Music News Digest: Dominique Fils-Aimé and JESSIA Honoured at 2026 Her Music Awards

Dominique Fils-Aimé and JESSIA are the 2026 recipients of the sixth annual Her Music Awards, presented by Anthem Music Group. Both of these artists received $10,000 from the awards, the creation of the SOCAN Foundation. At a reception at George Restaurant in downtown Toronto on Feb. 23, The Foundation also recognized Robyn Stewart, executive director of Women in Music Canada, with a special industry honour.

The Her Music Awards celebrate and support women and gender-diverse Canadian music creators and industry professionals who are shaping the future of the music industry.

“We’re excited to honour Dominique Fils-Aimé and JESSIA with this year’s Her Music Awards, recognizing outstanding artists who are making remarkable strides in their careers," says Charlie Wall-Andrews, executive director of the SOCAN Foundation. "We are also proud to recognize Robyn Stewart for her outstanding leadership and her continued commitment to advancing equity and opportunity within the Canadian music industry."

Montreal jazz vocalist and songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimé is a double Juno award winner who has made a splash at major international jazz festivals. This year, Fils-Aimé will support her new album, My World Is The Sun, with a world tour. ”Support and encouragement in the shape of the Her Music Award contributes to the echo of our art and soul,” said Fils-Aimé.

Multi-platinum pop artist and songwriter JESSIA is also a Juno winner. She broke through in 2021 with “I’m Not Pretty,” a song that has surpassed 300 million streams globally. Now an independent artist, JESSIA will release a new EP in March. “As a fully independent artist, support and recognition like this hits 10 times harder," she said.

Previous Her Award winners include Kellylee Evans, Savannah Ré, Caveboy, Nuela Charles, Haviah Mighty and Leela Gilday.

– It has been confirmed that Canadian icon Joni Mitchell will travel to Hamilton to accept a lifetime achievement award at The Juno Awards on March 29. Celebrating Mitchell's career with a musical tribute will be Canadian stars Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell.

The Toronto Star notes that "Sources close to the broadcast tell us they’re also in talks with Mitchell about performing, though that will depend on her health. If she’s able to perform, Mitchell would likely join Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell on stage."

Now 82, Mitchell recently won her 11th Grammy, for best historical album. She has performed in public very rarely in recent years, but at the 2024 Grammy Awards she sang her classic “Both Sides Now.”

In another recent Juno news announcement, breakout country artist Cameron Whitcomb will perform at the 55th annual show. He is one of this year's leading Juno nominees, with his five nods trailing only Justin Bieber and Tate McRae, who have six apiece. Whitcomb is a contender in the fan choice, single of the year, breakthrough artist of the year, country album and album of the year categories.

Industry News

Canadian music publisher, producer and recording engineer Gary Furniss has announced he will retire as managing director of Sony Music Publishing Canada on March 31. He issued this statement: “For more than 33 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible Canadian songwriters and the best publishing team in the world at Sony Music Publishing. I would like to express my gratitude to our Chairman/CEO Jon Platt and the SMP Canada team for their continued commitment to providing outstanding service for the company’s Canadian songwriters and clients.”

Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Lee Harvey Osmond, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings) is a Canadian songwriter with a long history of work with Furniss. On Instagram two years ago, Wilson posted that "Gary Furniss has been my publisher, recording engineer, record producer, confidant, saviour and most of all dear friend for just over 30 years. He’s pulled me out of some sticky situations in those 3 decades and reset my creative path from time to time. Today is the day I publicly say 'Thanks Gary.'"

Aside from his role as a music publisher, Furniss has worked as a producer and/or engineer on albums by such Canadian artists as Figgy Duff, Crash Vegas, Don Ross, Jane Siberry and Edwin. He currently serves on the board of Music Publishers Canada.

– The Toronto-based Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) is about to makes its B.C. debut via a showcase event at the Museum of Vancouver on Friday Feb. 27. Performers will include Dee Daniels, Khari McClelland, Henri Brown, Ndidi Cascade, Bukola and DJ Carl Allen.

– CIMA will be heading back to Germany for Reeperbahn 2026 and is now accepting applications from bands/artists for its Canada House showcase event. The conference/fest takes place Sept. 16-19 in Hamburg, and may be preceded by an event in Berlin on Sept. 14. Fill out CIMA’s Canada House application form here by May 8. Reeperbahn’s artist application form is here.

– Quebec City's left of centre music festival, Le Phoque OFF, produced by Centrale Alternative and presented by SiriusXM, recently concluded its 12th edition, and organizers are calling it a success. They report more than 6,800 admissions — a 13% increase on last year. Festivalgoers experienced over 32 artists in concert and 68 artists in showcase performances. The professional music industry component also fared well, with over 1,000 registrations — an 18% increase from last year.

Awards News

The Governor-General’s Performing Arts Awards are one of Canada's highest honours in the performing arts. The recently announced 2026 recipients of its lifetime artistic achievement award are film director James Cameron (Aliens, Titanic, Avatar, Terminator), choreographer Sylvain Émard, singer-songwriter and poet Daniel Lavoie, set/costume designer and painter Susan Benson and arts executive Tonya Williams.

In its citation, the awards notes that "Daniel Lavoie has had a profound impact on popular music in Canada and on our country’s cultural landscape. A Franco-Manitoban of great integrity and authenticity, he has won the hearts of audiences worldwide with his pop-rock songs, performed in both French and English."

Artists News

Highly acclaimed Victoria, B.C. based folk singer-songwriter Dana Sipos released her new album, Golden Molten, last month. Beginning March 25, Sipos takes to the road with Miina for a twenty one date tour that includes five stops in Ontario starting April 7. Itinerary and tickets here. Another collaboration with producer Sandro Perri, Golden Molten emerged from a period of intense personal turmoil for Sipos.

– Nova Scotian pop-rock singer/songwriter Jon Mullane's music video for his single "Remember in November" recently won in the Best of Canada music video catgory at the California Music Video Awards, held in San Francisco on Feb. 16. Directed by Halifax filmmaker Martin Noel, the video was shot in various Nova Scotia locations throughout Nova Scotia. The track was co-written with some noted songwriters in Nashville and produced by Toronto's Creighton Doane.