Music Publishers Canada Announces 2024 Award Recipients: peermusic Canada; Linda Schuyler and Stephen Stohn

Toronto, ON – Music Publishers Canada (MPC) held its Annual General Meeting today and presented the Music Publishers Canada 2024 Publishing Company Legacy Award to peermusic Canada and the 2024 Industry Builder Award to Linda Schuyler and Stephen Stohn. 
 
The 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award – Publishing Company Legacy Award is sponsored by CMRRA and was presented to Mary Megan Peer by CMRRA President Paul Shaver. Greg Johnston, songwriter and composer and Songwriters Association Canada Board Director, also spoke about his time when he signed with peermusic earlier in his career. Ralph Peer II appeared in a special video message where he spoke about Canada, MPC and the history of peermusic in Canada. 

Peermusic’s presence in Canada dates back to 1942 with the incorporation of Southern Music Pub. Co. (Canada) Ltd., a subsidiary of Southern Music Publishing Company, Inc by industry visionary Ralph Peer in January 1928. Now, peermusic has joined the ranks of the largest independent music publishers in the world with 39 offices in 32 countries and they continue to take an active role in the Canadian music publishing sector and MPC. 

Music Publishers Canada was also proud to award Linda Schuyler and Stephen Stohn with its Industry Builder Award 2024 for their role in changing the role of music in film and television in Canada (starting with the Degrassi franchise) and for supporting the Canadian music publishing industry. Long-time friend and collaborator, Michael Perlmutter, spoke about his work as a Music Supervisor with Linda and Stephen and the importance of their work. 

Before Linda accepted the award, Michael presented a surprise video of singer-songwriter and actor Tyler Kyte performing an acoustic rendition of “Whatever It Takes”, the Degrassi theme song, co-written by Stephen. 

The final award of the night was presented to Vivian Barclay, MPC’s outgoing Board Co-Chair. Vivian was presented with the award by her Co-Chair Jennifer Mitchell, who spoke about Vivian’s contribution to the music publishing industry and MPC Board including helping to launch the Women in the Studio National Accelerator six years ago. 

MPC wants to thank Vivian for her dedication to MPC and its Board and look forward to working with her closely in the future! 

Since 2021, Music Publishers Canada’s Legacy Awards have been in the form of a custom paddle designed by Tom Wilson (Modern Mohawk artist, writer & musician published by Sony Music Publishing Canada). You can see more of Tom’s art here.