The FYI News Bulletin

By David Farrell

CHSF Executive Director Vanessa Thomas Elevated to SOCAN VP

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Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF), which is wholly owned by SOCAN and operated at arm’s length, has announced expanded roles for its management team.

Vanessa Thomas (pictured above) moves into the new role of Vice-President, Member & Industry Relations role at SOCAN, as the nonprofit collective management organization continues the renewal of its strategic vision, while Nick Fedor is promoted to Director of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In her new role at SOCAN, Thomas will spearhead A&R, events, with responsibilities to the PRO’s membership concerns and US relationships as well as continue to oversee the Hall of Fame. She will officially step into her new role on June 14^th.  

Prior to joining the CSHF, she spent 15 years in California working with major broadcasters both on and off-air, and ran Gavin Magazine broadcast trade publication. Thomas returned to Canada as MD of Nielsen Entertainment Canada, and later promoted to Sr. VP, North America Nielsen Music, a position she held for 12 years.  She then opened Songza Canada's offices and later led business development for Rdio.

Nick Fedor, whose been with the organization for the last seven years, has played an invaluable role in its success since SOCAN assumed ownership in 2012. He will lead Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame operations, inductions and special initiatives, reporting to Thomas and to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

“In just the past five years, Vanessa and Nicholas have exponentially raised the profile of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in the public eye; and despite what has been a challenging year for the music industry, their creativity, ingenuity and perseverance have propelled the past 12 months of inductions to new heights with the strategy to partner with Canada’s top broadcasters, performing artists and songwriters,” said Stan Meissner, Chair of the CSHF.

– CMW’s 20^th Annual Jim Beam INDIE Awards was broadcast online Sunday, May 30 with virtual award presentations and pre-recorded performances from Toronto’s El Mocambo. Montreal singer, songwriter and record producer Grimes lead with two wins for Artist of the Year and Video of the Year, while guitarist, singer, songwriter, and broadcaster Kim Mitchell was inducted into the Hall of Fame. An Encore show will be streamed this Saturday, June 5 at 7 pm ET. Free tickets here.

The online show, hosted by Indie88’s Josie Dye, featured performances by nominees July Talk, Sam Roberts Band, Half Moon Run, JJ Wilde, Notifi, The Dirty Nil, Monowhales, and Moscow Apartment, with special guests Walk Off the Earth, and CZN. The Awards were viewed for free on Sessions and simulcast on SiriusXM, with support of title sponsor Jim Beam, and SiriusXM Canada.

And the winners are:

INDIES Hall of Fame
Kim Mitchell

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
July Talk – Pray for It

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Grimes – Miss Anthropocene

COUNTRY ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Madeline Merlo – Dear Me

ELECTRONIC/DANCE ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
DVBBS – “Tinted Eyes” (feat. blackbear & 24kGoldn)

FRANCOPHONE ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Charlotte Cardin – “Passive Aggressive”

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Sam Roberts Band – All of Us

HIP HOP/RAP/R&B ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Notifi – Close to You

INDIGENOUS ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – Trapline

POP ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Virginia To Vegas – Hartland St.

ROCK/METAL/PUNK/ALTERNATIVE ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
JJ Wilde – Ruthless

SONG OF THE YEAR
City and Colour – “Strangers”: Composer – Dallas Green

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Grimes – “Delete Forever”

– Mirvish Productions has announced the city’s first indoor stage show since May 2020 with the premiere of Blindness at the Princess of Wales Theatre on Aug. 4.