Billboard Canada Presents The Country’s First Non-Performing Songwriter Award in Partnership with SOCAN

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Billboard Canada and SOCAN are going to recognize the unsung heroes of the country’s biggest songs.

The Billboard Canada Non-Performing Songwriter Award will recognize the talented songwriters who create powerful music and exemplify the songwriter’s indispensable role in the music ecosystem.

This is the first award of its kind in Canada, for professional songwriters who make a major impact writing for other artists. Rarely do they get the spotlight, until now.

The inaugural Billboard Canada Non-Performing Songwriter Award will be presented at Billboard Canada’s Power Players event in Toronto on Sunday, June 2. Held during Canadian Music Week, it will be the first time the illustrious event honouring the music industry’s most influential people will take place in Canada.

The award is presented by SOCAN, which collects and distributes royalties for musicians and rights-holders in Canada. The crucial rights organization is a champion of music industry professionals, with more than 190,000 members – songwriters, composers and music publishers – ensuring that they are properly recognized and compensated for their extraordinary work.

“Fierce champions of songwriting, SOCAN is proud to present the Billboard Canada Non-Performing Songwriter Award, shining a light on the architects behind the anthems,” says Jennifer Brown, SOCAN CEO. “A first in Canada, this award celebrates the impact of professional songwriters, who, from behind the scenes, create songs that resonate internationally, and we’re thrilled to partner with Billboard to give them the recognition they so richly deserve.”

On the nomination form, submit three songs that the nominee wrote for another performer in 2023. Songs must have been released between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023. The three songs should represent and show their creative success during that period. There are also optional fields for number of sales, streams and spins.

Nominations for the award open today, May 7, and will close on May 17 at 11:59 PM EST.

To nominate yourself or on behalf of a songwriter, fill out this form.