Photo by courtesy of/courtoisie de Jean-François Pauzé

2020 SOCAN Gala Video: Cowboys Fringants’ Jean-François Pauzé, Songwriter Of The Year

Story by Eric Parazelli | Wednesday December 9th, 2020


Twenty-five years after the release of his first song with the legendary group Les Cowboys Fringants – and following the immense success of their album Les Antipodes, and the biggest hit of their career,  “L’Amérique pleure” – Jean-François Pauzé, the band’s main songwriter, received the SOCAN 2020 Songwriter of the Year Award.

We videoconferenced with him from his home to capture his reaction to receiving this prestigious honour, the first he’s ever received personally, for his undeniable songwriting talent. It was also an ideal opportunity to look back on his accomplishments of the past 25 years.

To find out everything about the winners of the 2020 Francophone SOCAN Gala, visit galasocan2020.socan.com.

Photo by courtesy of/courtoisie de Miranda Bonavia

Video: The Breakdown – “When do I need to work with a manager?”

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday December 9th, 2020

Words & Music is pleased to extend its helpful “how-to” series for our members, “The Breakdown,” into the realm of short, question-and-answer videos.

In this episode, SOCAN A&R Representative Racquel Villagante talks with Miranda Bonavia, who manages the careers of reclusive, highly successful singer-songwriter Allan Rayman and upcoming Indigenous artist Ruby Waters. Bonavia has also interned at Bedlam Music Management / Dine Alone Records, and volunteered in office administration at Ottawa Festivals, a networking environment for local, capital-area fests, special events, and fairs.

Our question this time is, “When do I need to work with a manager?”

Photo by Claude Lapointe

2020 SOCAN Gala Video: Éditorial Avenue, Publisher of the Year

Story by Eric Parazelli | Tuesday December 8th, 2020

Daniel Lafrance and his team at Éditorial Avenue won the 2020 SOCAN Gala Award for Publisher of the Year, honouring their commitment to guiding creators on the road to success throughout 2019. It’s the second time Lafrance and his team have won the publisher award, the first time being in 2017.

Since Daniel Lafrance just launched a book on music publishing titled Après la disruption: Innover en édition musicale, we took this opportunity to chat with him, and gain some insight into his knowledge of the inner workings and transformation of the music publishing trade, which he’s been practising for more than 30 years.

To find out everything about the winners of the 2020 Francophone SOCAN Gala, visit galasocan2020.socan.com.