SPECIAL 25th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE ... NEW LOOK, NEW FEATURES, MORE OF WHAT SONGWRITERS NEED TO KNOW!! $4.95 CDN MAGAZINE FALL 2008, Volume 11 Number 3 SIMPLE PLAN FLEXING THEIR CREATIVE MUSCLE THE TREWS ALSO IN THIS ISSUE … REFINE THE MESSAGE POST-ELECTION BLUES: WILL THE TORIES KEEP CUTTING INVESTMENT IN THE ARTS? ALI SLAIGHT 20 THINGS CHRISTOPHER WARD WANTS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT WRITING SONGS WILLIAM Hawkins S.A.C. AT THE ATLANTIC FILM FESTIVAL, CANADA’S great BLUEBIRD NORTH,SONGWRITERS IN THE NEWS “LOST” SONGWRITER … AND LOTS MORE! PUBLISHED BY Songwriters Association of Canada Association des auteurs-compositeurs Canadiens SONGWRITERS MAGAZINE FALL 2008 1 EXECUTIVE Director’S MESSAGE he summer and fall have been busy workshops in November in Toronto and Executive Director with many S.A.C. supported events. Saskatoon and in Edmonton and Victoria in EDITOR Greg Quill MANAGING EDITOR Don Quarles Back in May, we teamed up with the New Year; S.A.C. In The Schools events T DESIGN Ambrose Pottie through the fall and winter right across the the folks at NSAI (Nashville Songwriters CONTRIBUTORS Don Quarles,Nick Krewen, MAGAZINE Association International) and hosted a country and more events bringing songwrit- Christopher Ward,Dale Leung, Greg Quill All photos courtesy of S.A.C., unless otherwise stated. file sharing discussion panel for Music ers and industry professionals together. Row North, a Toronto conference, Now that the federal elections are done, Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40014605 showcase and celebration of songwriters. we’ll be trying to figure out who the new Canada Post Account No. 02600951 ISSN 1481-3661 ©2002 It was good to see many of you at our players are in the Departments of Heritage, Industry and Finance in hopes of connect- Songwriters Association of Canada Annual General Meeting in June, where a Subscriptions: Canada $16/year plus Fall 2008 Volume 11 Number 3 featured performance by new S.A.C. Board ing (or re-connecting) with them to ensure GST; USA/Foreign $22 CONTENTS member Emm Gryner was the hit of the that programs like the Canada Music Fund continue and that even more funding is Songwriters Magazine is a publication of the FEATURES: night. Songwriters Association of Canada (S.A.C.)and is Other recent events included: The put into the development of Canadian published three times a year. Members of S.A.C. receive Humber Summer Songwriting Workshop, music, both domestically and abroad. With Songwriters Magazine as part of their membership. 5 ALI SLAIGHT which was held in July and was once again copyright reform, the continued support of Songwriters Magazine welcomes editorial comment. 5 the Canada Music fund as well as ongoing Opinions expressed in Songwriters Magazine do not Making her own moves a resounding success. We also hosted a file necessarily represent the opinions of the S.A.C. Address sharing panel discussion during Our Future discussion on monetizing music file sharing, submissions, inquiries and changes of address to: By Greg Quill in Music, a conference that took place in St. 26 Soho Street John’s in August. Suite 340 6 20 QUESTIONS We were present at the MIAC trade Toronto, Ontario Christopher Ward reveals as much as he dares in a show in Toronto in August and hosted an Canada M5T 1Z7 open mic and demo panel at the CCMAs in candid conversation about professional song craft Phone: (416) 961-1588 Winnipeg in September; a songwriter show- or: 1-866-456-7664 case called Soundtracks and Stories at the Fax: (416) 961-2040 THE BIG QUESTION: Atlantic Film Festival; a special songwriters E-mail: [email protected] R Web: www.songwriters.ca panel at Pop Montreal in October; and a file Did the Tories learn anything from the pro-arts sharing panel and demo evaluation panel at All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be protests during the election, or will they keep the WCMAs in Edmonton. reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted slashing music-related arts programs? We also hosted our songwriter showcase, in any form or by any means without the prior written : SWINGHAMME : S.A.C. permission of the Songwriters Association of Canada. N By Greg Quill An Evening in the S.A.C., at the Ontario O OTO ati Council of Folks Festivals in October. H BOARD OF DIRECTORS R Hopefully some of you managed to get P President Eddie Schwartz Vice-President Bill Henderson 7 10 THE TREWS to the Radio Star New Songwriter Workshop LLUST Vice-President Greg Stephens I East Coast rockers find their voice with series that was sponsored by CMW, DON WITH CAPE BRETON SINGER/ Treasurer Jim Vallance Sennheiser, and 12 Astral Media radio SONGWRITER BRUCE GUTHRO Secretary Greg Johnston No Time For Later stations, in partnership with the S.A.C. at THE ATLANTIC FILM FESTIVAL. Past President Stan Meissner Directors Joan Besen, Amelia Curran, By Nick Krewen They featured S.A.C. Board members, Emm there is still plenty to talk about. We look Emm Gryner, Marc Jordan, Gryner, Blair Packham and Jim Vallance. Blair Packham, Christopher Ward Humber Summer Songwriting Work- forward to being at those tables! 12 SIMPLE PLAN shop alumnus Ron McNeil (’06) was the In July, it was with regret that I accepted ADVISORY BOARD Jann Arden, Randy Bachman, Tommy Banks, Liona Boyd, John Capek, Tom Cochrane, Sell 7 million records, take a break in Florida, recipient of a single song contract with the resignation of Beverly Hardy, Lisa Dalbello, Richard Dodson,Rik Emmett, Micky Erbe, stretch musical muscle … what could be simpler? OLE Music Publishing during their Hits- our Manager of Operations. Beverly had Roy Forbes, David Foster, Alan Frew, Dan Hill, Paul ville event at the CCMA’s in Winnipeg in been with the S.A.C. for the last 10 years Hoffert,Paul Janz, Ron Hynes, Ron Irving, Arnold Lanni, By Nick Krewen Geddy Lee, Mike Levine, Colin Linden, Rita MacNeil, 10 September. After this event, Ron told me he and has helped to develop many of the pro- grams that are still running today. A special Sarah McLachlan, Murray McLauchlan, Dean McTaggart, attributes the success of his songwriting Frank Mills, Ben Mink, Adam Mitchell, Gary O’Connor, 15 WILLIAM HAWKINS development to his experience at the lunch was held for her that was attended by Declan O’Doherty, Blair Packham, Dave Pickell, Raffi, Humber summer songwriting workshop. staff and she was presented with a plaque Cyril Rawson, Sam Reid, Tyler J. Smith, Ian Thomas, The best Canadian songwriter you’ve never heard … and some gifts of thanks for her dedication David Tyson, Sylvia Tyson, Shari Ulrich, Valdy, Ron’s song “Places I Ain’t Never Been” was Jim Vallance, Nancy White till now to years of service with the association. We co-written with Larry Wayne Clark and By Greg Quill made it around all the bases to be signed to will miss her and wish her well in her future The S.A.C. gratefully acknowledges the support of 12 a single song deal. Way to go Ron! endeavours. Good luck Bev! The SOCAN Foundation and the Government of Canada, As always, feel free to drop into the Soho through the Creators’ Assistance Component I look forward to seeing many of you at of the Canada Music Fund 17 S.A.C. AT THE ATLANTIC FILM FESTIVAL St. office in Toronto or give us a call and let upcoming events as well. Maybe we’ll see Canadian songwriters showcase their work for you at: the Hey Big Ears demo evaluation us know what you are up to. We welcome international film makers panel; the “Reality Cheque” panel; our Song- your comments and questions on upcoming shop and file sharing panel at Nova Scotia events and activities in your area. By Don Quarles Music Week; a Master Class with John Ca- Keep on writing, pek in Gander, Newfoundland; Songposium Don Quarles 2 SONGWRITERS MAGAZINE FALL 2008 SONGWRITERS MAGAZINE FALL 2008 3 SONGWRITERS IN THE NEWS Haydain update U.S. DIGITAL ROYALTY RATES January 31, Edmonton: S.A.C. Songposium their self-titled debut album: Altered Laws Haydain Neale, front man of the band “There is still much to be done”. SET IN LANDMARK DECISION workshop with Jim Vallance, Ariel Hyatt, (Outstanding Jazz Recording) for Metaphora; jacksoul, is continuing to recover from We all know that Haydain’s focus The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board has Ryan Zimmerman. Saskatchewan’s Little Miss Higgins (Out- his accident back in August last year. will be on his family upon his return decided not to raise the royalty rates standing Blues Recording) for the Junction February 7, Victoria: S.A.C. Songposium Neale sustained serious injuries, but but we still look forward to having him paid to songwriters and music publish- City; State of Shock (Outstanding Rock Re- workshop with John Capek, Ariel Hyatt, is continuing to improve and steadily bring more of his music to the world and ers for physical product and permanent Mark Adams, Don McLeod. cording) for Life for Love and Lies; Twilight downloads. Hotel (Outstanding Roots Recording – Group) progressing with his rehabilitation. continue to join us in the mission to help After a closely-watched proceeding, the February, Date TBA. Toronto: for Highway Prayer; and reggae revivalists Both Michaela and Haydain recently all Canadian songwriters. Hang in there three-judge CRB panel in September set S.A.C. Power Songshop. Souljah Fyah (Outstanding Urban Recording) celebrated a birthday, and Haydain has Haydain! the rate for songwriters and publishers of February, Date TBA, Vancouver: for Truth Will Reveal. been doing great with his physiotherapy To send well wishes to Haydain and 9.1 cents per song for digital downloads, S.A.C.