Photo by courtesy of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame / courtoisie du Panthéon des auteurs et compositeurs canadiens.

Eddie Schwartz to be inducted into Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

Story by CSHF/PACC | Tuesday April 23rd, 2019

The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) is partnering with Canadian Music Week (CMW) to celebrate the induction of musician, songwriter, producer, and industry advocate Eddie Schwartz to the Hall of Fame.  Music industry veteran and CSHF founder Frank Davies will present Schwartz with his songwriter induction during CMW’s 2019 Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards Gala Dinner on May 9, at Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto.

“The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame is a testament to the astonishing cultural contribution that Canadian music creators have made at home and around the world. I’m humbled, honoured, and grateful to have my life’s work recognized and included in its legacy,” says Schwartz.

“We’re excited to celebrate one of our own, a founder of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and one of the most successful songwriters to come out of Canada,” says Vanessa Thomas, Executive Director of the CSHF. “Eddie pursues everything from his heart, whether it’s advocating for the rights of music creators, or pouring his talent into songwriting. His passion and commitment to the music industry has inspired countless artists around him, as well as the next generation of music trailblazers.”

“We’ve always recognized the vital role the creative community plays in the music industry; songwriting has been a key component of Canadian Music Week for over 30 years,” says Neill Dixon, President of CMW. “With the addition of the CSHF induction to the annual Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards Gala, it takes our partnership with SOCAN to a new level. We’re extremely pleased to highlight talented creator, and it’s an honour to celebrate Eddie Schwartz’s induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.”

After CMW, music fans from across Canada, and around the world, can see inductees celebrated through exhibitions at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, in Calgary. As the physical home of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the National Music Centre will continue to honour new inductees through on-site exhibitions, featuring stories, photos, artifacts, and memorabilia.

Photo by courtesy/courtoisie. Nominees/Nommés, left to right/de gauche à droite : Andrew Harris, Kinnie Starr, Daryl Bennett.

More than 40 SOCAN #ComposersWhoScore nominated in 2019 musical LEO Awards

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday April 24th, 2019

More than 40 SOCAN #ComposersWhoScore have been nominated for nine musical honours in the 2019 edition of the LEO Awards, which celebrate excellence each year in British Columbia film and television. The awards, sponsored in part by SOCAN, will be presented May 26, 2019, at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver – the second of three award ceremonies evenings, with the first on May 25 at the Sheraton, and the gala final on June 1 at the Vancouver Hyatt Regency.

SOCAN congratulates all of the nominees:

Best Musical Score Motion Picture
Andrew Harris, Anthem of a Teenage Prophet|
Randy Raine-Reusch, Bella Ciao!
Kinnie Starr, Edge of the Knife (Sgaawaay K’uuna)
Schaun Tozer, Rabbit
Wayne Lavallee, Red Snow
Christopher Arruda, Woodland

Best Musical Score Television Movie
Hamish Thomson, Christmas Pen Pals
Matthew Rogers, Falling For You
Mark Lazeski, No One Would Tell
Peter Allen, Truly Madly Sweetly

Best Musical Score Short Drama
Scott Thompson, A Typical Fairytale
Bryant Olender, Exhibit Man
Dave Chick (BMI), Extra-Ordinary Amy
Michael Neilson, Giltrude’s Dwelling
Matthew Rogers, Girl on A Bus
Sean William (N/A), Small Fish

Best Musical Score Dramatic Series
Hamish Thomson, Chesapeake Shores – “Before A Following Sea”
Dan Mangan, Unspeakable – “Heat Treatment”
Rich Walters, Van Helsing – “Birth Ritual”

Best Musical Score Feature Length Documentary
Mark Lazeski, Ben Hulse, Design Canada
Daryl Bennett, I Am MLK Jr.
Michael Richard Plowman, Letter from Masanjia
Kenton Gilchrist, Safety to Nome
Grant Baldwin, This Mountain Life

Best Musical Score Short Documentary
Andrew Harris, After the Sirens
David F. Ramos, Purple Horse
Jordan Soles, Speedway!
Daryl Bennett, The Bailey Experience

Best Musical Score Documentary Series
Greg Fisher, Derek Treffry, Border Security: America’s Front Line – “Episode 207”
Christopher Nickel, Highway Thru Hell – “Above And Beyond”
Christopher Nickel, Wild Bear Rescue – “Wild, Wild Grizzly”

Best Musical Score Animation Program or Series
Matt Davis, 16 Hudson – “Monkey King”
David Parfit, Marc Junker, Esluna: The First Monolith
Mehdi Farshidfar, Second Home – “Journey”

Best Music Video
“Chains” by Dear Rouge – Martin Glegg, Kristoff Duxbury – Producers
“Glass” by Jo Passed – John Mutter – Producer
“Going Late” by Humans – Peter Ricq, Devin Karringten – Producers
“I Can’t Be You” by Chersea – Paul Bourque – Producer
“Murphy’s Law” by Chersea – Paul Bourque – Producer
“UnAmerican” by Said The Whale – Johnny Jansen – Producer

For more information and a complete list of winners visit the awards website.

Photo by Une vie sans art, vraiment? Left to right / De gauche à droite : Fanny Britt, David Bussières

“Life Without Art? Really?” launches awareness campaign

Story by Eric Parazelli | Tuesday April 23rd, 2019

The Copyright Act of Canada is being reviewed by the government.

In collaboration with all the Canadian copyright management organizations, we’ve worked to make the voices of all our members heard in Ottawa, so that the new law achieves a better balance between artists and users. On April 23, 2019, we launch our “Life Without Art? Really?” campaign .

This public information campaign aims to raise the awareness of decision-makers on the importance and influence of art, and on the impact a weak law can have. People are invited to sign our manifesto, on our website, at www.uneviesansart.ca/en. By signing, members of the public will be able to show their support for a stronger copyright law.

We need you, SOCAN members, to help us turn this campaign into truly successful one! Please sign the manifesto, tell people around you about it, and share it on your social media, using the hashtag #lifewithoutart.

Three short videos were created to explain the stakes of this campaign to members of the public. They’re easy-to-share tools that efficiently communicate the campaign’s messages, and prompt the public to learn more about the issue. David Bussières, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Claude Robinson, Ricardo Trogi, Fanny Britt, and Mani Soleymanlou are featured in these videos, and they invite everyone to take action for the improved protection of artists and their works. The videos will be uploaded, one by one, on Facebook, YouTube, and on the campaign’s website, on April 23, 25, and 28.

Thank you!