By Kerry Doole
SOCAN recently presented its No. 1 Song Awards to The Beaches, Lowell, DZL, Lennon Stella, and Simon Wilcox for their roles as co-writers of three songs that topped various charts in 2021 and 2022 – as follows: Grow Up Tomorrow, performed by The Beaches, scaled the peak of the Billboard Canada Modern Rock chart on Sept. 12, 2022. The song was co-written by band members Eliza Enman-McDaniel, sisters Jordan and Kylie Miller, and Leandra Earl, along with singer/songwriter Lowell. SOCAN presented the award on Oct. 17,, during the red carpet of the SOCAN Awards, held in Toronto. At the same event, SOCAN presented a No. 1 Song Award to DZL (aka Michael Holmes), for Pick Up Your Feelings, performed by Jazmine Sullivan, which reached the zenith of the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart on March 20, 2021. The 2022 Grammy-winning song was co-written by Jazmine Sullivan and DZL, among other co-writers, and published by Warner Chappell Music Canada.
On Nov. 15, in Los Angeles, SOCAN presented a No. 1 Song Award to Lennon Stella and Simon Willcox for co-writing – along with Malay (aka James Ho, ASCAP) – Fancy, which topped the CBC Music Top 20 Countdown on Nov. 25, 2021. Fancy is performed by Lennon Stella and published by the Universal Music Publishing Group Canada, and the award was presented by SOCAN Creative Executive, West Coast, Racquel Villagante.
– It is an encore for Simu Liu, as the Canadian film star of the Marvel hit Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings will return for a second year as host of The 2023 Juno Awards Broadcast. “I am truly ecstatic to be back again this year hosting The 2023 Junos,” said Liu in a press release. "There are no words to describe the incredible energy that took over Toronto last spring, and I can’t wait to help bring that to Edmonton. If you thought my rendition of Complicated was good, just wait until you hear my Nickelback cover." The Awards land in Edmonton on March 13. Produced by Insight Productions, the show will broadcast and stream live across Canada at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.
Industry news
– Music Nova Scotia informs that the next deadline for Marketing, Mentorship, Recording, Showcase Support and Tour Support at all levels is Dec. 15. Book a call with Investment Program Manager darryl@musicnovascotia.ca to check your eligibility.
– Ron & Aussie Productions have announced casting for their upcoming film DANZIG (working title), inspired by the 2012 Danzig Street shooting in Scarborough, which is underway. Confirmed to join the project in principal roles are multi-award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and Juno winner Fefe Dobson and Iñigo Pascual (Monarch, Jo Koy: In His Elements). With the life rights to the story secured, the film is currently in pre-production; Noah Segal is the Executive Producer, and Elevation Pictures will distribute the film in Canada upon release.
– The annual Kardi Christmas Party, one of Canada's premiere charity events, returns for a 22nd edition at on Dec. 15 at CODA (794 Bathurst Street West, Toronto). Award-winning rapper, Canada's Got Talent (TV) judge, and Global A&R at Def Jam Records, Kardinal Offishall has attracted, as both guests and donors, a star-studded list including Jay-Z, Russell Peters, Dave Chappelle, PK Subban, Vince Carter, Sean Paul, Nelly Furtado, Estelle, Chris Bosh, Michael “Pinball” Clemons, and others.
This year’s edition is open to the public, but as a thank-you gesture for their work during the pandemic, this year admission is free for nurses and healthcare professionals (while tickets last). Different recipients of this fundraising initiative over the years include the Sick Kids Hospital, The Breast Cancer Society of Canada, and 30-elephants.com, an organization started by Offishall's wife. Tix here.
– Submissions for the first-ever Women in Music Canada Honours are now open. This program is designed to celebrate and support women and gender-diverse Canadian innovators and creators who have outstanding success in their field in the eligibility year (Dec. 2021 through Dec. 2022 for annual-based categories). Applicants must submit interest through WIMCanada’s application form by the deadline of Jan. 16. This may be done by the prospective honouree or another Canadian colleague. The honours will be presented at a dinner on March 8 (International Women’s Day) to cap off the IWD programming.
– Unison's Holiday Schmoozefest is back at a new Toronto venue this year, as The Rec Room on Dec. 12 hosts the music industry's favourite party of the season. DJ/Recording Artist 4KORNERS (known as the official DJ of the Toronto Raptors) supplies the music and Traci Melchor and Shawn Hook co-host. Always a great party and a great cause. Tix here.
– Corus Radio has announced that Juno-winning country stars The Washboard Union will host their third annual Washboard Union Christmas on Corus country music stations across Canada. The program will feature Dallas Smith, Meghan Patrick, Tim and The Glory Boys, and more to be announced, and fans can expect stories and covers of some Xmas classics. The two-hour radio special will air on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
– Music PEI and FilmPEI have partnered to create Diverse Voices. This program, entering its 3rd year, is designed to serve emerging musicians and filmmakers in the BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities between the ages of 18 and 39. Three musicians will be selected from the applications and paired with 3 emerging filmmakers selected by FilmPEI. The program will provide a prize valued at $7.5K per song. Applications close on Dec. 12. More info here
– Music PEI informs that Island Jazz continues all year long with weekly jazz shows every Thursday night at Baba's Lounge in Charlottetown. Each of the no-cover shows features a different group performing two sets starting at 8 pm. More info here.
Artist news
– The best-selling female artist in country music history, Shania Twain, has just announced the second leg of her 2023 Queen of Me Tour. She is adding 19 new fall dates to her highly anticipated tour, supporting Shania’s forthcoming album Queen of Me, out Feb. 3, 2023. Produced by Live Nation, leg two kicks off Oct. 12 in San Antonio, TX at AT&T Center, with stops across North America in Nashville, TN, Toronto, ON, Buffalo, NY, Edmonton, AB and more before wrapping up on Nov. 14 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC. Full routing for both legs of the tour is available below. Tix on sale Dec. 16 here.
– The timing is good for Sunday Morning’s brand new single, Junky Don’t Care. You see, the cover version is a tribute to its writer, Canadian punk legend Art Bergmann, who is getting plenty of publicity now via the just-published authorised biography, The Longest Suicide, written by Jason Schneider. Check out the track here.
– A 2019 Hamilton Arts Award winner, singer/songwriter Alex Whorms has released a new original holiday season song, Christmas Morning. Noted guests involved in the track include Mark Lalama, Harry Hess, Davide DiRenzo, and Drew Jurecka.
– Canadian hard rock band Silverstein has announced the Misery Made Me 2023 North American tour. Beginning on March 23 in Ottawa, ON, at Bronson, the band will visit over 25 cities across North America, including stops in Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Diego, Cleveland and more, before wrapping up in Grand Rapids on May 7. Joining them on this run are special guests: Dayseeker, Seeyouspacecowboy and One Step Closer. Tickets & VIPs for the tour go on sale tomorrow (Dec. 9) here.
