Congratulations to all the 2021 SOCAN Award Winners!
Jennifer Brown
Interim CEO, SOCAN
Never in our history has the relationship between music creation and music consumption been more intrinsically tied.
We have never needed music more, and music creators and publishers have never needed SOCAN’s commitment to find, collect and distribute their royalties more.
Music made staying home more bearable, made working from home feel like you had company, and made online chats with friends and family feel more normal.
Read More
2020 reminded us of the deep connection we have with music and the huge role it plays in our mental and emotional health. We will continue to advocate for a country in which music creation is fairly valued and rewarded.
I grew up in a family that depended on music royalties to put food on the table, so it’s an honour to represent our more than 170,000 members, 100,000-plus licensed businesses, and almost 300 employees. No other music rights organization in the world matches SOCAN’s ability to monitor, collect, match, and distribute royalties in the digital music era.
Our members are always at the centre of SOCAN’s purpose; we succeed when they succeed, and we are proud to honour their great achievements at the 2021 SOCAN Awards.
We miss you and hope to see you soon.
In Association With:
Achievement Awards
Cultural Impact AwardEddie Schwartz – “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”
The Cultural Impact Award was created to honor music by a SOCAN member that has had a significant lasting cultural impact on society in Canada and/or beyond its borders.
Read More
Few songs in the 80s or any other decade represented resilience and empowerment more than “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, sung with great fervor and power by rock superstar Pat Benatar. It quickly turned into an anthem of empowerment, fueled by the “Women’s lib” movement of the time. Oddly enough the much-loved melody started out as more of a folk tune than anything else… and …was written by a man. That man was none other than Toronto-born and raised Singer-Songwriter, Eddie Schwartz.
Famously, the song came to Eddie after he attended a therapy session in Toronto involving pillow-punching. Triggered by this unorthodox therapy session, he immediately assembled a group of musicians to record late into that same night.
Upon its initial release “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” would sell over a million copies in the US alone, and reach the top ten of the Billboard and Canadian charts, achieving gold certification.
Over time, the classic track has seemingly taken on a life of its own. Beginning as a song about self-confidence, it has become many things to many people as it has since morphed into a song about invincibility, rebellion, or just a plain old universal symbol of defiance making it a perfect fit to be covered in karaoke bars or used to inspire crowds of thousands at many baseball, hockey and soccer stadiums around the world.
You can tell the sheer impact of a song when it has been played on the radio, covered countless times by a multitude of artists, appeared in cartoons, in COVID-19 vaccine campaigns, and TV ads, or protected from hurricanes, symbolically “giving the finger” to the storm. Even the figure of speech itself has been granted a whole new extended life in the fabric of everyday living by this song.
It seems like a good bet that Eddie Schwartz’s song will be hitting our culture with its best shot for the next 50 years and more.
We are proud to present the 2021 Cultural Impact Award to “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and to Eddie Schwartz.
SOCAN Guardian Award
The SOCAN Guardian Award is presented to an individual or group who, by successfully advocating for change, have had a significant and lasting positive impact on the lives of Canadian music creators.
Read More
The 2021 SOCAN Guardian Award is presented to the Guardian Angels of the Canadian Music business whose work resulted in the Canadian Content Regulations. It’s the story of how a group of concerned Canadians, a Brit and an Australian found a way to band together to save Canadian Culture.
In the ‘50s and ‘60s, young Canadian artists dreamed of joining the global musical and cultural revolution, but home-grown music was considered inferior to the foreign records that dominated the charts. For Canadian artists, the doors to Canadian broadcasters and media were locked.
In stepped Stan Klees and Walt Grealis who used the power of their RPM Magazine to champion for Canadian talent, and to warn of the demise of Canadian culture if something didn’t change. By 1967, a growing chorus of industry voices joined them, refusing to believe that Canadian creators were second class. Together, they stood up and called on the federal government to mandate airplay of Canadian music.
Not everyone was happy with this idea, with some questioning if Canada had enough talent, and others wondering if there was even such a thing as Canadian culture to protect. However, Pierre Juneau ignored the noise and sought out to “do the right thing”. In June 1970, the CRTC declared a new regulation that required radio stations to devote 30% of their playlists to Canadian music: the new Canadian Content (CanCon) era was born.
Right away, people in the industry were worried that the regulations would not be implemented fairly. A few of the CanCon leaders held a meeting at the Old Inn on the Park Hotel and formed a new trade association to protect the CanCon regulations. They called themselves CIRPA: The Canadian Independent Record Producers Association. Now named CIMA, the association continues to carry on CIRPA’s mission of ensuring that Canadian music can be heard by Canadians.
Finally, in 1971, Canadian music was on a much more level playing field. The result was an unprecedented, multi-decade explosion of great Canadian music from all parts of the country.
Fifty years later, the ripple effect of the efforts of our CanCon heroes is everywhere. It is no coincidence that not only was Canadian music saved by CanCon, but we are now spreading Canadian culture all over the globe with the success of our artists, songwriters, producers, and beatmakers.
View All Recipients
Terry Brown – Founder of CIRPA
Paul Clinch* – Founder of CIRPA
Frank Davies – Love Productions, Founder of CIRPA
Don DiNovo* – Lighthouse
Bob Ezrin – Founder of CIRPA
Bernie Finkelstein – True North Records, Founder of CIRPA
Tommy Graham – Founder of CIRPA
Walt Grealis – RPM Magazine
Greg Hambleton – Founder of CIRPA
Kelly Jay* – Crowbar
Pierre Juneau* – Chairman, Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC)
Stan Klees – RPM Magazine, Founder of CIRPA
Betty Layton* – SOCAN/BMI Canada
Allan MacMillan – Founder of CIRPA
Alexander Mair – Early Morning Productions
Ben McPeek* – Founder of CIRPA
John Mills* – SOCAN/CAPAC
Harold Moon* -SOCAN/BMI Canada
Skip Prokop* – Lighthouse
Jack Richardson* – Nimbus 9 Productions, Founder of CIRPA
Mel Shaw – Founding President of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (CARAS)
Art Snider* – Founder of CIRPA
Pierre Elliott Trudeau* – Prime Minister
Ritchie Yorke* – Billboard, The Globe & Mail
*Posthumously honoured
Songwriter of the Year – Performer
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye
The Songwriter of the Year is given to the songwriter(s) whose current material has received the greatest number of performances in 2020.

Songwriter of the Year – ProducerAdam “Frank Dukes” Feeney
The Songwriter of the Year is given to the songwriter(s) whose current material has received the greatest number of performances in 2020.
Screen Composer of the YearKeith Power
The Screen Composer of the Year is given to the composer(s) whose current material has received the greatest number of performances in 2020, combined with critical success, diversity, and a robust new body of work.

Publisher of the Year
peermusic Canada Inc.
The Publisher of the Year recognizes a Canadian-based SOCAN publisher member who has made a significant and positive impact on both the music business and the creative community in 2020.

Breakout Songwriter AwardTate McRae
The SOCAN Breakout Songwriter Award is given to a SOCAN member or members to honour an exceptional career accomplishment and/or commercial success in 2020.
Film & Television Music Awards
The following are receiving a SOCAN Award for their involvement in the television show and/or cable program or film that achieved the greatest number of performances in their respective category in 2020.
Domestic Television Music Awards (Fiction Programming)
Murdoch Mysteries
ROBERT CARLI
Shaftesbury Music
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Heartland
KEITH POWER
Seven24 Films Inc. / Dynamo Films Inc.
Hawaii Five-0
KEITH POWER
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Domestic Television Music Awards (Non-Fiction Programming)
Sportsnet Central
STEPHAN MOCCIO / Sing Little Penguin
MURRAY FLEMING
Universal Music Publishing Canada
Rogers Sportsnet Inc.
Highway Thru Hell
CHRISTOPHER NICKEL
Highway Thru Hell
PAUL AIREY
MARK MILLER
Domestic Television Music Awards (Animated Programming)
Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood
GRAEME CORNIES
JAMES CHAPPLE
BRIAN PICKETT
DAVID KELLY
FCI Music /ClearboxRights LLC
Rusty Rivets
ASHER LENZ
STEPHEN SKRATT
Spin Master Ltd.
CCS Rights Management
International Television Series Music Awards
Big Bang Theory
ED ROBERTSON
Paw Patrol
JAMES CHAPPLE
GRAEME CORNIES
DAVID KELLY
BRIAN PICKETT
Hawaii Five-0
KEITH POWER
International Film Music Awards
Rampage
ANDREW LOCKINGTON
Princess Switch
TERRY FREWER
Achievement in Feature Film Music Awards
Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and The Wasp
JEFFREY MORROW
Jumanji: The Next Level
JEFFREY MORROW
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Achievement in Made-For-TV Movie Music Awards

You Are Here
LAUREL MACDONALD
PHILIP STRONG
MDF Productions Inc.
Genre Awards
The following are receiving a SOCAN Award for their involvement in songs that achieved the greatest number of performances on domestic radio and on-demand audio streams in 2020, in their respective genres.
Pop Music Awards

Blinding Lights
AHMAD “BELLY” BALSHE
JASON “DAHEALA” QUENNEVILLE
ABEL “THE WEEKND” TESFAYE
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Canada
Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd.
Universal Music Publishing Canada
SALXCO
Performed by : The Weeknd

Heartless
CARLO “ILLANGELO” MONTAGNESE /
Songs Of Hear The Art
ABEL “THE WEEKND” TESFAYE
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Canada
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : The Weeknd

My Oh My
ADAM “FRANK DUKES” FEENEY
MYNY Music
EMI Blackwood Music Canada Ltd.
Performed by : Camila Cabello feat. DaBaby

If the World Was Ending
JP SAXE /
StarkerSaxeSongs
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : JP Saxe feat. Julia Michaels

Levitating
STEPHEN “KOZ” KOZMENIUK
EMI Blackwood Music Canada Ltd.
Performed by : Dua Lipa

You Broke Me First
TATE MCRAE /
T8 Entertainment Inc.
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : Tate McRae

Kissing Other People
LENNON STELLA
SIMON WILCOX / Dames, Booze and Chains
EMI Blackwood Music Canada Ltd.
Performed by : Lennon Stella

Monster
MUSTAFA AHMED
ADAM “FRANK DUKES” FEENEY
SHAWN MENDES / Mendes Music
ASHTON “DANIEL CAESAR” SIMMONDS
Universal Music Publishing Canada
EMI Blackwood Music Canada Ltd.
MYNY Music
Performed by : Shawn Mendes & Justin Bieber

Falling
MARTIN KOTTMEIER
TRISTAN NORTON
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : Trevor Daniel

Wonder
SHAWN MENDES /
Mendes Music
Universal Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : Shawn Mendes

Nice To Meet Ya
TOBIAS JESSO JR.
Universal Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : Niall Horan
Rap Music Awards

Laugh Now Cry Later
AUBREY DRAKE GRAHAM
EMI April Music Canada Ltd.
Performed by : Drake feat. Lil Durk

Toosie Slide
AUBREY DRAKE GRAHAM
OZAN “OZ” YILDIRIM
EMI April Music Canada Ltd.
Casablanca Media Publishing Inc.
Performed by : Drake

HIGHEST IN THE ROOM
NIK FRASCONA
OZAN “OZ” YILDIRIM
Casablanca Media Publishing Inc.
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : Travis Scott

Popstar
AUBREY DRAKE GRAHAM
OZAN “OZ” YILDIRIM
EMI April Music Canada Ltd.
Casablanca Media Publishing Inc.
Performed by : DJ Khaled feat. Drake

Life Is Good
AUBREY DRAKE GRAHAM
OZAN “OZ” YILDIRIM
EMI April Music Canada Ltd.
Casablanca Media Publishing Inc.
Performed by : Future feat. Drake
Country Music Awards

Pillow Talkin’
KELLY ARCHER
Downtown Music Publishing
Performed by : Tyler Joe Miller

Lucky
TODD CLARK / Egg Songs Publishing
JADE EAGLESON
GAVIN SLATE
TRAVIS WOOD / Trash Man Songs
Downtown Music Publishing
Anthem Entertainment
Concord Copyrights Canada
Performed by : Jade Eagleson

Grew Up On That
BRAD REMPEL / Spruce Road Publishing
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : High Valley

Country Thunder
EMMA-LEE
CHRISTOPHER DUNCOMBE
AARON GRAIN
KAREN KOSOWSKI
DAVID ROBERTS
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : The Washboard Union

These Days
MACKENZIE PORTER / MacKenzie Porter Music Inc.
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : Mackenzie Porter

Die From A Broken Heart
DERIC RUTTAN / THiS Music
Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd.
Performed by : Maddie & Tae

Somebody Like That
TENILLE ARTS
Bluewater Music Canada
Performed by : Tenille Arts

Champagne Night
PATRICIA CONROY
MADELINE MERLO / MerloJamsPublishing
DAVE “DWAVE” THOMSON
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Canada
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Slaight Music Publishing
Performed by : Lady A

More Hearts Than Mine
SAM ELLIS
Universal Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : Ingrid Andress
Rock Music Awards

Shakin’ Off the Rust
TAREK JAFAR / The Blue Stones Inc.
JUSTIN TESSIER / The Blue Stones Inc.
BMG Rights Management Canada Inc.
Performed by : The Blue Stones

The Rush
JILLIAN DOWDING
Performed by : JJ Wilde

Want What You Got
LEANDRA EARL
ELIZA ENMAN-MCDANIEL
JORDAN MILLER
KYLIE MILLER
Performed by : The Beaches
Dance Music Awards

Mine
TAELOR “FELIX CARTAL” DEITCHER
Ultra International Music Publishing
(Canada)
Performed by : Felix Cartal feat. Sophie Simmons

I’m Not Alright
JOSEPH DEPACE
ANDREW FEDYK
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Canada
Performed by : Loud Luxury & Bryce Vine
Folk/Roots Music Award
The Folk/Roots Music Award is presented to a SOCAN member or members whose repertoire of creative works achieved the highest number of performances in 2020.

Afie “Bahamas” Jurvanen
DOWNTOWN MUSIC PUBLISHING
Licensed To Play
The SOCAN Licensed To Play Award is presented to a SOCAN licensed business that consistently and conscientiously recognizes the importance of music rights and the importance of paying legal and ethical licenses for the public performance of music.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Special Awards
International Song Award

Blinding Lights
AHMAD “BELLY” BALSHE
JASON “DAHEALA” QUENNEVILLE
ABEL “THE WEEKND” TESFAYE
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Canada
Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd.
Universal Music Publishing Canada
SALXCO
Performed by : The Weeknd
Hagood Hardy Award

Lido Pimienta
Jan V. Matejcek New Classical Music Award

Ian Cusson
Most Streamed Production Awards
Paw Patrol
JAMES CHAPPLE
GRAEME CORNIES
DAVID KELLY
BRIAN PICKETT
Spin Master Ltd.
CCS Rights Management
Wild Kratts
TIMOTHY FOY
PAUL KOFFMAN
BMG Rights Management Canada Inc.
Viral Song Awards

Stunnin’
DECLAN HOY
HARMENVIR KHARA
BMG Rights Management Canada Inc.
Performed by : Curtis Waters feat. Harm Franklin

Dancing In My Room
AIDAN FULLER
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Canada
Performed by : 347aidan

death bed (coffee for your head)
ISAIAH “POWFU” FABER
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. Canada
Performed by : Powfu feat. Beabadoobee

Supalonely
JENNA ANDREWS
Sony Music Publishing Canada
Performed by : Benee feat. Gus Dapperton