Black Canadian music creators can apply now for #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday June 30th, 2021

In 2020, YouTube Music launched the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund to equip Black musicians with the resources and support to enable them to thrive, and invest in work that amplifies the voices, perspectives, and stories of Black artists.

On June 21, 2021, YouTube opened grant applications for the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund Class of 2022, with expanded eligibility to include songwriters and producers. The company has also opened up applications for those based in Canada, as well as the U.K., the U.S., Brazil, Australia, Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria.

Black Canadian music creators can apply now for #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund, until July 9, 2021.

YouTube has also announced a partnership with the music education institution 1500 Sound Academy, founded by Grammy Award-winning songwriter/producers James Fauntleroy and Larrance “Rance” Dopson. Through its inaugural #YouTubeBlack Music Future Insiders Scholarship, YouTube and 1500 will fund 10 full scholarships to the Academy’s Live Online Music & Industry Fundamentals program – a six-month term, during which participants will take courses in music production, engineering, songwriting, mixing, music business, and more.

YouTube has also been working with community-based organizations to develop its Future Insiders program, which has reached more than 180 (and counting) at-risk and under-served youth aspiring to enter the music and creative industries. As part of the program, the students attend quarterly workshops that focus on succeeding on YouTube, raising awareness of career pathways, facilitating access to talent and thought leaders, and encouraging well-being.

YouTube has created #YouTubeMusic Moments as well, a collection of content series, live streams, and events that hold the primary goal of celebrating Black culture, identity, and experiences, from the perspective of artists and thought leaders in music.

For more information, click here.

To apply for the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund, click here.

Apply now for new SOCAN Foundation career development grant program

Story by SOCAN Foundation / Fondation SOCAN | Monday July 5th, 2021

Eligible SOCAN members can apply now for a SOCAN Foundation Career Development Grant, a one-time special professional-development initiative to help our music creators and publishers develop news skills.

“Strengthening skills, building capacity, and encouraging knowledge sharing among SOCAN’s membership is increasingly important in today’s environment of rapid change, competing challenges, and emerging opportunities, including new technologies and ways of collaborating,” said Charlie Wall-Andrews, Executive Director of the SOCAN Foundation. “The SOCAN Foundation offers this new program to provide accelerated access to financial support for music creators and publishers, to allow them to develop creative or professional skills”

The new Fund is open to all SOCAN members who have received at least two SOCAN royalty payments (of any amount) within the last 12 months of applying to the program.  The SOCAN Foundation has allocated a total of $250,000, which will be available for distribution from the SOCAN Foundation Career Development Grant, of up to 850 grants of $300 each. The Fund is a one-time special program to help SOCAN members develop skills by accessing conferences, workshops, masterclasses, or other self-directed learning opportunities such as mentorship, research, and personal reflection.

Applicants are encouraged to submit applications early. Once the funds are exhausted, the program will be closed in the portal. SOCAN members can learn more about the program by visiting www.socanfoundation.ca.

SOCAN members elect Board of Directors for 2021-’24 term

Story by SOCAN | Wednesday June 30th, 2021

SOCAN today announced the results of its 2021 Board of Directors election, based on votes cast by SOCAN members (music creators, publishers) from April 12 to April 30, 2021.

There are 18 seats on the SOCAN Board of Directors – nine writer members and nine publisher members, with regional, cultural and genre specific representation. Each is elected to a three-year term.

The following people were elected and will take office when scrutineers Grant Thornton officially present the results at the 2021 SOCAN Annual General Meeting, to be held online on July 13, 2021.

Representing SOCAN Music Writer Members (alphabetically by last name):

  • David Bussières
  • Victor Davies *
  • Damhnait Doyle *
  • Rhonda Head
  • Ed Henderson *
  • Stan Meissner *
  • Glenn Morley *
  • Marc Ouellette *
  • Diane Tell *

Representing SOCAN Music Publisher Members (alphabetically by company name):

  • Diane Pinet, Bloc-Notes Music Publishing
  • Jennifer Beavis, BMG Rights Management Canada
  • Jennifer Mitchell, Casablanca Media Publishing *
  • Daniel Lafrance, Éditorial Avenue
  • Mark Jowett, Nettwerk Music Group
  • Cheryl Link, Peermusic Canada Inc. *
  • Gary Furniss, Sony Music Publishing Canada *
  • Patrick Curley, Third Side Music *
  • Vivian Barclay, Warner/Chappell Music Canada *

(* incumbent)

“Congratulations to each SOCAN board member on their election to the 2021-’24 term,” said CEO Jennifer Brown, who was officially appointed to the role by SOCAN’s Board of Directors on June 28, 2021. “The SOCAN management team looks forward to collaborating as we chart new directions for the company together.”

Following SOCAN’s annual general meeting, the new board of directors will hold its first meeting, and elect the President of the Board and other officers.