Dennis Ellsworth wins Song, SOCAN Songwriter honours at PEI Music Awards

Story by Howard Druckman | Monday January 28th, 2019

Dennis Ellsworth won both the Song and SOCAN Songwriter of the Year honours at the 2019 PEI Music Awards, on Jan. 27, 2019, at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel. Both awards were in recognition of the excellence his song, “She’s Never Wrong.”

Besides Ellsworth, double-award honourees included Meaghan Blanchard and Rachel Beck, while Vishtèn and the East Pointers were the two big winners, taking home three trophies each. (Beck also earned a SOCAN No. 1 Song Award for “Reckless Heart” in 2018.)

For a complete list of winners, click here. SOCAN congratulates all of our award-winning members on this great achievement!

Vishten
Vishtèn won three 2019 PEI Music Awards.

Photo by Lindsay Blaine

SOCAN opens new Vancouver office!

Story by Howard Druckman, with files from Racquel Villagante | Monday January 28th, 2019

About 160 SOCAN members, key music industry personnel, and other colleagues in the community helped SOCAN celebrate the opening of its new Vancouver office with an Open House Happy Hour, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on both Jan. 22 and 23, 2019. Located at 375 Water Street, Suite 385, in Vancouver’s lively Gastown area, our new location will help to forge even closer ties with music industry stakeholders in the city.

Jocelyn Morlock, SOCAN, Michael McCarty, Eric Baptiste, Racquel Villagante, Ed Hendersen

Left to right: SOCAN’s Michael McCarty and CEO Eric Baptiste; Jocelyn Morlock; SOCAN’s Racquel Villagante; and SOCAN Board Member Ed Henderson.

The crowd at the open house included a diverse array of British Columbia-based member songwriters, composers, and producers, including SOCAN Board of Directors member Ed Henderson, Jocelyn Morlock (who was presented with her 2018 Jan V. Matejcek SOCAN Award),  Louise Burns, Mathew V, Luca Fogale, Alexandria Maillot, Jordan Klassen, Bobs & LoLo, members of The Tourist Company, Zach Gray of The Zolas, Garth “GGGarth” Richardson, and Chin Injeti.

Among the industry folk packed in to the new office were representatives from Warner Music Canada, Tonic Records, Boompa Records, Play MPE, Music BC, Creative BC, Macklam Feldman, Secret Study, Tiny Kingdom, Locals Lounge, Locals Only, Groundwerk, Nimbus School of Recording and Media, Simkin Management,  604 Records / Light Organ Records, Mint Records, Monstercat, The District, BBTV, Echoplant Studios, Amelia Artists, High Tide Artists, and more.

The Sound Lounge was by far the most popular room in the office space, and the open house saw plenty of jamming on the Roland 808 drum machine, keyboard, and drums. There was lots of singing, which drew partygoers in to listen, and join the songwriting/improvisational jam. Without being asked, members left their mark on the room’s writeable idea wall, signing their names around the “Welcome to SOCAN Vancouver” message. The room will house the Vancouver office’s Song Camp Mondays, which will occur monthly starting in February of 2019.

SOCAN, Vancouver, Jody Glenham, Savannah Wellman, Tiny Kingdom, Brenda Grunau, Creative BC

Left to right: Singer-songwriter/producer Jody Glenham, Savannah Wellman of Tiny Kingdom, and Brenda Grunau of Creative BC.

“Roland Canada is thrilled to be partnering with SOCAN for their new Sound Lounge at their beautiful new Vancouver office,” said Roland Canada CEO Brian Dupas. “As a proud supporter of Canadian music, we can’t wait to see what local artists will create with the gear we’ve provided for the space.”

SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste, Chief Membership and Business Development Officer Mike McCarty, and Vancouver-based A&R Representative Racquel Villagante (who organized the event) were at the open house on both nights, to connect with both members and industry.

Photo by Brad Ardley

Tebey signs with SOCAN for worldwide royalty collection

Story by Howard Druckman | Friday January 25th, 2019

We’re pleased and proud to report that global hit songwriter and Canadian star Tebey has signed an agreement with SOCAN to collect his royalties throughout the world. Tebey signed the deal while accompanied by SOCAN Director, A&R, Rodney Murphy, and A&R Representative Melissa Cameron-Passley.

“I’m beyond excited to be back with SOCAN for the worldwide collection of my royalties. I first met Rodney Murphy as an 18-year-old kid trying to break into the industry,” said Tebey.

“It’s extra special coming full circle like this.  Rodney’s one of the best creatives in our industry, and his passion for music and its creators is unmatched.”

“It’s a real pleasure to be able to sign Tebey to a worldwide deal with SOCAN,” said Murphy. “Not only is he a prolific and globally successful professional songwriter ‘behind the scenes,’ but he’s also a star singer-songwriter in his home and native land, as well. SOCAN couldn’t be happier to be working with him again, throughout the world.”

Tebey is a multi-genre songwriter and recording artist originally from Peterborough, ON, but now living in Nashville.  Over the years, his songs have been recorded by some of the biggest names in pop music, from One Direction and FLO RIDA, to Fifth Harmony and Cher.  His song “All About Tonight” (recorded by Pixie Lott) was a No. 1 single in the U.K., and was nominated for Single of The Year at the prestigious Brit Awards.  Tebey has seen eight of his songs reach No. 1 internationally, including country artist Justin Moore’s “Somebody Else Will,” which became his first No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard charts in 2017.  Last year was a particularly successful one for Tebey, as two of his co-writes reached No. 1 on the Canadian country music charts: “Dive Bar” by Gord Bamford, and his own single, “Who’s Gonna Love You.”  As a recording artist in his own right, Tebey has had three Top Five singles, and four Top 10s.

SOCAN welcomes Tebey back, and congratulates him on his great success!