
TORONTO and MONTREAL – SOCAN and SODRAC 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.
The organizations said Friday that the initiative is a proactive response to the transformation of the markets and modes of consumption of music. A potential integration could reduce operating costs for rights holder members of each organization, increase efficiencies, and leverage licensing relationships, resulting in greater royalties for 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”, reads the joint statement.
SOCAN (the Society of Composers, Authors & Music Publishers of Canada) boasts some 150,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers as direct members, and more than 130,000 organizations are Licensed To Play music across Canada. SODRAC (Society for Reproduction Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers in Canada) represents more than 9,000 Canadian authors, composers and publishers of musical works, 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.