On June 20, 2025, during the Rendez-Vous Pros des Francos, the Association des professionnels de l’édition musicale (APEM), in partnership with SOCAN, awarded the prestigious Christopher J. Reed Award to Diane Pinet, founder and President of Bloc Notes Musique and member of the SOCAN Board of Directors.
The award, named in tribute to the late, great music publisher, who passed away in 2012, is presented annually to an individual committed to his or her professional community, who demonstrates great respect for creators and copyright, and whose contribution to the practice and recognition of the music publishing profession is outstanding.
For the occasion, friends and colleagues of Pinet gathered to pay tribute to her, and celebrate her remarkable achievements. Thus, in addition to a touching performance by singer-songwriter Léa Jarry, many longtime friends and colleagues expressed their admiration, in a video montage that included: Alain Brunet, Head of Operations at PAN M 360; Diane Cadieux, songwriter; Alex Artun, President of Rosemarie Records; Margaret McGuffin, Kim Temple, Laura Holtebrinck, and Miya Strauss of Music Publishers Canada (MPC); Miro, singer-songwriter; Matthieu Tessier, President of Warner Chappell Music France; Fred St-Gelais, songwriter and producer; Jacques Primeau, artist manager and President of Productions Jacques K. Primeau; Benjamin Nadeau, songwriter and producer; and Alicia Pinet Boesten, daughter of Diane Pinet.
Pinet has extensive experience in the copyright sector and a sound knowledge of the music industry, having held various positions, including agent, live show producer, and publisher.
It all began in high school for Pinet, when she was President of the Board of Directors of the Polyvalente de Pierrefonds and started producing concerts. Diane then began working as a booking agent at A.P.A., handling tours for Harmonium, Octobre, Beau Dommage, and Manège, among many others. She then pursued her career at PROCAN – now SOCAN – where she was responsible for songwriters and publishers in Québec and French-speaking Canada.
In 1987, despite doubts expressed by those around her, Pinet founded her own publishing house, Bloc Notes Musique. She’s dedicated herself to the development of her songwriters, both domestically and internationally. One of her first international contracts was with Les Rita Mitsouko, as well as with the band Clouseau’s catalog (Virgin France) for the Canadian territory.
In 2021, as voted by her peers, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award – Publishing Company Legacy honour from MPC, which recognizes the achievements and contributions of leading figures in the Canadian music publishing industry. Bloc Notes Musique has repeatedly won the ADISQ Félix award for Publisher of the Year, most recently in 2024, along with several SOCAN Awards, and SOCAN’s Publisher of the Year Award in 2021 and 2023. Bloc Notes Musique has also received numerous Gold and Platinum sales certifications.
Pinet currently sits on the boards of SOCAN, the SOCAN Foundation, MPC, Studio Bell National Music Centre, PAN M 360, as well as the CARAS-JUNOS committees, and many others. She pursues her work with passion, organizing twice-a-year song camps and co-writing sessions with significant impact.
SOCAN extends its warmest congratulations to Pinet, who joins a prestigious list of past honorees, including Daniel Lafrance (2013); Jehan V. Valiquet (2014); David Murphy (2015); Carol Ryan (2016); Claude Brunet (2017); Serge Provençal (2019); Patrick Curley (2020); Nicole Beausoleil (2021); Lucie Bourgouin (2022); France Lafleur (2023); and Rosaire Archambault (2024).
APEM panel at the Rendez-Vous Pros des Francos
Photo: Productions Novak
As part of the Rendez-Vous Pros des Francos, APEM also presented a conference entitled Pas de carrière sans édition: ce qu’il faut savoir pour aller chercher tous ces revenus (No career without publishing: what you need to know to find all those revenues), presented by Xavier Debreuille, Director of Development and Publishing at Disques Musicor. Several basic concepts were covered during this conference, including what music publishing is; why songwriters should be interested in it; sources of revenue; and various different contracts and licenses. Addressing Rendez-Vous attendees, Debreuille explained that as soon as a musical work is created, there are publishing activities. They can generate revenue in all the contexts in which we use music (concerts, sound recordings, screen productions, internet, videogames, etc.). In short, relevant and rewarding exchanges.