SOCAN Celebrates Chart-topping Quebec Members

MONTREAL, Sept. 12, 2014 /CNW/ - SOCAN – the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada – proudly celebrated a group of BDS chart-topping members at L'Assommoir Notre-Dame Restaurant, in Montreal, as part of a No.1 Award presentation ceremony attended by Quebec Culture and Communications Minister Hélène David.

At the event, more than a dozen songwriter, composer and music publisher members were feted, representing an impressive cross-section of styles and genres indicative of the depth of creative talent that Quebec currently boasts.

"Together, they are our culture's ambassadors," said Minister Hélène David. "Each, in his or her own way, personify Quebec's diversity and talent. The Quebec population can be proud of their contribution, and, in their name, I congratulate and thank them all. The awards they are receiving today symbolize their hard work and our well-deserved admiration."                                  

The following songwriters and music publishers were honoured by SOCAN at the event:

• Karim Ouellet and Claude Bégin received #1 Awards for "L'amour" and "Marie-Jo," both published by Coyote Records, and respectively held the No.1 position on the BDS chart for 16 weeks from Jan. 14, 2013, and from Feb. 3 to 17, 2014; and for "Rien ne sert de courir," which held the top position for four weeks between May 19 and July 21, 2014, and again since Aug. 25, 2014.
• Alex Nevsky and Gabriel Gratton were honoured for "On leur a fait croire" and "Les coloriés," both published by Éditorial Avenue, and respectively topped the BDS chart from Oct. 14 to Nov. 18, 2013, and for the two periods of Feb. 24 to May 5 and May 12-19, 2004.
• Vincent Vallières was feted for "L'amour c'est pas pour les peureux" and "Loin," both published by Éditions Trente Arpents, and respectively held the No. 1 position on the BDS chart for the two periods of Jan. 20 to Feb. 3 and Feb. 17-24, 2014, and for the three periods of June 2-30, July 7-14 and July 21 to Aug. 25, 2014.
• Marie-Mai and Fred St-Gelais received a plaque for "Jamais trop tard," published by Éditions Groupe Archambault, Éditions Bloc-Notes, Productions J inc. and Éditions Lo Phat, and held the No. 1 position of the BDS chart from May 5 to 12, 2014.
• Steve Veilleux was celebrated for "J'sais pu comment t'aimer," published by Éditions Groupe Archambault, and topped the BDS chart from Nov. 18 to Dec. 23, 2013, and from Dec. 30, 2013, to Jan. 20, 2014.
• Jonas, Simon Wilcox, Mark Holman, Justin Gray and Martin Frederiksen, as well as Nelson Minville (adaptation), received No. 1 Awards for "Je crie ton nom," published by Big Slice Records Inc. and Fun Cooker, and held the top position of the BDS chart from Dec. 23 to 30, 2014.

"SOCAN is a vital player in the Quebec cultural ecosystem," said CEO Eric Baptiste. "We are strengthening our presence in order to provide better support to our members here, in the rest of Canada and in foreign territories, as well as to solidify SOCAN's relationships with the more than 25,000 businesses we licence in Quebec, a major part of our industry. It is important for us to be a part of our members' professional lives and to support them in a real way. We are delighted that Minister David accepted our invitation to be here today to salute our members, and we hope that, together, we can continue to foster close links between creators and business people so that Quebec culture may shine even more across Canada and the world."

About SOCAN
SOCAN is a member-based organization that represents the Canadian performing rights of more than three-million Canadian and international music creators and publishers. SOCAN is proud to play a leading role in supporting the long-term success of its more than 120,000 Canadian members, and the Canadian music industry overall. SOCAN licenses more than 125,000 businesses in Canada, and distributes royalties to its members and music rights organizations around the world. SOCAN also distributes royalties to its members for the use of their music internationally in collaboration with its peer societies. www.socan.ca

Image with caption: "SOCAN members honoured last night for the success of their songs in the BDS charts, with Hélène David, Minister of Culture and Communications, Geneviève Côté, SOCAN Chief Québec Affairs Officer, and Eric Baptiste, CEO of SOCAN. [Photo : Michel Gagné] (CNW Group/SOCAN)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140912_C2918_PHOTO_EN_5543.jpg

SOURCE: SOCAN

Media contacts: SOCAN: Anne Richard, [email protected], 514.844.8377; Éric Parazelli - [email protected], 514.844.8377; Capital-Image (for SOCAN): Véronique Beauchamp, 514-739-1188, ext. 247, [email protected]