The SOCAN Foundation announced the five winners of the second annual SiriusXM Black Canadian Music Awards earlier this month.
This year’s winners of the $5,000 development grant created to recognize and celebrate the artistic merit demonstrated by Black music creators of any genre, including singer-songwriter Falana, rising R&B/pop star, IDMAN, Toronto’s soulful Jon Vinyl, Ottawa-born vocalist, songwriter, and producer, Maurice Moore, and 2019 CBC Searchlight winner and Allan Slaight JUNO Masterclass alumnus, Shopé.
In a statement, Keziah Myers, Executive Director at ADVANCE Music Canada and Award jury member, said “This award is an opportunity to highlight Black creators. I am happy to have been a part of the Black Canadian Awards since its inception and am thrilled to continue to see such incredible talent come through the submissions.”
“This year’s winners are bringing fresh sounds to the industry, and we are ecstatic to see them honoured in this space (through SOCAN Foundation),” Myers continues.
Hundreds of submissions from artists across Canada covering a wide variety of musical genres were, and winners were selected by a jury and advisory council of prominent Black artists and industry leaders. Jury members include Jordan Sowunmi (Lead, Music Editorial and Content Strategy at TikTok), Kentya Kurban (Community Engagement Coordinator at Music BC Industry Association), Keziah Myers (Executive Director at Advance), Michael Asante (Creative Executive, Rap and R&B at SOCAN), Owen Lee (Artist, Singer/Songwriter Musician, Vocal Director), Vivian Barclay (Managing Director at Warner Chappell Music Canada) and Widney Bonfils (Director, A&R at Universal Music Canada).
In addition, new this year, special distinctions and awards of $1,000 are also being made to B.ROB, Haviah Mighty, Liza, Lu Kala, and Shad.
For more information on the SOCAN Foundation’s mission to foster Canadian musical creativity and a better understanding of the role of music creators in today’s society, please be sure to visit www.fondationsocan.ca.