musical artists to develop their business skills and entrepreneurial aptitude, so they can turn their talent and passion into sustainable careers.”

Rutman said, “It was important to TuneCore to join with SOCAN Foundation as the lead partner for the Creative Entrepreneur Summit, as both organizations have a shared track record for innovation, and developing programming in support of independent artists. This series of informative panels and inclusive workshops further defines our ambitions to inspire independent artists across Canada, and around the world.”

The summit will be live streamed on EventMobi, and registration for the event includes an all-access pass to more than 18 panels and workshops, as well as a code for a free single distributed via TuneCore. Anyone interested in attending the Creative Entrepreneur Summit is encouraged to register here.

For more information about the Creative Entrepreneur Summit, visit socan.swoogo.com/creativeentrepreneur or e-mail foundation@socan.com.

Additional summit partners include Music Publishers Canada, APEM, the Songwriters Association of Canada, the Screen Composers Guild of Canada, SPACQ, and Chartmetric.

Only Québec music to be used in Québec government buildings from now on

Story by Eric Parazelli | Wednesday June 23rd, 2021

Quebec Culture and Communications Minister Nathalie Roy announced on Sunday, June 20, 2021, that only made-in-Québec music will be used from now on in the buildings of Quebec government ministries and public bodies. The Québec government’s decision is designed to  officially promote the use of Québec music, in harmony with its aims to increase the value of Québec culture, and promote local economic activity.

The Culture and Communications Ministry had already established a policy to play Québec music only on its communications platforms, but the government wanted to see other ministries and organizations follow suit. Besides increasing the influence of Québec music through government agencies and communications channels, the new policy is intended to help Québec music makers earn increased performance royalties.

SOCAN worked to ensure that background music suppliers used are legally licensed to play, so that copyright holders receive what they have rightfully earned for the use of their work.

“We love the idea of using regional music anywhere music is being played,” said SOCAN’s Interim CEO Jennifer Brown. “With this initiative, the Québec Culture and Communications department is supporting Québec music creators in a practical way, setting an example for all those committed to the development and good health of our music ecosystem.”

The Minister also announced that a $1,115,000 grant will be provided to ADISQ (The Quebec Recording, Concert and Video Industry Association) as part of a cultural sector economic stimulus plan, “Écoute mon album” (“Listen to My Album”).

Thanks to this financial support, 80 short TV and web videos bill be produced by ADISQ to further promote albums and EPs released during the pandemic, as well as the artists who worked on them. These videos will be watched on TV and online, starting in the Winter of 2022, thanks to major partnerships between ADISQ and a variety of broadcasters.

By supporting both initiatives, the Québec government has expressed its willingness to take part in an economic stimulus program for the music sector, and provide Québec talent with a broader platform. “Québec is a true incubator of musical artists who are finding their inspiration in our society, our roots, our land, and our dreams,” said Culture and Communications Minister Nathalie Roy. “Québec music is not only unique and rich, but Québecois people themselves listen to it, love it, and share it. I’m proud to see our government initiate practices that are going to make even more room for our music in our daily lives, thanks to its help.”

Photo by Julien Lavoie/APCM

Trille Or Awards 2021 honour French Canadian music

Story by Eric Parazelli | Tuesday June 22nd, 2021

The 11th Trille Or Awards, produced by APCM (Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique), took place on June 19, 2021, in the Babs Asper Theatre of Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, and were broadcast on Unis TV and TV Rogers Ottawa. Some 20 artists were featured, onstage and online.

Trille Or, Medhi Cayenne, 2021

Medhi Cayenne

The final 10 Trille Or trophies were presented as part of a Zoom show hosted by actor Vincent Poirier, and staged under the artistic direction of SOCAN member Isabelle Longnus. The evening’s top winner, musician Mehdi Cayenne, took home three awards, including one for Best Songwriter, during the Industry Gala on May 28, 2021.

A mixture of live and recorded performances, the show included numerous performances by artists from all parts the country, celebrating the artistic  excellence of French Canadian music. They included Mélissa Ouimet, De Flore, Mimi O’Bonsawin, Chloé Breault, Rayannah, Les Soliloques, Reney Ray, Cristian De La Luna, Loig Morin, Louis Venne, and éemi.

Trille Or, Cano, Nicolas Fedor, 2021, CSHF, PACC

L-R/G-D: Nick Fedor, Cano

The Trille Or Awards also provided the setting for the online induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) of two songs by the Franco-Ontarian group Cano, “Dimanche après-midi” (written by (André Paiement), and “Baie Sainte-Marie” (co-written Marcel Aymar, David Burt, John Doerr, and Wasyl Kohut), among a host of other great Canadian songs. CSHF Director Nicholas Fedor was on hand to do the honours.

Last but not least, musical artist Anique Granger brought the show to an end, along with several of the guest artists, by celebrating the career Prix Hommage recipient Daniel Lavoie.

The winners of the 2021 Trille Or Awards are:

Best Songwriter
Mehdi Cayenne

Best Solo Artist
Mehdi Cayenne

Best Group
Geneviève et Alain

Best New Artist
De Flore

Best Album
Mehdi Cayenne for “Radio Batata”

Best Acadian Music Album  
Les Hay Babies for “Boîte aux lettres”

Best EP
De Flore for “Figure Déserte”

Best Song
“Red Flag,” by Marie-Clo

Best Show
Anique Granger

Prix Hommage
Daniel Lavoie

Congratulations to all the winners!

For more information on winners and nominees, visit www.trilleor.ca.