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A demographic of talent previously underserved is finally receiving recognition alongside other Canadian artists. With more than 300 submissions for a newly created award, the Black Canadian music community has answered the call to be recognized and celebrated as a part of our national collective of artists.
SOCAN Foundation, the Canadian performing rights organization’s social responsibility arm, stepped up efforts a few years ago to include the extensive contributions of less-served artists such as women, youth and Indigenous musicians. Without an award for Black Canadians, SOCAN Foundation’s executive director Charlie Wall-Andrews says, particularly with the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, “it was time to address anti-Black racism in the music industry.