Photo by courtesy/courtoisie Michael Asante

Michael Asante joins SOCAN as first A&R Representative, Rap and R&B

Story by SOCAN | Monday November 30th, 2020

SOCAN has appointed Michael Asante to the role of A&R Representative, Rap and R&B, a new position to address this rapidly growing part of the company’s membership base. His appointment is the culmination of a four-month search that saw more than 500 applicants vie for the role.

As A&R Representative, Rap and R&B, Asante will:

  • Actively recruit Canadian music creators by scouting for emerging artists/songwriters, producers, and screen composers who are, or have the potential to be, relevant in rap, R&B, pop, electronic/dance, rock, and screen composer genres.
  • Identify emerging Canadian music creators and trends.
  • Build relationships with emerging music creators and their business teams by meeting with them, listening to their music, attending their shows, and discussing their career aspirations and needs from a creative and business perspective.
  • Provide support to SOCAN’s music publishing and screen composer member communities.
  • Strategically analyze member earnings and trends to prepare financial reports to maximize members’ SOCAN experience.
  • Create career opportunities for members by introducing songwriters and composers to applicable creative and industry members to further their careers (i.e., music publishers, managers, agents, and record labels.
  • Facilitate creative opportunities, such as planning and executing songwriting camps and workshops, songwriting collaborations, master production classes, and business seminars.

Asante’s career before SOCAN included roles as Digital & E-mail Marketing Manager with Canopy Growth; founder of A&R Report Inc., a consultancy that scouts and researches new songwriters, producers, artists, and engineers; Marketing Automation Specialist with G Adventures; and Marketing Manager with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Koerner Hall) in Toronto.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Michael Asante to the SOCAN team,” said Interim-CEO Jennifer Brown. “He brings expertise and dedication to the vital and rapidly expanding Rap and R&B part of our total membership of nearly 170,000 music creators and publishers.”

“It’s with great pleasure that I join an amazing organization and team over at SOCAN,” said Asante. “Over the years, I’ve prided myself on building with, and serving, artists in the music community. Please feel free to utilize me as a vessel when it comes to building and growing your musical careers. I look forward to working with each and every member in the SOCAN family.”

Photo by SPACQ. Left to right/De gauche à droite : Les Louanges, FouKi, Coeur de pirate

Fondation SPACQ distributes $160,000 in grants

Story by Marie-Michèle Bouchard | Monday November 30th, 2020

Just as it has, every year for the past 15 years, Fondation SPACQ (Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec) has presented its annual awards. A total of 16 grants of $10,000 each, totalling $160,000, have been awarded to 16 winners.

“Year after year, it’s with renewed pleasure always that Fondation SPACQ celebrates the accomplishments of songwriters while gathering not only those creators, but businesspeople, broadcasters, and other major players in our musical ecosystem,” said Diane Juster, the president of Fondation SPACQ. “The major changes our industry is undergoing are getting deeper and deeper, and have a major impact on the condition of music creators. It’s vital that we keep defending their interests, and stop the erosion of their rights. Thanks to our partners’ continued commitment, Fondation SPACQ is able to shine a light on, and recognize, the tremendous talent of our creators.”

Starting today, and until Dec. 8, 2020, short videos of the winners, produced by Les Productions Déferlantes, will air on TVA. These clips will then be available on the Fondation SPACQ website.

SOCAN congratulates the 2020 winners:

PRIX ANDRÉ « DÉDÉ » FORTIN—Presented by Stingray Music
Emerging artist—Les Louanges

PRIX ANDRÉ GAGNON—Presented by Québecor
Instrumental music—Yannick Rieu

PRIX DIANE JUSTER—Presented by RNC MEDIA
Social involvement—Chloé Ste-Marie

PRIX EDDY-MARNAY—Presented by Productions Feeling
Outstanding imagination—Les Trois Accords

PRIX ÉDITH BUTLER—Presented by Bell Média
Canadian Francophonie—Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire

PRIX ÉVAL MADIGAT—Presented by the Evenko Foundation
Musical diversity—Fouki

PRIX FRANÇOIS COUSINEAU—Presented by Cogeco
Songwriting—Marc Dupré

PRIX GILLES VIGNEAULT—Presented by the National Bank|
On-going career—Charlotte Cardin

PRIX LUC PLAMONDON—Presented by ICI Musique
Lyricist—Laurence Jalbert

PRIX LUCILLE-DUMONT—Presented by Industrielle Alliance
Singer—Marie-Denise Pelletier

PRIX RICHARD GRÉGOIRE – Presented by Hydro-Québec
On-Screen Music – Gabriel Thibaudeau

PRIX SYLVAIN-LELIÈVRE – Presented by Fiera Capital
Songwriting Career – Jacques Michel

PRIX BEAU DOMMAGE – Presented by RNC Média
Creative Collaboration – Bon Débarras

PRIX STÉPHANE VENNE – Presented by SOCAN
Non-Singing Songwriter – Steve Marin

PRIX ROBERT CHARLEBOIS – Presented by Power Corporation
International Reach – Cœur de Pirate

PRIX PAUL DARAÎCHE – Presented by Arsenal Médias
Country  Music – Cindy Bédard

Photo by Brad Ardley

SOCAN Leadership Updates: Catharine Saxberg

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday November 25th, 2020

In the midst of social distancing to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, SOCAN is continuing to operate at full capacity. To keep you posted about what we’re doing to adapt to the situation, and how we’re doing it, we present a series of SOCAN Leadership Updates – online video interviews with various SOCAN executives.

This time, SOCAN’s Vice-President of International Relations, Catharine Saxberg, discusses her team’s role in ensuring that our members have continued to receive their global royalties, not charging them for worldwide collections, and how the department works.