Classic hard rock band Triumph to be inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame

Story by Howard Druckman | Monday July 22nd, 2019

Canadian classic hard rock band Triumph – composed of SOCAN members Rik Emmett (guitar, vocals), Mike Levine (bass, keyboards) and Gil Moore (drums, vocals) – will be inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, on Nov. 23, 2019.

Triumph, being recognized in the Arts and Entertainment field, is an award-winning trio that’s earned multi-platinum sales and several certified gold records, with hit songs, including “Lay it on the Line,” “Magic Power,” and “Fight the Good Fight.”

Responding to news of Triumph’s coming induction, Rik Emmett called it “an incredible honour”; Mike Levine said, “We’d like to thank Canada’s Walk of Fame, and the fans, and the people of Canada”; and Gil Moore called it “a highlight of our career.”

At the same 2019 awards show – the 21st annual edition of the event – the other seven Walk of Fame inductees are:

  • Frank Gehry (Science, Technology and Innovation) – World-renowned architect responsible for some of the most important works of contemporary architecture across the globe.
  • Cindy Klassen (Sports and Athletics) – Three-time Olympian, six-time Olympic medallist long track speed skater, Canada’s most-decorated Olympian.
  • Mark Messier (Sports and Athletics) – One of the greatest hockey players of all time, six-time Stanley Cup champion, member of the Order of Canada.
  • Jim Treliving (Business and Entrepreneurship) – Businessman, venture capitalist, TV personality on the hit series Dragons’ Den, CEO of Boston Pizza International.
  • Will Arnett (Arts and Entertainment) – Emmy-nominated actor, producer, comedian, voice actor, best known for Arrested Development, 30 Rock, BoJack Horseman, and the Lego Movie.
  • Ernie Coombs (Legend Inductee) – Beloved children’s television icon known for his CBC series Mr. Dressup, which was on the air for nearly 30 years.
  • Dr. James Naismith (Science, Technology and Innovation) – A physical educator, physician, coach, and innovator who invented the sport of basketball in 1891.

Two more 2019 inductees will be announced at a later date.

The awards show will be followed by a gala celebration, and the show will air on CTV in December 2019. SOCAN members previously inducted include the late Leonard Cohen, Andy Kim, Col. Chris Hadfield, the late Stompin’ Tom Connors, Michael Bublé, Rush, Sarah McLachlan, Blue Rodeo, The Tragically Hip, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Nickelback, and kd lang.

Register now for The Art of Managing Your Career – Indigenous Perspectives

Story by Howard Druckman | Tuesday July 23rd, 2019

Creative Manitoba is presenting The Art of Managing Your Career – Indigenous Perspectives, a course offering an overview of practical skills required to grow your career as an artist and creator. The eight-session program takes place in October and November 2019, and the instructor is Yvette Hawkes (Métis), a Winnipeg-based freelance visual artist.

For Indigenous artists working in any artistic discipline, the course covers both business and cultural subjects, including:

  • Envisioning and developing a career strategy
  • Effective business and communication skills
  • Marketing and promoting your work
  • Managing projects, financial affairs, and legal matters
  • Cultural mapping and resources
  • Explorations of protocols
  • A history of Indigenous art in Canada
  • Indigenous art in public, commercial, and/or community realms

The course is open to anyone with an existing or emerging arts practice including traditional craftspeople, dancers, filmmakers, musicians, hand drummers, new media content creators, visual artists, writers and knowledge keepers. If you’re a self-employed artist, or looking to increase the portion of your employment derived from your art, then this course is for you.

The course will run for eight consecutive Wednesday evenings in October and November 2019, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. each night, at the Creative Manitoba offices in Winnipeg. There are only 10 spots available. The cost is $120 CDN for members of Creative Manitoba, $170 CDN for non-members, and subsidies and assistance are available. Register here.

Photo by SOCAN. Left to right/ De gauche à droite : Andrew Fedyk and/et Joe Depace (Loud Luxury); Eric Baptiste (CEO/Chef de la direction, SOCAN); Nick Henriques.

SOCAN presents No. 1 Song Award to Nick Henriques, Ultra Music Publishing

Story by Howard Druckman, with files from/avec Melissa Cameron-Passley | Thursday July 18th, 2019

SOCAN has presented a No. 1 Song Award to Nick Henriques and Ultra Music Publishing for co-writing and co-publishing, respectively, the Loud Luxury song “Body” (featuring Brando), which reached No. 1 on the Nielsen BDS CHR Airplay Chart on June 18, 2018, holding the top position for six weeks straight.

A celebratory dinner, held on July 3, 2019, at Pai Northern Thai Kitchen in downtown Toronto, was attended by co-writers Loud Luxury (the duo of Joe Depace and  Andrew Fedyk), as well as original co-publisher Marty Simon of MRD-Music Revenue Data, and Matthew Smeaton of North Side Artists, which manages Loud Luxury – all four of whom were previously awarded for the song during 2019 JUNO Awards week in London, Ontario, in March of this year. Other co-writers on the song were Marlon McClain (ASCAP) and Cassio Lopes (ASCAP).

Representing Ultra Music Publishing at the event were Andreas Rizek, Asim “Awesome” Awan, and Adrian Strong. Also enjoying the dinner was Eric Henriques, who manages Nick Henriques, and Artist/Songwriter Veronica Rinomato. SOCAN attendees included CEO Eric Baptiste, Account Executive Daryl Hamilton, and A&R Representatives Melissa Cameron-Passley and Aidan D’Aoust.