Catherine MacLellan won the SOCAN-sponsored Songwriter of the Year award (for her song "Take a Break") at the 2010 Music PEI Awards, where she also earned three other trophies. MacLellan’s other awards were for album and folk recording of the year (both for her album Water in the Ground) and female vocalist of the year.

Other multiple award winners, with two apiece, were entertainer of the year Grass Mountain Hobos, group of the year Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold and new artist of the year Haunted Hearts.

The ninth annual awards gala was held Jan. 23 at the Homburg Theatre at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown. Although a number of the awards were handed out at events throughout the week, during the 2010 Music PEI Week conference and festival, all nominees and winners were recognized from the gala stage.

During the Music PEI Week conference, SOCAN member & industry relations executive Tim Hardy hosted a well-attended "SOCAN 101" session, reviewing the basics of copyright and SOCAN membership, revenue streams from SOCAN, and how the SOCAN Foundation works.