Canadian Musician November / December 2019 | Page 16

CHANGES
The SOCAN
Foundation,
in partnership
with Re:Sound,
has launched
the inaugural
Her Music
Awards. The
new program
SOCAN FOUNDATION ED CHARLIE
WALL-ANDREWS
will provide
mid-career, female-identified music creators
with recognition and a $5,000 award.
“The SOCAN Foundation is thrilled to
announce another initiative celebrating
incredible Canadian talent,” says Charlie
Wall-Andrews, the executive director of
The SOCAN Foundation. “This program is
designed to recognize artistic excellence
demonstrated by female-identified creators
of music in Canada with the expectation
that the accolade will help to build momen-
tum in their career trajectory.”
The Her Music Awards are administrated
by SOCAN Foundation, with financial con-
tributions made by SOCAN Foundation and
Re:Sound. Applications are being accepted
until Nov. 28, 2019.
For more information, go to
www.socanfoundation.ca.
(L-R) TIM BROWN (STRIKER), RAYANNAH, LOA & MARIEL
BUCKLEY.
Dan Mangan, Snotty Nose Rez Kids
& More Earn Western Canadian
Music Awards
The winners of the 2019 Western Canadian
Music Artistic Awards were revealed during
BreakOut West in Whitehorse, YT.
Dan Mangan won the Rock Artist and
Songwriter of the Year awards, Brett Kissel
earned Country Artist of the Year honours,
and Snotty Nose Rez Kids were named Break-
Out Artist of the Year. Other winners included
Vials for Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, Ndidi
O for Blues Artist of the Year, and Rosie & the
Riveters for Roots Duo/Group of the Year.
16 CANADIAN MUSICIAN
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Susan
Aglukark was on hand at the awards
ceremony to be inducted into the Western
Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Aglukark’s
decorated career has seen her recognized
as the first Inuk artist to win a JUNO Award,
earned her a Governor General’s Performing
Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement,
and named her an officer of the Order of
Canada.
For a full list of creative and industry
award winners at the WCMAs, go to
www.breakoutwest.ca.
Tanika Charles Wins Polaris Artist
Residency
At the Polaris
Music Prize
Gala in Toronto,
soul singer
Tanika Charles
was named
the winner of
the first Polaris
TANIKA CHARLES
Artist Residen-
cy at Studio Bell in Calgary. Charles gets
the chance to explore the National Music
Centre’s vast collection of historic musical
instruments and equipment, and record
inside the world-class facility at Studio Bell.
Chosen from Polaris’ 2019 long list of
40 artists to receive a five-day residency,
Charles’ sophomore album, The Gumption,
landed her a spot on this year’s long list.
For more information, go to
www.polarismusicprize.ca.
SOCAN Foundation Announces
Inaugural Her Music Awards
Johnny Shay
has won
Slaight Music’s
“It’s Your Shot
2019” Canadian
songwriting and
artist develop-
ment com-
JOHNNY SHAY
petition. Shay
took home the grand prize valued at over
$100,000, including recording, distribution,
radio promotion, publicity, and marketing
support via 2019 label partner Black Box
Music, along with a professionally produced
photo shoot, artist biography, and music
video. Additionally, he will receive business
mentoring, personalized development of
his brand, and live performance opportuni-
ties in 2020. www.itsyourshot.ca.
MARK YOUR
CALENDAR...
HINDS PERFORMING AT CMW
CMW 2020 Showcase Applications
Open Until Dec. 15
Applications for artist showcases at Canadian
Music Week 2020 are still open, with the final
deadline being Dec. 15, 2019. The festival and
conference will return to the Sheraton Centre
Toronto Hotel and venues around downtown
Toronto from May 19-23, 2020.
Each year, CMW attracts hundreds of
artists and industry delegates from around
the world to gather in Toronto for five days of
live music, education, and networking. Show-
casing artists can attend panels, one-on-one
meetings, and more at the music conference
and at night showcase in front of fans, fellow
musicians, and industry members.
For more information, go to
www.cmw.net/music/apply.
BAYLA
Montreal indie-pop artist BAYLA won the
grand prize in the seventh annual Canada’s
Walk of Fame 2019 RBC Emerging Musician
Program. Chosen by a selection committee
of music industry experts, the program is
valued at more than $100,000, and provides
musicians with the opportunity to grow
and develop their skills alongside industry
connections to further their music careers.
“Growing up, I never thought I’d be able to
pursue my dreams. I was diagnosed with
Vocal Cord Dysfunction and told by doctors
that I would never be able to sing,” she
revealed. www.canadaswalkoffame.com.