Shawn Mendes Leads SOCAN Awards With Five Wins

By FYI Staff

Canada's most successful songwriters, composers and music publishers will be honoured in the 31st annual SOCAN Awards, held for the first time online, with Shawn Mendes solidifying his place in songwriting royalty by earning two of the most prestigious prizes, becoming the most-awarded SOCAN member in a single year.

More than 50 award winners are being announced from Sept. 21 to Sept. 25 via special virtual presentation. Recipients include Drake, LIGHTS, bülow, Andrew Lockington, Daniel Caesar, Laila Biali and more. Follow @socanmusic on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (#2020SOCANawards) to join in the celebration of their achievements.

Here is a list of the SOCAN Special Achievement Awards winners.

• Shawn Mendes. His five awards are for the SOCAN Songwriter of the Year – Performer Award (the second time he was won this), the SOCAN International Achievement Award, the SOCAN International Song Award and two SOCAN Pop Music Awards, for the international hits Señorita and If I Can't Have You.

• Andrew Lockington. He is celebrated with the SOCAN Screen Composer of the Year Award, presented by SOCAN Foundation, for his music contributions to such film and television productions as The Kindness of Strangers, Rampage and Daybreak. Lockington also wins the SOCAN International Film Music Award and SOCAN Achievement in Feature Film Music Award.

• Frank Dukes. He received his third consecutive SOCAN Songwriter Of The Year – Producer Award. Dukes's 2019 successes include production on the global chart-toppers Sucker by Jonas Brothers and WOW by Post Malone.

• OZ. He has been honoured with the SOCAN Breakout Songwriter Award. OZ has produced for the likes of Drake, Tory Lanez, Future and Meek Mill, and earned a Grammy nomination for his work with Travis Scott on Sicko Mode.

• Ali Gatie. He has received the SOCAN Viral Song Award for his global hit It's You.

• Third Side Music was presented with the SOCAN Publisher of the Year Award. 

• The SOCAN Licensed To Play Award goes to DESIFEST, Canada's largest South Asian Music Festival, for consistently and conscientiously recognizing the importance of music rights. The return of music festivals cannot come soon enough, as they are an integral and valued part of the music experience.

• The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame celebrates Lowell with The Slaight Music Emerging Songwriter Award for her talent and growth as one of Canada's fastest rising music creators.

"The SOCANs look a little different this year but we are no less thrilled to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Canadian songwriters, composers, music publishers and music users," said SOCAN Interim CEO Jennifer Brown. "Music has the power to lift our spirits and provide comfort in difficult times. Now, more than ever, music creators and publishers need to be recognized for the role they play in our lives. SOCAN extends our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to SOCAN Award recipients for their extraordinary and invaluable contributions."

Music fans can support music creators and publishers by donating to the official charity partners of the SOCAN Awards, the Unison Benevolent Fund and the SOCAN Foundation, organizations that work to assist deserving musicians, music creators and music publishers in their lives and careers.

SOCAN Achievement Award winners are determined collaboratively between the SOCAN Board of Directors' Membership Committee and the leaders of SOCAN's Membership department. They receive "The SOCAN" – the world's first and only music industry trophy that's also a musical instrument, incorporating five custom bronze crotales created by world-class percussion instrument maker SABIAN of New Brunswick.

The annual Gala de la SOCAN in Montréal, which celebrates and honours the work of SOCAN's Francophone members, will be held in a similar event later this year.

A complete list of winners can be found at the 2020 SOCAN Awards.