Photo by Frédérique Ménard Aubin

Francouvertes 2023: Jeanne Côté wins the finals

Story by Eric Parazelli | Wednesday May 24th, 2023

The SiriusXM Grand Finale of the 2023 Francouvertes contest took place at Club Soda in Montréal on May 15, 2023. Jeanne Côté was won the Grand Prize, that included a cash award of $15,000. She delivered an captivating folk-pop performance, rooted in her native Gaspésie. Then it was the turn of third-place winner Héron, who has a knack for touching people while he makes them dance to his roots-pop stylings. Parazar, who finished second, was the evening’s closer, and set the roof on fire with her groovy rap.

Parazar

Parazar

Parazar earned the SOCAN Paroles & Musique Award during the sem-ifinal round. She won a $1,000 cash prize and an invitation to the next Kenekt Studio song camp in Montréal. SOCAN was present throughout the contest, as the presenting partner of the “J’aime mes ex” series that features former Francouvertes contestants as opening acts for each show.

Marie Céleste won the $5,000 Andréanne-Sasseville cash prize, awarded by SiriusXM, and determined by an online vote among the nine semi-finalists.

Spokespersons Calamine and Samian brilliantly set the tone with hard-hitting performances, before yielding the stage to the finalists of the 2023 edition.

For the complete list of the prizes awarded out to the 2022 finalists, visit the Francouvertes website.

The final round of Francouvertes was also broadcast live online, but you can catch the entire evening in a special broadcast on Attitude Franco – SiriusXM 63, on Wednesday, May 24, at 12 noon ET, and Friday, May 26, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

SOCAN congratulates Jeanne Côté on her victory, one that we hope bodes well for the rest of her promising career.

Photo by courtesy of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame / courtoisie du Panthéon de la musique canadienne. Clockwise from top left / dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre, à partir du haut à gauche : Diane Dufresne, Dr. Oliver Jones, Terri Clark, Trooper.

Diane Dufresne, Oliver Jones, Terri Clark, Trooper inducted into Canadian Music Hall of Fame

Story by Hward Druckman | Thursday May 25th, 2023

Québécoise singer-songwriter Diane Dufresne, jazz pianist and composer Dr. Oliver Jones, rock band Trooper, and country singer-songwriter Terri Clark were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame on May 18, 2023, at Studio Bell in Calgary.

Clark, Dufresne, and Trooper performed at the ceremony, CBC on-air personality Julie Nesrallah hosted the event, and Jann Arden and vocalist Ranee Lee were among the presenters. Lee and pianist Robi Botos performed a tribute to Jones, who was in the audience, and 2022 inductee Deborah Cox also made a special appearance.

We congratulate all of these SOCAN members on such great achievements!

Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Inductions, 2023, Diane Dufresne, Oliver Jones, Terri Clark, Trooper
Click on the photo above to watch the entire induction ceremony on CBC Gem

 

Photo by courtesy/courtoisie. 2023 ISC winner/gagnant Dan Davidson

Four songs written by SOCAN members win in 2022 International Songwriting Competition

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday May 24th, 2023

Out of more than 18,000 entries from 140 countries, four songs written or co-written by SOCAN members won in the 2022 International Songwriting Competition, in separate musical categories.

The SOCAN members honoured with second-place prizes for their songs were:

  • Monica Fadai-Nia and Andrew Ripp (BMI), in the Adult Contemporary category for “Found My Way to You,” performed by Hendrix (not to be confused with Jimi Hendrix);
  • In the Rock category, Jared Salte and Bethany Salte, with “Little High Little Low,” performed by The Royal Foundry; and
  • Dan Davidson, Clayton Bellamy, and Mitch Merritt, in the Country category, with “Warm Beer,” performed by Davidson.

In the R&B/Soul category, Jully Black’s “Half Empty,” written and performed by her, made a third-place finish, and 25 more songs written or co-written by SOCAN members earned honourable mentions. For a complete list of 2022 ISC winners and honourable mentions, and to hear the winning songs, visit the ISC website.

Now in its 22nd year, the ISC was created to recognize great songwriters and to provide a valuable platform for them to be heard by the music industry and public alike. The competition is open to both professional and amateur songwriters. More than 70 winners in more than 20 genre categories share more than $225,000 USD in cash and prizes, including an overall Grand Prize of $25,000 USD cash, and more. Previous winners have included Jane Siberry, Vance Joy, Faouzia, Sam Roberts, Tenille Townes, The Trews, and many more.