Broadcasters

> Who Socan Works With > Music Users > Broadcasters

Whether you broadcast a TV or cable TV show that includes music in some of the programming, or operate a terrestrial, satellite or online radio station that broadcasts music, getting Licensed To Play by SOCAN means that the people who created that music are compensated for your use of their work. You’re also making sure that the music used to build your viewership or listenership is used fairly, legally and ethically. The license fees that broadcasters pay to SOCAN for the public performance of music – whether via cue sheets for individual music performances or blanket licenses for all music performances within a given time period – compensate songwriters, composers and music publishers that make up SOCAN.

If I don't use Canadian-made music, do I still have to get a SOCAN license?

Yes. A SOCAN license gives you permission to use copyright-protected musical works of SOCAN members as well as members of affiliated international performing rights societies from around the world. Through agreements with international performing rights organizations, SOCAN issues licenses for virtually all music used in public by businesses in Canada. SOCAN then transfers the corresponding monies to the appropriate society, and vice versa.

Alex Cuba

Born in Artemisa, Cuba, and now based in Smithers, BC, Alex Cuba has won two SOCAN Awards, four Latin Grammys, two JUNOs, and has been nominated for two Grammys. In 2016, SOCAN member Cuba performed as part of the national Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. He's worked with Ron Sexsmith, Nelly Furtado, David Myles, Jim Cuddy, and Alejandra Ribera, among many others. As Cuba performs in Spanish, English and French, his sweet melodies, pop-soul hooks and powerful guitar riffs defy the traditional conventions of the Latin music landscape in favour of his own unique brand of Hispanic soul music.