Photo by Unison Fund

Live music workers can apply now for one-time $2,500 payment

Story by Howard Druckman | Thursday July 7th, 2022

Are you a live music worker? If so, you may be eligible to apply for the Unison Fund’s Live Music Workers Fund!

The Government of Canada, through the Department of Canadian Heritage, has awarded the Unison Fund almost $16.9 million to distribute to live music workers. Three other national organizations (Fondation des Artistes, The Actors Fund of Canada, and the Canadian Dance Assembly) also received funding to distribute to other live performing arts communities.

Unison has built a new online application portal to distribute this new funding stream, and is ready to accept applications from July 6, 2022, until March 31, 2023.

All qualified applicants – independent and self-employed workers in the live music sector – will receive a one-time payment of $2,500 through the funding stream Live Music Workers Fund, to support themselves and their families with basic living expenses, such as groceries, shelter (rent), and medical expenses.

All eligible applicants must be:

  • Individuals who’ve worked primarily in the live music industry for at least two consecutive years.
  • Individuals who are self-employed or independent workers (i.e., not in a salaried position).
  • Individuals who’ve earned at least 55% of their income from the Canadian music industry.

Live Music Occupations may include:

  • Artist
  • Artist Manager or Management Company
  • Booking Agent
  • Composer
  • Concert Photographer
  • Concert Recording Engineer
  • Consultant
  • DJ
  • Event Production/Festival
  • Marketing/Communications
  • Merchandiser
  • Musician
  • Production Company
  • Promoter
  • Publisher
  • Publicist/Public Relations/Media
  • Retailer (Instruments and Supplies)
  • Songwriter
  • Stagehand/Roadie
  • Talent Buyer
  • Technician
  • Tour Management/Operator
  • Venue
  • Video

To start the application process, apply – or register to apply – now at https://unison.smartsimple.ca/.

Photo by courtesy/courtoisie. Snotty Nose Rez Kids.

SOCAN members dominate 2022 Polaris Music Prize Short List

Story by Howard Druckman | Thursday July 14th, 2022

SOCAN congratulates all of its members who’ve been short-listed for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize! All of the solo artists on the short list, announced July 14, 2022, are SOCAN members, and all of the listed bands include at least one singer-songwriter who’s a SOCAN member.

The short list, by artist, is (in alphabetical order, by band name or surname):

  • Destroyer – LABYRINTHITIS
  • Pierre Kwenders – José Louis and the Paradox of Love
  • Lisa Leblanc – Chiac Disco
  • Hubert Lenoir – PICTURA DE IPSI : Musique directe
  • Kelly McMichael – Waves
  • Ombiigizi – Sewn Back Together
  • Ouri – Frame of a Fauna
  • Shad – TAO
  • Snotty Nose Rez Kids – Life After
  • Charlotte Day Wilson – ALPHA

For more information, visit the Polaris Music Prize website.

Photo by Monse Muro

Laura Niquay earns 2021 SOCAN Foundation TD $10,000 Indigenous Songwriter Award

Story by SOCAN Foundation / Fondation SOCAN | Thursday July 7th, 2022

Critically acclaimed Atikamekw singer-songwriter Laura Niquay, from Trois-Rivières, QC, has earned the 2021 SOCAN Foundation TD Indigenous Songwriter Award. Niquay is being honoured for her songs “Moteskano” and “Nikto Kicko,” works that offer a view into her energized folk-grunge universe.

Created in 2018, The SOCAN Foundation TD Indigenous Songwriter Award was created to recognize and celebrate the artistic merit demonstrated by Indigenous songwriters of any genre. Niquay will receive a cash prize of $10,000, in addition to opportunities and efforts toward her career development. In addition, the Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC) and Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec (SPACQ) are offering a one-year complimentary membership to their organization for the Grand Prize winner.

Special distinction awards of $1,000 are also being made to Anyma, LJ Tyson, Shane Ghostkeeper, Kristi Sinclair and Jayli Wolf, to recognize their works.

“The Indigenous Songwriter Award recognizes artistic excellence in songwriting achieved by an indigenous music creator in Canada, and we’re proud to collaborate with TD to celebrate Laura Niquay,” said Charlie Wall-Andrews, Executive Director of SOCAN Foundation. “The award is a significant part of our ongoing, mutual efforts with TD to foster, celebrate, and create opportunities for Indigenous music creators.”

Hundreds of applications from artists across Canada, covering a wide variety of musical genres, were submitted for consideration, and winners were selected by a jury and advisory council of prominent Indigenous artists and industry leaders. including those of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit heritage. This special Award is made possible with the support of TD Bank Group.

“Congratulations to Laura Niquay for being the recipient of the TD Indigenous Songwriter Award,” said Uma Venkataramaiah, Senior Manager, Philanthropy (Canada), Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. “We’re so proud to continue collaborating with the SOCAN Foundation, and honouring the musical and cultural contributions of artists from the Indigenous community. Through the TD Ready Commitment, we seek to highlight emerging artists as they navigate their careers.”

Since childhood, Laura Niquay was nourished by her family’s classical guitar sounds in the small community of Wemotaci in Trois-Rivières, QC. The time soon came when Laura, too, picked up a guitar to compose her own songs. She stands out by singing in her native language, Atikamekw, with an incomparable voice.

Critically acclaimed, her latest album was finely crafted over several years with sidekick Simon Walls, as well as production by the team at Musique Nomade. The result is a multi-layered, luminous, and complex opus. With collaborations from Shauit, Anachnid (2019 SOCAN Foundation TD Indigenous Songwriter Award Winner), RedTails Spirit Singers, Gotta Lago, Eadsé, Kanen, and Soleil Launière, the diversity of Indigenous voices shines through.

“I draw my strength from my roots and the teachings of my mother and other elders,” says Niquay. “With my music, I want to encourage the Atikamekw and other members of Indigenous communities to be proud of who they are, and to walk in the path of their ancestors. For me, the promotion of the Atikamekw language is very important for the transmission of language to the younger generations, but also for the awareness of the non-native public. I’m honoured to be recognized with this Award. Thank you to SOCAN Foundation and TD, and congratulations to all the artists being recognized for their amazing works.”

On July 7 (today), at 6:00 p.m. ET, all SOCAN Foundation TD Indigenous Songwriter Award recipients will be honoured on a special edition of The Kim Wheeler Show on SiriusXM’s The Indigiverse, Channel 165. Listeners will learn more about all the recipients from across Canada, hear their music, and there will be several special guests. The show will also re-air on July 8 at 4:00 p.m. ET, July 9 at 12 noon ET, July 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET, or anytime on your SiriusXM App.