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Original songs and compositions are the engines that drive online music streaming: it simply wouldn’t exist without those who created the music on which their business depends. When you get Licensed To Play by SOCAN, not only are you compensating the songwriters and composers heard through your service, you’re also making sure that the music used to build your business is being used legally and ethically. The license fees streaming services pay to SOCAN for the public performance of music compensate  songwriters, composers and music publishers that make up SOCAN.
Question

Why do I need a SOCAN music license?

A.

A SOCAN license grants your business permission to use music in a specific way, and it’s quite straightforward to work with SOCAN to obtain the right license to play music. When a business uses music, it’s adding value by using the work of music creators and publishers. Those who composed, wrote, and published the song are entitled to be compensated for the time, effort, and money they put into the creation and promotion of that work when that music is played in public. In accordance with Canada’s Copyright Act, any public performance of copyright-protected musical works requires a license. When a song is played in public, music creators (not just the performers) are entitled to be compensated – it supports their livelihood. Without SOCAN, you would have to get permission from every composer, songwriter, and publisher of every musical work you intend to use in your business –a feat that most of us have neither the time nor the means to achieve. This permission isn’t granted when you buy a recording, whether through a CD, downloading, etc., which only allows you to privately use the purchased music. SOCAN simplifies this complex process for businesses through licenses. A SOCAN license grants your business permission to use music in a specific way, and it’s easy to work with SOCAN to obtain the right license to play music.

Cristobal Tapia de Veer
Member

Cristobal Tapia de Veer

TV series lovers in Québec, and all over the world, have gobbled up BBC America’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Série noire (SRC), and the British series National Treasure and Utopia – all of which were brilliantly scored by SOCAN member Cristobal Tapia de Veer. He’s a singular composer who doesn’t play by the rules, and the first screen composer to ever win the SOCAN International Award during the 2017 Gala in Montréal. He’s also won three other international awards for his work: the FIPA d’Or and BAFTA Award for Best Original Score for National Treasure, and the Best Original Score Award at the Festival de Film Gérardmer, in France, for The Girl with all the Gifts. His phone has rung off the hook since then.



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