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.

What is a SOCAN license?

A SOCAN license gives your business or organization, the freedom and flexibility to use virtually any music you want – legally, ethically, and easily. Without SOCAN, you would have to get permission and negotiate a royalty with every songwriter, lyricist, and music publisher whose work you intend to play, or to have publicly performed. Instead, SOCAN simplifies the process by allowing businesses to pay a relatively small fee, often once a year to play all the music their customers enjoy hearing. These fees are then distributed as royalties to music creators in Canada and around the world, through reciprocal agreements with similar music rights organizations in other countries. To learn more about our Licensed To Play program, visit our Music Users page.

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.