Drake, Jessie Reyez to be honoured at SOCAN Awards Oct. 26

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) will honour Drake, Jessie Reyez, Maestro Fresh Wes and Peter Peter at its 2026 SOCAN Awards on Oct. 26 at Rebel nightclub in Toronto, the organization said on Oct. 7.

The awards will recognize more than 100 Canadian music creators and publishers, according to SOCAN’s news release. The full list of winners will be released on the evening of the ceremony, which actor Andrew Phung and television personality Arisa Cox will host.

Drake will receive his fifth consecutive songwriter of the year award in the performer category. The Canadian Press reported that SOCAN cited “his unmatched influence on music worldwide” and that his triple-album release earlier this year broke several Billboard records, including Michael Jackson’s record for most No. 1s by a solo male artist. Billboard Canada reported that he did not attend to accept the award last year.

Reyez, the Canadian-Colombian artist who has won several Junos and has collaborated with Eminem and Beyoncé, will receive the international achievement award for “representing Canada on the global stage,” The Canadian Press reported.

Maestro Fresh Wes, Anthony Davis and Peter Davis will receive the cultural impact award for their 1989 hit Let Your Backbone Slide. SOCAN calls it a “global success story.” It was the first single by a Canadian hip-hop artist to go gold in Canada. The trophies this year, called “The SOCAN,” double as musical instruments, with five custom bronze crotales tuned to notes from the song.

Quebec composer Peter Peter will receive the global impact award for the original music in Crave’s Heated Rivalry. Billboard Canada reported that the show’s soundtrack reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200, the first TV soundtrack to do so this decade. Calgary’s Jenna Andrews is songwriter of the year in the non-performer category for songs on Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, and Andrew Lockington is screen composer of the year for work on Atlas, Landman, Mayor of Kingstown and Special Ops: Lioness.

The breakout awards go to Victoria’s Jade LeMac for songwriting and Toronto’s Nathan Micay for composing HBO’s Industry.

Jennifer Brown, SOCAN’s chief executive, said in the release that the awards highlight songwriters, composers and publishers who “define and elevate Canadian music.” She added: “We can’t wait to celebrate them on October 26.”

The ceremony comes weeks after SOCAN sued the U.S. company Suno in Federal Court, alleging its AI music generator copied songs in SOCAN’s repertoire without permission or compensation, as we reported on Sept. 5. SOCAN is a non-profit that manages licensing fees and protects songwriters’ rights.

Special guests will include Shawn Desman, and SOCAN said it will also recognize the 2025 songwriter of the year, Evan Blair. The release does not mention tickets or a broadcast.

Via SOCAN (CNW), The Canadian Press (CP24) and Billboard Canada.

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