The 30th annual ADISQ Awards, presented at Montreal's Bell Centre on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, were televised live on the French CBC network from 7:30 p.m. The televised show followed two earlier presentations – the Industry Gala for all craft categories, and "The Other ADISQ Awards" honouring artists from the alternative, classical, electronic, techno, country, folk and other music scenes.

With popular comedian Louis-José Houde as host, the Nov. 2 presentation included a moving 30-minute tribute to Céline Dion, who was in attendance with her mother, Thérèse Dion, and her husband and fellow SOCAN member René Angelil. The Quebec idol was wildly acclaimed by the 10,000-plus audience, and received tributes from the lyricist extraordinaire Luc Plamondon and, in the form of an original work performed by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the composer and pianist André Gagnon.

Karkwa – whose members Louis-Jean Cormier and François Lafontaine had won SOCAN’s thirrd annual Prix de la chanson ÉCHO a few days earlier – were presented with three Félix prizes for author or composer of the year, alternative album of the year (Le volume du vent) and music video of the year (Échapper au sort). Unlike previous editions, the 2008 awards went to a wide variety of groups and artists including Ariane Moffatt, Kaïn, Malajube, Champion et ses G-Strings, Pierre Lapointe, Andrée Watters, Simple Plan, Dany Bédar and Chloé Ste-Marie, all SOCAN members. As usual, SOCAN personnel was well represented at the event.

The musical presentations of this year’s awards show included a number of joint performances allowing contrasting artists to share the stage. Of note were collaborations between Robert Charlebois and the traditional music group Les Cowboys Fringants, and between Ariane Moffatt and the Acadian hip-hop group Radio Radio.

For a complete list of winning artists, please visit the ADISQ website.