Jean-Michel Blais wins Cannes Soundtrack Award

Story by Eric Parazelli | Thursday May 30th, 2019

SOCAN member Jean-Michel Blais continues to win kudos for his outstanding talent at the piano. This time, he’s received a special mention for his contribution to the music of Xavier Dolan’s film Matthias & Maxime, which was selected in official competition at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Blais was honoured on May 25, 2019, with the Cannes Soundtrack Award for “a work of remarkable quality,” in the words of Cannes Soundtrack founder Vincent Doerr.

“This special mention by the jury is beyond all understanding,” Blais commented on Facebook after receiving the unexpected honour. “I owe it to the one who believed in me, Xavier Dolan, and to all of those who made this possible. This is all the more unbelievable  because until recently, it had never occurred to me that I could work as a film composer, and even less that I would end up at the Cannes Festival!”

Blais also gave a special performance at the end of the Cannes Soundtrack Award ceremony, before picking up the traditional golden record for his special mention. The Matthias & Maxime original soundtrack should be available in the Fall.

SOCAN warmly congratulates Jean-Michel Blais on his Cannes Film Festival success!

Photo by Brad Ardley

Manito Ahbee 2019 Video Interview: Leonard Sumner

Story by Howard Druckman | Thursday May 30th, 2019

In an exclusive interview with SOCAN – conducted at the 2019 Manito Ahbee Indigenous  Music Conference  – Leonard Sumner speaks about all of the thought and consideration that went into his JUNO-nominated album Standing in the Light, and reviews the simple rules of building music-industry relationships.

Photo by courtesy of/courtoisie de Top of the Country. From top left/ D'en haut à gauche : Matt Lang, Kelsi Mayne, Tim & The Glory Boys.

Three finalists selected for SiriusXM’s $25,000 Top of the Country contest

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday May 29th, 2019

SiriusXM Canada has announced the three finalists for the second annual Top of the Country contest, in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA). Matt Lang, Kelsi Mayne, and  Tim & The Glory Boys will compete live onstage to be crowned Canada’s next big country star. The winner will receive a $25,000 CAD cash prize, perform at a major country music festival, and enjoy an exclusive mentorship session in Toronto with influential people from throughout the music industry.

They’ll also win a full-support package from SOCAN, including participation in an international country-music song camp presented by SOCAN and the CCMA; a week-long stay at the SOCAN Nashville House, for writing and co-writing sessions; and the full weight of SOCAN’s A&R department to additionally foster their music and further their career.

The grand prize winner will be chosen live at the Top of the Country Finale during Country Music Week 2019 in Calgary, from Sept. 5-8. Finalists will compete live onstage before a soon-to-be-announced headlining act, with the event airing live on SiriusXM.

Last year’s winner Andrew Hyatt, was named an “Artist To Watch” by Entertainment Tonight Canada; had back-to-back Top 10 country radio hits (“On Me” and “Do It With You”); was one of the Top 10 most played Canadian country artists at Canadian country radio in 2018; and  won the 2018 Country Music Association of Ontario Rising Star Award.

To watch the 2019 finalists’ videos, please visit https://topcountry.siriusxm.ca/#WatchAndShare.