Photo by courtesy of/courtoisie de Miranda Bonavia

Video: The Breakdown – “When do I need to work with a manager?”

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday December 9th, 2020

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 with Miranda Bonavia, who manages the careers of reclusive, highly successful singer-songwriter Allan Rayman and upcoming Indigenous artist Ruby Waters. Bonavia has also interned at Bedlam Music Management / Dine Alone Records, and volunteered in office administration at Ottawa Festivals, a networking environment for local, capital-area fests, special events, and fairs.

Our question this time is, “When do I need to work with a manager?”

Photo by courtesy of/courtoisie de Michael Suski

2020 SOCAN Gala Video: Michael “DRTWRK” Suski, International Award

Story by Eric Parazelli | Thursday December 10th, 2020

DRTWRK, a.k.a. Michael Suski, has won the 2020 SOCAN International Award, and has an impressive track record for 2019: a production credit on Kanye West’s Grammy nominated album Jesus is King, which also won two American Music Awards; a collaboration with Timbaland; he worked on Joyner Lucas’ album; and he produced the song “Let It Fly” by Lil’ Wayne and Travi$ Scott, which won the 2020 SOCAN International Song Award.

These are the first major awards that DRTWRK has earned in his musical career. We reached him at his home in the West end of Montréal to hear his story, from his first collaborations with local artists to the highest levels of American rap. He also told us about the difficulty of gaining media recognition for an English-speaking music creator in Québec, echoing the criticisms of Kaytranada a few days ago.

To find out everything about the winners of the 2020 Francophone SOCAN Gala, visit galasocan2020.socan.com.

Photo by courtesy of/courtoisie de Jean-François Pauzé

2020 SOCAN Gala Video: Cowboys Fringants’ Jean-François Pauzé, Songwriter Of The Year

Story by Eric Parazelli | Wednesday December 9th, 2020


Twenty-five years after the release of his first song with the legendary group Les Cowboys Fringants – and following the immense success of their album Les Antipodes, and the biggest hit of their career,  “L’Amérique pleure” – Jean-François Pauzé, the band’s main songwriter, received the SOCAN 2020 Songwriter of the Year Award.

We videoconferenced with him from his home to capture his reaction to receiving this prestigious honour, the first he’s ever received personally, for his undeniable songwriting talent. It was also an ideal opportunity to look back on his accomplishments of the past 25 years.

To find out everything about the winners of the 2020 Francophone SOCAN Gala, visit galasocan2020.socan.com.