Jessie Reyez and Drake honoured at SOCAN Awards for songwriting and influence
Reyez receives international achievement award; Drake claims his fifth consecutive songwriter of the year honour.
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Jessie Reyez and Drake will be honoured at the 2026 SOCAN Awards on October 26 at Rebel nightclub in Toronto, with both receiving recognition for their songwriting and global influence.
Reyez, a Canadian-Colombian artist and multiple Juno Award winner, will receive the international achievement award for "representing Canada on the global stage" and "influencing music and culture with her talent." She has collaborated with superstars including Eminem and Beyoncé.
Drake will claim his fifth consecutive songwriter of the year award in the performer category for "his unmatched influence on music worldwide." Earlier this year, Drake made history by shattering several Billboard records with a triple-album release, breaking the longstanding record previously held by Michael Jackson for most No. 1s by a solo male artist.
Other honourees include Toronto rapper Maestro Fresh Wes and producers Anthony Davis and Peter Davis for their 1989 hit "Let Your Backbone Slide," the first single from a Canadian hip-hop artist to go gold in the country. Quebec singer-songwriter Peter Peter will receive the global impact award for composing original music for Crave's hit hockey romance series "Heated Rivalry." Calgary producer Jenna Andrews will take the songwriter of the year award in the non-performer category for co-writing and co-producing songs on Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack. Toronto composer Nathan Micay will receive the breakout composer award for scoring HBO's "Industry," and Victoria singer-songwriter Jade LeMac will be presented the breakout songwriter award as "one of the most exciting new voices in Canadian music."
All winners receive "The SOCAN" trophy, which functions as a musical instrument; this year's five custom bronze crotales will be tuned to notes from "Let Your Backbone Slide." The awards are hosted by actor Andrew Phung and TV personality Arisa Cox.
SOCAN, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, is a non-profit that manages licensing fees and protects the rights of Canadian songwriters. Last month, SOCAN launched a lawsuit against U.S. artificial intelligence company Suno, alleging the AI music generator copied songs in its repertoire without permission or compensation.
By the numbers
How many consecutive songwriter of the year awards has Drake won?
Drake will receive his fifth consecutive songwriter of the year award at the 2026 SOCAN Awards on October 26.
When and where is the 2026 SOCAN Awards ceremony?
The 2026 SOCAN Awards will take place on October 26 at Rebel nightclub in Toronto.
What was the first Canadian hip-hop single to go gold in Canada?
'Let Your Backbone Slide,' released in 1989 by Maestro Fresh Wes, Anthony Davis, and Peter Davis, was the first single from a Canadian hip-hop artist to go gold in the country.
