TORONTO – Jessie Reyez and Drake are set to receive special achievement honours at the upcoming 2026 SOCAN Awards, celebrating their significant contributions to the Canadian music scene.
The two acclaimed artists from Toronto will be recognized at the annual gala dedicated to Canadian songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Jessie Reyez has been awarded the international achievement award, acknowledging her role in representing Canada on the global stage while influencing music and culture through her extraordinary talent. The Canadian-Colombian singer-songwriter has garnered several Juno Awards and has collaborated with high-profile artists like Eminem and Beyoncé.
In addition, Drake will be honoured with his fifth consecutive songwriter of the year award in the performer category, highlighting his unmatched impact on music worldwide. Earlier this year, the Toronto rap icon made headlines by breaking multiple Billboard records with his triple-album release, including claiming the title for the most No. 1s by a solo male artist, a record previously held by Michael Jackson.
The 2026 SOCAN Awards ceremony is scheduled for October 26 at Rebel nightclub in Toronto. The event will be hosted by actor Andrew Phung and television personality Arisa Cox.
SOCAN, which stands for the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, is a non-profit organization responsible for managing licensing fees and upholding the rights of Canadian songwriters. In addition to Reyez and Drake, other honourees for this year include Toronto rapper Maestro Fresh Wes and producers Anthony Davis and Peter Davis, recognized for their groundbreaking 1989 hit "Let Your Backbone Slide." SOCAN describes this song as a seminal work that contributed significantly to Canadian hip-hop, marking it as a "global success story."
Furthermore, Quebec singer-songwriter Peter Peter will receive the global impact award for his original music composition for Crave’s hit hockey romance "Heated Rivalry." Calgary artist Jenna Andrews, known for her successful contributions as a singer-songwriter and producer, will receive the songwriter of the year award in the non-performer category for her collaboration on the soundtrack of Netflix’s animated film "KPop Demon Hunters."
In the breakout categories, Toronto's Nathan Micay will be awarded the breakout composer honour for his innovative scoring work on HBO’s acclaimed drama "Industry." Meanwhile, Victoria singer-songwriter Jade LeMac will be presented the breakout songwriter award, celebrated as "one of the most exciting new voices in Canadian music."
All award recipients at the SOCAN Awards will receive "The SOCAN," a unique trophy that doubles as a musical instrument. This year, its five custom bronze crotales will be tuned to the notes from "Let Your Backbone Slide," paying homage to the song's lasting legacy in Canadian music.
In related news, SOCAN recently launched a lawsuit against the U.S. artificial intelligence company Suno, accusing the AI music generator of copying songs from its repertoire without obtaining the necessary permissions or compensation.
