The SOCAN Foundation held the second annual edition of the groundbreaking Equity X Production mentorship program – designed to empower female-identifying and gender minority producers-in-training – from Sept. 22 to Nov. 6, 2020, online-only this year because of pandemic restrictions.

“The SOCAN Foundation established this national program in response to the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative study launched in 2019,” said Charlie Andrews, Executive Director of the SOCAN Foundation. “The profoundly concerning research exposes the lack of gender diversity among the role of the music producer. We worked to fundraise and develop a program that challenges the status quo by empowering female-identifying and gender minority music-makers to become producers, through education, networking, and support.”

The program is made possible with the generous support of RBC and Ableton, as well as encouragement from the SOCAN Foundation Board of Directors.

The second edition received more than 300 submissions, and allowed for only 24 participants, drawn from all across the country, coast to coast to  coast. About 70% of the participants were from outside of Ontario, and all are SOCAN members. Instructors Heidi Chan, Laura Dickens, and Ableton’s Aggrey Ellis (also all SOCAN members) facilitated, as the group of aspiring and emerging producers worked with, and learned more about, MIDI loops and keyboard mapping, drum machines and samplers, drum programming, workflows, production for live performances, and more.

The second-year participants were (listed in alphabetical order, by last name):

  • Anna Backus
  • Paula Burrows
  • Camille Brereton
  • Erin Costelo
  • Chloe Doyon
  • Brittany Fahel
  • Bridghid Fry
  • Terez Goulet
  • Gan
  • Athena Holmes
  • Alexandra Levy
  • Barbra Lica
  • Alexandria Maillot
  • Sarah Makonnen
  • Aiza Ntibarikure
  • Monica Paez
  • Natalie Ramsay
  • Natasha Roldan
  • Sarah Rossy
  • Anya Smith
  • Alanna Sterling
  • Justine Tyrell
  • Zaynab Wilson
  • Joanna Worthington

Overseeing the program on behalf of the SOCAN Foundation were Charlie Andrews; Meryl Gosch, Project Co-Ordinator; Julien Boumard-Collier, Administrator of Programs; and Dixie Ola, Operational Assistant.

Said participant Paula Burrows, “The course truly encouraged and inspired me to put more hours into producing. Before, I would work on a project for a bit and get either bored or discouraged, hit a wall, and give up. This course made me look at Ableton [producing software] not as a challenge anymore, but instead, more of a new hobby obsession, where anytime I hit a wall, I could get some help from one of our coaches and keep moving on. Every week I was learning a new trick, or a new hidden facet of Ableton, I didn’t know about. It made producing fun again.”

Said participant Athena Holmes, “[The program] inspired me to keep learning with Ableton, and seek other resources to extend learning, on top of the curriculum. Both the participants and instructors are super-knowledgeable and helpful. [Focusing] on sounds design and abstract sound exploration will help me when I’m creating new songs and new sounds… The biggest benefit is being able to talk to educators one-on-one, and really being able to have a mentor to whom I can ask all my questions. Developing connections with like-minded people is invaluable. The overall program has given me more confidence, and being selected to develop a relationship with SOCAN Foundation makes me feel good.”



Words & Music is pleased to extend its helpful “how-to” series for our members, “The Breakdown,” into the realm of short, question-and-answer videos.

 In this episode, SOCAN A&R Representative Racquel Villagante talks again with Mary Ancheta, an in-demand accompanist, composer, and solo performer, who’s successfully transitioning into the screen composing world of “synchs” – synchronizing music and moving images.

Our question this time is, “What Canadian music-ecosystem organizations can help budding screen composers?” Among those mentioned are:



It’s official: the 31st edition of the Gala SOCAN in Montréal will take place on Dec. 7, 2020! While the Francophone edition of the annual SOCAN Awards was slated to take place last September, the current situation has altered our plans, and the winners of this edition will be announced online.

Semaine des 4 Julie, Gala SOCAN 2020, Eli RoseTo kick off this new, virtual edition, we decided to surprise Eli Rose, live and in person, by giving out the first award on  Monday, Nov. 16, while she was a guest on the talk show La semaine des 4 Julie, broadcast on Noovo.

Thanks to the song “Caroussel,” its co-writers Eli Rose, Michael Mlakar, Yannick Rastogi, and Zacharie Raymond, as well as their publisher Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Canada, have won one of the 10 Francophone 2020 Popular Music Awards, given to the most-played songs of 2019. It’s worth noting that this song was created during the 2016 Kenekt Québec Song Camp, where Rose and Banx & Ranx were participants.

Trophies will be awarded to SOCAN’s songwriter, composer, screen composer, and music publisher members in a couple of dozen categories, starting on Dec. 7, when winners are announced. Watch our social media properties, this website, web site as well as a special Gala SOCAN website that  will go live on that date.

SOCAN congratulates Eli Rose, her co-creators, and her publisher, for this SOCAN Award. We’ll see you soon to celebrate the achievements of all the winners!