TORONTO – The Ontario city of Hamilton has become the first Canadian municipality to receive a special SOCAN Licensed To Play designation by supporting fair and legal music licensing for music creators.
Licensed To Play is a long-term program encouraging businesses to show that music is an instrumental aspect of the customer experience, and that they stand up for songwriters, screen composers, and music publishers who have created the valuable music that enhances their business. Collectively, music licensing provides a major part of songwriters', composers', and music publishers' livelihoods through royalties, and is a vital aspect of Canada's music ecosystem.
Hamilton received the designation by the performing rights organization after confirming that all of its city-owned recreational facilities – including community halls, swimming pools, arenas, and other recreational services – are legally licensed by SOCAN to play commercially released music. The designation includes a Hamilton-specific version of the emblem that more than 40,000 Canadian music-using businesses have so far received to show their support of fair compensation for music creators.
"The City of Hamilton is making a clear statement that it stands up for music rights and the need for songwriters, screen composers, and music publishers to be fairly compensated for their music," said SOCAN licensing VP Leslie Craig, in the news release. "As the first Canadian city to receive this designation, it's a milestone for the Hamilton music community, and the more than 150,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers represented by SOCAN."
While organizations that use music in their business are expected to abide by the law, constantly monitoring every one of Canada's music-using businesses isn't feasible, said SOCAN, which works with businesses, trade associations, and municipalities to encourage them to stay up-to-date with their music licenses.
