SOCAN and SODRAC Seeking Integrated Management of Music Rights in Canada - SOCAN

SOCAN and SODRAC Seeking Integrated Management of Music Rights in Canada

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Montréal and Toronto – SOCAN and SODRAC today announced that the two organizations are actively discussing the possibility of combining operations with the aim of creating an integrated approach to the management of both performing rights and reproduction rights of songwriters, composers and music publishers.

This initiative by SOCAN (the Society of Composers, Authors & Music Publishers of Canada) and SODRAC (Society for Reproduction Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers in Canada) is a proactive response to the transformation of the markets and modes of consumption of music.

The integration of the management of public performance rights and reproduction rights could have many advantages and would reduce operating costs for rights holder members of each organization, and promises to increase efficiencies, leverage licensing relationships, and reduce operating costs, resulting in even more money to go to those who have earned royalties for their music and streamlined licensing for businesses using music.

For the time being, the talks are productive and suggest that, subject to the approval of both boards, an agreement could be reached in the near future.

About SOCAN
SOCAN connects more than four-million music creators worldwide and more than a quarter-million businesses and individuals in Canada. Nearly 150,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers are its direct members, and more than 130,000 organizations are Licensed To Play music across Canada. With a concerted use of progressive technology and a commitment to lead the global transformation of music rights, with wholly-owned companies Audiam and MediaNet, SOCAN is dedicated to upholding the fundamental truths that music has value and music creators and publishers deserve fair compensation for their work.

About SODRAC
SODRAC is a collective management society with more than 9,000 Canadian authors, composers and publishers of musical works as members, and is the exclusive representative in Canada of the music repertoire of more than 100 countries or territories. SODRAC also represents in Canada the rights of more than 600 members in visual arts and crafts and nearly 40,000 artists from around the world. SODRAC facilitates access to and use of its repertoire on all platforms in order to fairly reward the work of its members, authors, composers and music publishers.

Media contacts:
SOCAN: Andrew Berthoff, (416) 442-3836, berthoffa@socan.ca
SODRAC:
Éric Trudel, (514) 845-3268, ext. 223, etrudel@sodrac.ca