Photo by courtesy/courtoisie. Left to right/De gauche à droite : Ian Andre Espinet, David “Click” Cox, Shantel May, Jully Black

Leaders gather to sign “Declaration to End Anti-Black Racism in the Canadian Music Industry”

Story by Howard Druckman | Monday June 14th, 2021

On June 2, the one-year anniversary of #BlackOutTuesday – the viral global action to protest anti-Black racism – BDRB (Breaking Down Racial Barriers) with CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association) and ADVANCE (Canada’s Black Music Business Collective) will host a virtual declaration signing event for music industry leaders to make public their commitment to anti-Black racism.

The event will include speakers Andrew Cash (President, CIMA), Keziah Myers (Executive Director, ADVANCE), Ian Andre Espinet (Co-Founder, BDRB), David “Click” Cox (Co-Founder, BDRB), Shauna de Cartier (President, Six Shooter Records), Steve Kane (President, Warner Music), Erin Benjamin (President/CEO, Canadian Live Music Association), and performances by Jully Black and Shantel May.

The Declaration builds on the findings of last year’s unprecedented “Breaking Down Racial Barriers” roundtable, which featured more than 60 working Black music professionals discussing anti-Black racism throughout the Canadian music and entertainment industry. The 10-part series featured candid, at times uncomfortable, conversations on anti-Black racism and its impact on artists, live event producers, music creatives, economics, media, and the succession and retention of Black music professionals, including executives, throughout the music ecosystem.

“The BDRB Declaration to End Anti-Black Racism in the Canadian Music Industry” commits signatories to measurable actions. Music industry leaders and practitioners will be expected to make an active, conscious, and ongoing effort to work against racism; to create mechanisms to dismantle systems that perpetuate racism; and to create actionable solutions with measurable outcomes. The Declaration acts as a precursor to the CIMA-commissioned BDRB Report on anti-Black racism in the Canadian music industry, which will arrive in the coming weeks.

Full event registration details here.
View the BDRB Declaration here.
Sign the BDRB Declaration (organizations and corporations) here.

Photo by Marie-Michèle Bouchard

JUNOs Video: Writing songs in a year of isolation and upheaval

Story by Howard Druckman | Monday June 14th, 2021

From the “backstage” virtual media rooms at the 50th annual JUNO Awards in 2021, SOCAN brings you comments from winners, performers, and presenters, about how the past 15 months of physical isolation, and social and political upheaval, may have influenced their songwriting process and subject matter.

The SOCAN members answering the question are:

  • Savannah Ré
  • Ali Gatie
  • Louis-Jean Cormier
  • William Prince
  • Serena Ryder
  • Robbie Baker of The Tragically Hip
  • Kaytranada
  • Leslie Feist
  • Arkells
  • July Talk
  • Leela Gilday
  • WondaGurl
  • TOBi
  • Tenille Townes

SOCAN Satellite Sessions: Teon Gibbs and IAMTHELIVING

Story by Howard Druckman | Monday June 14th, 2021

In order to provide a platform for our members on the rise, we’re pleased to continue the SOCAN Satellite Sessions – an ongoing series of new, unseen member performances broadcast on @SOCANMusic Instagram (and later available across all our social media platforms). In celebration of Black Music Month, the first series of sessions will showcase Black music excellence; each week in June, we’ll present musical performances by some of Canada’s most talented up-and-coming Black songwriters.

The second SOCAN Satellite Session features Teon Gibbs and IAMTHELIVING, streaming  now on @SOCANMusic Instagram.

Bridging the gap between R&B, pop, hip-hop, and soul Teon Gibbs and IAMTHELIVING have come together in funky harmony to deliver a seven-track EP titled JNGL. Hailing from different areas of the world, the pair met in Vancouver and came together to deliver a sound that unites people and makes them want to dance.

Gibbs is a rapper/producer from Botswana, Africa. As a child, he moved between South Africa, Angola, and the U.K with his family, before eventually settling in Vancouver. A multi-faceted artist who often blurs lines between musical genres, he creates a sound all his own, with confidence and versatility. IAMTHELIVING is a soul singer from Southeast London, U.K., who grew up magnetized by the sounds of Michael Jackson, Prince, and Stevie Wonder. Following his music destiny to the West Coast, he now feels at home in Vancouver, both physically and with his art. IAMTHELIVING provides a buttery, soulful croon, over upbeat production, while Gibbs injects laid-back, West Coast wordplay that packs a punch into every track.

Tune in to @SOCANMusic Instagram to see their exclusive video performance!