Coeur de pirate To Be Honoured With the Trailblazer Award at Billboard Canada Women in Music 2025

For over a decade, Coeur de Pirate has been getting to the heart of music in Canada — and now she’s getting her dues.

On October 1, the Quebec-born, Francophone singer-songwriter, born Béatrice Martin, will accept the Trailblazer Award at this year’s Billboard Canada Women in Music event in Toronto. The honour is awarded to a female artist who acts as a music industry pioneer by using her platform to spotlight unheard voices and break ground for future generations of performers.

Emerging on the scene in the late 2000s, Martin has become a mainstay in music — with dedicated fanbases in Canada and Europe. Her self-titled 2008 debut album features her biggest hits, including “Comme des enfants” and “Ensemble,” which gained traction after being used in a viral video. Six years later, she earned her first Billboard Canadian Hot 100 entry with “Carry On” – her first English-language song and a nod to her growing international fanbase.

Since then, Martin has released seven studio albums and is set to put out her eighth record, Cavale, on September 26 — her first in four years. With her finger. still on the pulse, the album’s uplifting title track debuted at No. 26 on the Billboard Canada AC Airplay chart in July. She's collaborated with artists including Simple Plan, Peter Peter and Lights — this year’s first-ever Visionary Award winner.

Martin is a major champion of artists behind the scenes as well. She serves as president and artistic director of Montreal-based independent record label Bravo Musique — previously known as Dare to Care Records. In 2021, Martin bought the label from founder Éli Bissonnette, who stepped down after being accused of fostering a toxic work environment. Now, she’s committed to making it a positive home for artists, including many talented young women — the labels’ latest signee is newcomer Véronique Isabel Filion.

Martin marks the second-ever Trailblazer Award winner at Billboard Canada’s Women in Music. Last year, Toronto singer Jessie Reyez accepted the award at the event’s inaugural edition. Previous winners of the U.S. Trailblazer Award include Phoebe Bridgers, Kesha and Janelle Monáe.

Coeur de Pirate is one of many inspiring women who will be honoured at Billboard Canada Women in Music. This year’s ceremony includes The Beaches (Billboard Canada Women of the Year), Lights (Visionary Award), Julia Wolf (Global Rising Star) and more to be announced. Hosted by Keisha Chanté, the event will take place at Rebel in Toronto on October 1.

A limited number of tickets are available to the public here.