SOCAN member Jay Smith and member Gordie Sampson’s mother, Flo, accepted the honour and Smith thanked SOCAN – “of course” – as they accepted the SOCAN-sponsored Songwriter of the Year award at the 2009 East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs), held the evening of March 1, 2009, at the Pepsi Centre in Corner Brook, N.L. Sampson also won Single of the Year for “We are Young and so is The Night” (co-written with J.T. Harding [BMI] and Smith), while Newfoundland band Hey Rosetta! was the big winner, taking home three trophies for Recording, Group, and Alternative Recording of the Year.

Earlier the same day, as part of the four-day conference leading up to the awards, SOCAN presented the ever-popular SOCAN Songwriters’ Circle at The Pepsi Studio from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Veteran East Coast singer-songwriter Ron Hynes – who won SOCAN’s National Achievement Award in 2008, for outstanding career success – served as a witty and charming host for the event, which featured the equally witty Dave Carroll, Maureen Ennis, Steve MacDougall, and the particularly high-energy songs of Chris Colepaugh. The event drew close to 200 people and almost filled the studio.

Ron Hynes served as a witty and charming host for the SOCAN Songwriters' Circle at the ECMA conference. (Photo: Doug Allen)

To kick off the conference, SOCAN hosted a reception for local members and delegates on Feb. 26, from 5-7 p.m. at the Grenfell Ballroom of the host hotel, The Glynmill Inn. Earlier the same day, SOCAN’s Rodney Murphy moderated a well-attended panel called “Breaking Nashville with SOCAN,” from 3-5 p.m. at the Tudor Room of the host hotel. The session featured panellists Chris Van Belkom (of the publishing and production company Combustion Music), Kelly Archer (a Nashville songwriter), and singer-songwriter Damhnait Doyle. These industry experts examined the ins and outs of co-writing and getting ahead in the world of songwriting and publishing in Nashville.

For more information about the awards and conference, and a complete list of winners, visit the ECMA website.