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SOCAN
Jessie Reyez at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto on Oct. 26, 2027.
FYI
Music News Digest: Jessie Reyez, Maestro Fresh Wes Star at SOCAN Awards 2026
Also this week: Massey Hall launches new free showcase series In Rotation, CIMA leads a Canadian business mission to Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) and Juliann Kuchocki and more.
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Last night (Oct. 26), almost 600 music creators, publishers, and industry leaders gathered at Rebel on the Toronto waterfront to celebrate the 36th SOCAN Awards.
This year's winners list was topped by globally renowned screen composer Andrew Lockington and superstar Drake, with five awards each. Though he was not there in person, Drake earned his sixth SOCAN songwriter of the year – performer award, along with four additional rap and R&B Music Awards, and Andrew Lockington won for screen composer of the year, and a most streamed film music award for Atlas, alongside honours for his work on the Taylor Sheridan series’ Landman, Mayor of Kingstown and Special Ops: Lioness.
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A diverse range of Canadian artists took to the stage to collect other prestigious awards, including Jessie Reyez (for international achievement), Kpop Demon Hunters songwriter Jenna Andrews (songwriter of the year, non-performer), Jade LeMac (breakout songwriter), Nathan Micay (breakout composer) and composer Peter Peter, recognized with the global impact award for his work on the international blockbuster series Heated Rivalry.
In accepting her award, Reyez noted that his honour ‘’feels like coming back from a long trip, setting your suitcase down, and remembering you’re at home.” Making the night even sweeter for Reyez was a tribute performance by Savannah Ré and Jhyve.
Rising Canadian pop singer-songwriter Sofia Camara earned the viral song award for her Billboard Canadian Hot 100 charting song "Girls Like You." Camara was also just announced as the first performer at the star-studded Billboard Canada Women In Music celebration on Nov. 24.
Late Indigenous composer and musician Cris Derksen also received a tribute performance.
The final presentation of the evening was for the SOCAN cultural impact award, which went to the pioneering Maestro Fresh Wes hip-hop hit, ‘’Let Your Backbone Slide,’’ widely recognized as one of the most influential Canadian songs ever. Accepting the award were songwriters Maestro Fresh Wes, Anthony Davis and Peter Davis and publishers BMG Rights Management Canada o/b/o BMG Rights Management (U.S.) and Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd.
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See a full list of winners here.
Industry News
IN ROTATION is the title of a just-announced new free monthly artist showcase series launching next month at TD Music Hall at Allied Music Centre in Toronto. Presented by Massey Hall and held monthly from 6-9 pm, each event will spotlight three carefully curated artists on the rise, each performing a 30-minute set. Fans can RSVP here.
The series launches on Nov. 18, featuring performances by eclectic alt-R&B rock artist 646yf4t (a.k.a. Babyfat), pop and R&B singer-songwriter Nia Nadurata and edgy punk meets metal teen female trio Thunder Queens, from London, ON. Each evening begins with a pre-show mixer (6-7 pm) designed to foster meaningful artist and industry connections.
— The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (now known as the Hamilton Phil) has secured its artistic leadership for the remainder of the decade, announced a three-year contract renewal for music director James Kahane through June 2030. Under Kahane’s leadership since 2024, the Phil is headlining its own semi-staged opera productions, expanding its offering of open rehearsals and continuing to build partnerships with regional arts organizations.
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— Last week, CIMA brought a delegation of seven Canadian independent music companies to Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) for its first-ever ADE Business Mission. Helping ADE celebrate its 30th anniversary, from Oct. 21-25 CIMA’s delegation joined thousands of music professionals from around the world in Amsterdam for one of the international music industry’s leading gatherings. The Canadian companies attending ADE with CIMA’s business mission were: BLK Matter, Blue Heron Music, OPAK, Physical Presents (Cadence Music Group), Repertoire Artists, HAUSOFHAM, & Westwood Recordings. The delegation was accompanied by Sam Rayner, Head of Industry & Membership Development at CIMA. The mission was designed to help Canadian companies build meaningful international relationships, explore new business opportunities, and connect with music professionals from across the global industry.
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Artists News
Since its release in August, internationally acclaimed Canadian vocalist, producer and artistic director Juliann Kuchocki has been receiving rave reviews for her new album, Kuchocki Sings DiNovi But, Only for You. It is a collaboration with legendary Toronto jazz pianist and composer Gene DiNovi, who performs on two tracks, “Boy Do I Have a Surprise For You” and “Once I met a Day. A stellar guest list on the album includes Drew Jurecka, Mark Kelso, Neil Swainson, Brian Dickinson, Adrean Farrugia, Nancy Walker, Ewen Farncombe and Grammy nominee Charu Suri.
Kuchocki performs this material at Hugh's Room in Toronto on Nov. 15 (a 2 pm show). Tickets here. Of note: Kuchocki is also the founder and artistic director of the highly-regarded South Coast Jazz Festival.
— Allison Lupton is an acclaimed folk singer-songwriter, flutist, and multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards traditional singer of the year nominee who has just released a new album, Step Up Molly. Album guests include the legendary Bobby Watt and Matthew Byrne (on vocals) plus well-regarded instrumentalists Andrew Collins, Craig Werth, Shane Cook, Joseph Phillips, Ivan Rosenberg, Tony McManus, Mike Stevens and The Sing For The Joy Of It Choir.
The self-produced album was recorded and mixed by award-winning veteran David Travers-Smith. Lupton is launching it via shows on Nov. 6 at Red Bird Live, Ottawa, and Nov. 7 at Central Presbyterian Church, Cambridge, Ontario. For more information, please visit here.
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