Jessie Reyez and Drake are set to be honored at the 2026 SOCAN Awards for their significant contributions to the music industry. Reyez will be recognized with the International Achievement Award for her exceptional representation of Canada on the global stage and her profound influence on music and culture. As a Canadian Colombian artist, she has garnered multiple Juno Awards and collaborated with renowned artists like Eminem and Beyoncé.
Drake will be presented with his fifth consecutive award for songwriter of the year in the performer category, acknowledging his unparalleled impact on the global music scene. Earlier this year, the Toronto rapper made history by breaking several Billboard records with his triple-album release, surpassing Michael Jackson’s long-held record for the most No. 1 singles by a solo male artist.
The SOCAN Awards ceremony is scheduled for October 26 at Rebel nightclub in Toronto, with actor Andrew Phung and TV personality Arisa Cox hosting the event. SOCAN, which stands for the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, is a non-profit organization dedicated to managing licensing fees and safeguarding the rights of Canadian songwriters.
Other honorees at this year’s event include Toronto rapper Maestro Fresh Wes and producers Anthony Davis and Peter Davis for their iconic 1989 hit “Let Your Backbone Slide,” the first single by a Canadian hip-hop artist to achieve gold status in the country, recognized as a global success story. Additionally, Quebec singer-songwriter Peter Peter will be awarded the Global Impact Award for composing the original music for Crave’s popular hockey romance “Heated Rivalry.”
Calgary singer-songwriter-producer Jenna Andrews will receive the Songwriter of the Year Award in the non-performer category for her contributions to the soundtrack of Netflix’s hit animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” Nathan Micay from Toronto will be honored with the Breakout Composer Award for his outstanding work on scoring HBO’s acclaimed high-finance drama “Industry.” Victoria singer-songwriter Jade LeMac will be presented with the Breakout Songwriter Award for her emergence as one of the most promising new talents in Canadian music.
All winners will be awarded the SOCAN trophy, a unique musical instrument featuring five custom bronze crotales tuned to the notes from “Let Your Backbone Slide.” Recently, SOCAN initiated legal action against U.S. artificial intelligence company Suno, alleging copyright infringement related to the unauthorized use of songs in its catalog.
The SOCAN Awards celebrate excellence in the Canadian music industry and recognize the exceptional talents and achievements of artists across various genres.