The Society of Composers Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) and the best of Canada’s music industry came together last night at Roy Thomson Hall to honour some of this country’s most talented songwriters, composers, lyricists, music publishers and journalist/impresario Richard Flohil at the 20th annual SOCAN Awards Gala. Co-hosted by Barney Bentall, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and David Myles, the awards acknowledged members’ and other music industry influencers’ outstanding achievements from the previous year.
SOCAN members Hedley, Doc Walker, Finger Eleven and Rush, along with Stompin’ Tom Connors, Rita MacNeil, Gordon Lightfoot, Jimmy Rankin, Deric Ruttan, Tom Cochrane and Kardinal Offishall, among many others, were in attendance to accept their awards.
Cuban soul rocker Alex Cuba opened the awards gala with an unforgettable performance and later in the evening Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Doc Walker took to the stage for a medley performance of SOCAN Classics. Canadian rapper D-Sisive performed his 2009 ECHO Songwriting Prize winner, “Nobody with a Notepad,” and Russell deCarle and Barney Bentall closed the show with a tribute to Stompin’ Tom Connors.
The evening was filled with celebration and accolades. Awards handed out included: Feist for “1234;” Hedley for “For the Nights I Can’t Remember;” Finger Eleven for “I’ll Keep Your Memory Vague” in the pop/rock category; Kardinal Offshall and Cristian “DJ Kemo” Bahamonde for “Dangerous” in the urban music category; and Doc Walker for “Beautiful Life” in the country music category. Finger Eleven accepted a second win with the International Song Award for “Paralyzer.”
“In my ten years at SOCAN, the music industry has evolved tremendously, both at home and around the world,” said André LeBel, SOCAN’s CEO. “In Canada, the industry continues to thrive and our members never stop in their work to bring new and exciting music to the global audience. The SOCAN Awards is one way we can show them how proud we are of their contributions; they are truly great Canadian ambassadors to the world.”
Each year, SOCAN celebrates music industry pioneers for their involvement in the Canadian music industry and their outstanding successes throughout their careers. Recipients of SOCAN’s major achievement awards this year went to Richard Flohil, who received the Special Achievement Award; Stompin’ Tom Connors, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Rita MacNeil, who received The National Achievement Award. Rush – Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart – received the International Achievement Award in recognition of their outstanding international success in 2008.
SOCAN will recognize outstanding Francophone music creators and publishers at an awards gala tonight (November 24) at The Hyatt Regency in Montreal. SOCAN members will join host Michel Rivard in celebration of this year’s Francophone SOCAN award recipients.
International Achievement Award – Rush
The International Achievement Award is given to SOCAN members who have brought international recognition to Canada through their music in 2008.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Stompin’ Tom Connors
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to SOCAN members who have had outstanding success throughout their musical career.
National Achievement Award – Rita MacNeil
The National Achievement Award is given to a SOCAN songwriter, lyricist, or composer for outstanding success predominantly in the Canadian music industry over the span of their career.
Special Achievement Award – Richard FlohilThe Special Achievement Award is given to people who have greatly contributed to Canada’s music industry and/or musical heritage over the course of their careers.
Please note: Non-SOCAN members who collaborated on songs also received awards. The international performing rights organization to which they belong appears in brackets beside their name.
Pop / Rock Music Awards – The following received SOCAN Awards for their involvement in Pop Music songs that achieved the greatest number of performances on domestic radio during 2008
“Don’t Call Me Baby” (Performed by Kreesha Turner)
Composers: Jon Levine
Anjulie Persaud (ASCAP)
Publishers: Old Schul Music Inc.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada.
“For The Nights I Can’t Remember” (Performed by Hedley)
Composers: Chris Crippin
Jacob Hoggard
Thomas MacDonald
Dave Rosin
Dave Genn
Greig Nori
Publishers: Bridgeburner Music
Nettwerk One Music Canada Ltd.
Universal Music Publishing Canada
“1234″ (Performed by Feist)
Composers: Leslie Feist
Sally Seltmann (APRA)
Publishers: Runaway Music Canada
Universal Music Publishing Canada
“I’ll Keep Your Memory Vague” (Performed by Finger Eleven)
Composers: Scott Anderson
Sean Anderson
Rich Beddoe
James Black
Rick Jackett
Publisher: Finger Eleven Publishing Inc.
Country Music Awards – The following received SOCAN Awards for their involvement in Country Music songs that achieved the greatest number of performances on domestic radio during 2008.
“Beautiful Life” (Performed by Doc Walker)
Composers: Murray Pulver
Chris Thorsteinson
Dave Wasyliw
Publishers: ole
Roots Three Music
“Stayed ‘Til Two” (Performed by Gord Bamford)
Composers: Gord Bamford
George Hill (ASCAP)
“First Time in a Long Time” (Performed by Deric Ruttan)
Composers: Deric Ruttan
Jimmy Rankin
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tunes
Song Dog Music Company
International Song Award- The following received SOCAN Awards for involvement in the SOCAN song that achieved the highest International earnings in 2008.
“Paralyzer” (Performed by Finger Eleven)
Composers: Scott Anderson
Sean Anderson
Rich Beddoe
James Black
Rick Jackett
Publisher: Finger Eleven Publishing Inc.
Urban Music Award – The following received a SOCAN Award for their involvement in the Urban Music song that achieved the greatest number of performances on domestic radio during 2008.
“Dangerous” (Performed by Kardinal Offishall feat. Akon)
Composers: Kardinal Offishall
Cristian “DJ Kemo” Bahamonde
Donald Sales (ASCAP)
Aliaune Thiam (ASCAP)
Publishers: Chrysalis Canada Music
Kemo Matic Music
The following SOCAN Award was presented to the member whose complete repertoire of creative works achieved the highest earnings in domestic radio, pay audio and concerts during 2008:
Roots / Folk Music Award – Corb Lund
The following SOCAN Awards were presented to members in recognition of the overall success in their respective genres of music in 2008.
Jan V. Matejcek New Classical Music Award – James Rolfe
Hagood Hardy Award – For excellence in the genre of jazz, instrumental, or world music.
Alex Cuba
The following received a SOCAN Award for their involvement in the television and/or cable program or film that achieved the greatest number of performances in their respective category during 2008.
Domestic Non-Animated Television Series Music Award
“Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye”
Composer: Jack Lenz
Publishers: Three Pebbles Music
Universal Music Publishing Canada
Domestic Animated Television Series Music Award
“Bo on the GO!”
Composer: Blain Morris
Publisher: Halifax Film Ltd.
International Television Series Music Award
“Ed, Edd n Eddy”
Composer: Patric Caird
News & Sports Television Programming Music Award
“CBS News: Today”
Composer: Jack Lenz
Publishers: Lenz Entertainment Publishing
ole
Domestic Made For Television Film Music Award
“Murder in the Hamptons”
Composer: Robert Carli
Publisher: Plain Truth Productions Muse Inc.
Domestic Feature Film Music Award
“Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D”
Composer: Andrew Lockington
International Film Music Award
“Resident Evil: Apocalypsee”
Composer: Jeff Danna
Publisher: Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd.
Specialty Television Programming Music Award
“World Vision”
Composers: Ed Franks
Cori Ashley
Publisher: Ivory Songs Publishing
SOCAN Classics: The following Canadian songs received SOCAN Classic Awards for achieving the 100,000-airplay mark on domestic radio:
“I Don’t Want You to Go” (Performed by Carolyn Dawn Johnson)
Composers: Carolyn Dawn Johnson
William Polk (ASCAP)
Publisher: EMI April Music Canada Ltd.
“Complicated ” (Performed by Carolyn Dawn Johnson)
Composers: Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Charlotte Smith (BMI)
Publisher: EMI April Music Canada Ltd.
“Boy Inside the Man” (Performed by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider)
Composer: Tom Cochrane
Publishers: Sky is Falling Entertainment Inc.
Universal Music Publishing Canada
“Big League” (Performed by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider)
Composer: Tom Cochrane
Publishers: Sky is Falling Entertainment Inc.
Universal Music Publishing Canada
“Lunatic Fringe” (Performed by Red Rider)
Composer: Tom Cochrane
Publisher: Sky is Falling Entertainment Inc.
“I Wish You Well” (Performed by Tom Cochrane)
Composer: Tom Cochrane
Publisher: Sky is Falling Entertainment Inc.
“No Regrets” (Performed by Tom Cochrane)
Composer: Tom Cochrane
Publishers: Sky is Falling Entertainment Inc.
Universal Music Publishing Canada
“This” (Performed by Rod Stewart)
Composers: Marc Jordan
John Capek
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Canada
Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd.
“I Fall from Grace” (Performed by Marc Jordan)
Composers: Marc Jordan
Jeffrey Bullard (BMI)
Publisher: Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd.
“A New Day Has Come” (Performed by Céline Dion)
Composers: Stephan Moccio
Aldo Caporuscio
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Canada
“Ocean Pearl” (Performed by 54-40)
Composers: Neil Osborne
Brad Merritt
Matt Johnson
Phil Comparelli
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing Canada
“I Go Blind” (Performed by 54-40)
Composers: Neil Osborne
Brad Merritt
Darryl Neudorf
Phil Comparelli
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing Canada
“My Town” (Performed by Glass Tiger)
Composers: Alan Frew
Wayne Parker
Alan Connelly
James Cregan (PRS)
Publisher: EMI April Music Canada Ltd.
“Race Among the Ruins” (Performed by Gordon Lightfoot)
Composer: Gordon Lightfoot
Publisher: Moose Music
“Pilot” (Performed by Ian Thomas)
Composer: Ian Thomas
Publisher: Mark-Cain Music Publishing
Patron of Music
Live Nation
SIRIUS Satellite Radio
The Patron of Music Award is given to the SOCAN customer who most recognizes the value and importance in paying SOCAN’s licence fee or to a representative of or advisor to music users who actively informs and educates other music users about the need to respect the rights of music creators and copyright owners.
20th Annual SOCAN Award honourees participated in a press conference at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto to kick-off the annual SOCAN Awards Gala presentation last night. Left to right – Alex Cuba, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Kardinal Offishall, Cristian “DJ Kemo” Bahamonde, Chris Thorsteinson (Doc Walker) and Neil Osborne (54·40). (CNW Group/SOCAN)
