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Canada’s musical elite gathered Nov. 22, 2010, in the John Bassett Theatre of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the 2010 SOCAN Awards gala, honouring dozens of members for national and international achievements over the past year. Hosting duties this year were shared by Suzie McNeil, Kardinal Offishall and Hawksley Workman, who introduced live performances by a number of SOCAN members and appearances by winners such as Burton Cummings, George Canyon, Karl Wolf, Don Thompson and the members of Spirit of the West and Theory of a Deadman.

SOCAN president Earl Rosen led off the evening by remarking that 2010 has been a year of great change at SOCAN, especially with the arrival of the organization’s new CEO, Eric Baptiste. “Right now,” Rosen went on, “the biggest item on our plate is Bill C-32, the proposed changes to the copyright act. We welcome the government’s goal of updating the copyright act for the digital age, but their proposed solutions erode the rights of creators and rights owners. The proposed legislation also provides a blank cheque to those who profit from the unauthorized distribution of music. People talk about the need for a ‘balanced’ approach – but to me, the word ‘balanced’ in this case means taking away some of our rights. You can be assured that SOCAN is taking a vigorous approach to protecting your rights.”

After welcoming guests from BMI and ASCAP in the U.S., Rosen introduced one of the evening’s performers, illScarlett, who gave a rousing rendition of SOCAN Classic Award winner Kim Mitchell’s “Easy to Tame.” Mitchell and co-writer Pye Dubois were honoured with three Classic Awards during the evening. Topping the list of Classics this year, for songs that have attained at least 100,000 radio plays, were Sarah McLachlan with an astonishing nine, longtime SOCAN board member and Chilliwack singer-guitarist Bill Henderson (with five), and Burton Cummings (also with five, who now holds the English language all-time record with 22 SOCAN Classics over the course of his career). Some of the cited songs were penned with various co-writers.

Co-host Hawksley Workman and Alan Doyle, of Roots/Folk Award winners Great Big Sea, honour National Achievement Award winners Spirit of the West with an acoustic duo version of their song "Political" at the 2010 SOCAN Awards. (Photo: Grant W. Martin Photography)

Galt MacDermot, who was unable to attend, was feted with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award for a five-decade career that has drawn inspiration from a wealth of musical styles, including jazz, folk, funk, gospel, reggae and classical music. He received his first Grammy Award in 1960 for the song “African Waltz” and his second in 1969 for the smash Broadway musical Hair, which he also adapted for the screen. Also a Tony Award winner, Macdermot was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. His son Vincent accepted the award on his behalf.

Brian Howes, the Vancouver-based superstar singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and studio owner, captured the International Achievement Award for a career marked by collaborations with artists such as Hinder, David Cook, Skillet and Hedley. He’s currently producing the forthcoming Simple Plan release and co-wrote the title track for X Factor winner Joe McElderry.

West Coast veterans Spirit of the West, who recently celebrated their 25th anniversary, won the SOCAN National Achievement Award for their unique blend of rock, Britpop and Celtic folk music. And Senator Tommy Banks – the Alberta-born, international acclaimed band leader and composer, Gemini and Juno Award winner and Officer of the Order of Canada – was singled out for this year’s Special Achievement Award.

Another of this year’s standout winners was Nickelback, one of the most successful rock bands in the world today, who won a Pop/Rock Award and the International Song Award for the 2009 hit “Gotta Be Somebody” as well as a Pop/Rock Award for “If Today Was your Last Day.”
In a bow to the other side of the business, this year’s Patron of Music Award (honouring a SOCAN customer that has demonstrated extraordinary understanding and recognition of the value of music to its business) went to Clublink, Canada’s largest owner and operator of premium golf courses.