Drake’s Next SOCAN Honor Puts Songwriting at the Center of His Legacy

Drake holds a microphone while performing onstage.

Drake’s songwriting is getting another major salute from Canada’s music community. SOCAN has named him its 2026 Songwriter of the Year — Performer honoree ahead of an October 26th ceremony at Toronto’s REBEL. The organization announced the selection on October 7th, putting the focus on his work as a writer as the next awards night approaches.

The distinction follows a particularly strong 2025 showing. In its recap of last year’s ceremony, SOCAN said Drake became the most-awarded songwriter in its history and set a single-evening record with six honors. That haul included his fourth Songwriter of the Year — Performer award, three Rap Music awards, one R&B Music award and one Dance Music award.

Those categories help explain why this recognition reaches beyond a single hit. Drake’s catalog has traveled between rap, melody and dance-oriented records, and last year’s awards reflected that range. The 2026 announcement gives listeners another reason to consider the writing behind the songs alongside the performer delivering them.

This year’s lineup also connects different generations of Canadian music. Jessie Reyez is set to receive the International Achievement Award. Maestro Fresh Wes, Anthony Davis and Peter Davis will receive the Cultural Impact Award for “Let Your Backbone Slide.” Together, those selections place contemporary crossover success and a foundational Canadian rap record in the same celebration.

SOCAN’s role extends beyond an annual trophy presentation. The member-owned music rights organization collects licensing fees for public performances and reproductions, then distributes royalties to music creators and publishers. That work makes songwriting credit an economic issue as well as an artistic one: the people behind a composition depend on those rights being recognized.

The ceremony is still ahead, and SOCAN says its complete winners list will be released on the evening of October 26th. For more on the people and decisions shaping music behind the scenes, read PowerPage’s recent Young Guru interview coverage.