20th Annual SOCAN AWARDS

SOCAN (The Society of Composers Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) held its 20th annual SOCAN Awards Gala at the Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on November 25, 2009. The whose who of Canada's music industry came in recognition of some of Canada's most talented songwriters, composers, lyricists and music publishers at this SOCAN Awards Gala. This Gala was hosted by country singer-songwriter Carolyn Dawn Johnson, David Myles and Barney Bentall. Hispanic-Canadian artist Alex Cuba, who won the Hagood Hardy Music Award for excellence in jazz, instrumental or world music started the Gala. "SOCAN president Earl Rosen welcomed all the attendees with a reminder that we can look back on a year that gave considerable cause to celebrate, in spite of the economic downturn. He noted that SOCAN members can collectively rejoice in the fact that in 2009 and 2010, the organization will begin to distribute revenue for digital uses, 15 years after SOCAN filed its first Internet tariff with the Copyright Board of Canada." Other performances of the evening were by Toronto rapper D-Sisive, playing the song that won him the 2009 ECHO Songwriting Prize, "Nobody with a Notepad"; Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Doc Walker played a medley of award-winning songs "Complicated," "Big League" and "Beautiful Life"; a serenade by a guitar-wielding Johnson to SOCAN CEO André LeBel, who is retiring in spring 2010; and Barney Bentall and Russell deCarle played a tribute to Stompin' Tom Connors. Canadian Legend artist Stompin' Tom Connors took SOCAN’s top honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his impressive repertoire. RUSH, the Toronto progressive rock band, won the International Achievement Award, while legendary Nova Scotian Rita MacNeil took home the National Achievement Award. Veteran journalist, publicist, concert promoter and artist manager Richard Flohil won the Special Achievement Award. The Pop/Rock Music Awards category included honours for songwriter, producer and Philosopher Kings keyboard player Jon Levine; the members of rock bands Finger Eleven and Hedley (along with Hedley producers Greig Nori and Dave Genn); and pop songstress Feist, along with her co-writer Sally Seltmann (APRA). Award winners honoured during the evening in the category of SOCAN Classics, for songs that have reached the impressive 100,000-airplay mark, included country artist Carolyn Dawn Johnson, who won two awards; longtime rocker Tom Cochrane, who was recognized for no less than five hit songs; the songwriting members of West Coast band 54•40, who earned two trophies; and veteran songwriter Marc Jordan, who earned one award for a solo composition, and one for a co-write with John Capek.

All of the SOCAN 2009 Award winners can be found at www.socan.ca by clicking on this page.

About SOCAN

As authorized by the Copyright Act of Canada, SOCAN (The Society of Composers Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) is the Canadian copyright collective for the communication and performance of musical works. It was created in 1990 with the merger of Canada's two previous performing rights organizations; namely, The Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of Canada and The Performing Rights Organization of Canada. It administers these rights on behalf of its members (composers, lyricists, songwriters and their publishers) and those of affiliated international organizations by licensing the use of their music in Canada. The fees collected by SOCAN are distributed as royalties to its members and to affiliated organizations throughout the world. It also distribute royalties received from those organizations to our members for the use of their music worldwide. SOCAN has offices in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton and Dartmouth and for more information, please click here.

The SOCAN Awards were truly an inspiration to all those in the music industry. Check back here for next year's SOCAN Awards!

(Left to right) Alex Cuba, gala co-host Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Kardinal Offishall, DJ Kemo, Chris Thorsteinson of Doc Walker and Neil Osborne of 54.40.

Rush