Apply now for Inaugural Program of the Black Canadian Music Awards

Story by SOCAN Foundation / Fondation SOCAN | Thursday September 3rd, 2020

The SOCAN Foundation, part of the SOCAN Group of organizations, today announced the launch of the Black Canadian Music Awards, in partnership with SiriusXM Canada.

The Black Canadian Music Awards will recognize and celebrate the artistic merit demonstrated by Black music creators (songwriters, composers, producers, etc.) in all genres. The inaugural awards will be presented virtually in 2020, and winners will be selected by a jury and advisory council of prominent Black artists and industry leaders, including DJ Agile as the inaugural Chair of the jury.

“The Black Canadian Music Awards are part of the SOCAN Foundation’s efforts toward advancing equity in the Canadian music industry, by collaboratively creating opportunities to celebrate Black music creators. Our ongoing aim is to build inclusive programming as diverse as the communities in which we live, and this new award pushes us even further ahead,” said Charlie Wall-Andrews, Executive Director of the SOCAN Foundation. “Furthermore, we cannot lose momentum to elevate communities impacted by ongoing and historical injustices. We acknowledge that there is still much more work to do, and we hope this award will celebrate and empower Black music creators in Canada.”

Five winners will be selected to each receive a $5,000 award, which is made possible with the generous support of SiriusXM Canada.

“We’re very proud to partner with the SOCAN Foundation to launch the Black Canadian Music Awards and help to provide more recognition to Black artists in Canada,” said Kayla J. Schwartz, Senior Manager, Communications & Canadian Content Development, SiriusXM Canada. “There need to be more opportunities for Black music creators, and we’re committed to supporting this vital community.”

“The Black Community in Canada has a rich, long, and deep history of creation and contribution to music in Canada, and well beyond our borders,” said DJ Agile. “From Salome Bey to Portia White to Oscar Peterson, Canadian Black music creators are a part of the musical tapestry of Canadian culture. History too often doesn’t acknowledge and celebrate their contributions in their time, and this is why it’s important for the SOCAN Foundation to honour our diverse Black music creators with the Black Canadian Music Awards, now.”

To apply for the Black Music Awards, visit www.socanfoundation.ca/awards/. The deadline to apply is October 15, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Photo by Brad Ardley. Left to right/De gauche à droite :Previous SOCAN Foundation TD Indigenous Songwriter Award winners / Les lauréates précédentes du Prix de l’auteur-compositeur autochtone TD de la Fondation SOCAN, Anachnid (2019) and/et Jasmine Netsena (2018).

Apply now for SOCAN Foundation TD Indigenous Songwriter Award

Story by SOCAN Foundation / Fondation SOCAN | Wednesday September 9th, 2020

Indigenous songwriters in Canada are invited to apply now for the SOCAN Foundation TD Indigenous Songwriter Award, which recognizes the musical talent and creativity of the best music created, in any genre, by songwriters and composers of Indigenous descent.

To apply now, visit www.socanfoundation.ca/awards/. The deadline is Sept. 16, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the winner will receive a $10,000 CAD prize, made possible by the support of TD. The third annual award will be presented at the Indigenous Music Awards in 2020, after a jury of prominent Indigenous songwriters, selected by the SOCAN Foundation, select the winner.

Candidates must be Canadians and SOCAN members, or Canadians who are not members of any performing rights organization. Works submitted must be original, composed within three years of the application deadline. Arrangements are not eligible, and entries that were award winners in previous SOCAN Foundation Awards are not eligible. SOCAN and SOCAN Foundation board members and employees are not eligible.

“The Indigenous Songwriter Award builds on the SOCAN Foundation and the efforts of TD to foster, promote, and diversify opportunities for music creators of Indigenous descent,” said Charlie Wall-Andrews, Executive Director of the SOCAN Foundation. “Our ongoing aim is to build inclusive grant and awards programming that is as diverse as the communities in which we live.”

 

SOCAN provides transparent, updated revenue forecast to its members

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday September 2nd, 2020

SOCAN has announced its updated 2020 forecast for revenues, to enable our members to plan for their future finances. We forecast that total 2020 revenue will likely decrease by approximately 11 percent when measured against the revenue from 2019, a record year. This estimate considers all relevant information, data, research, and trend analyses.

Since our first forecast, our emergency relief royalty advances initiative has been well received, with more than $600,000 so far accessed by qualified members. Our unique Encore plan that delivers royalties to members performing live-streamed concerts on Facebook and Instagram has also seen success, providing more than $130,000 so far to help replace at least some lost gig revenue.

For the full forecast – including reports on revenues from digital/streaming, concerts/live, general/background music, TV, cable, radio, and reproduction rights – click here.