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New Talent

> Who Socan Works With > Music Talent > New Talent

When your songs are played, by various businesses, around the world – whether live in concert (by you or anyone else), on the radio, online, on TV, in movies, in bars, restaurants, cafés, night clubs, etc. – SOCAN collects the money that’s owed for those performances and distributes it to you as royalties. Part of SOCAN’s mission is to educate, advise and mentor emerging songwriters like you about the craft and business of music. We also tell the stories, and celebrate the successes, of emerging songwriters like you in our various SOCAN media platforms. When it comes to getting paid for performances of your songs, it’s our business to take care of you. We’ve got your back.

Question

Can I claim performance royalties if I’m arranging, orchestrating, transcribing or adapting a public domain work?

A.

Yes. You can claim shares if the work is in the public domain. SOCAN's distribution rules provide for credits that may vary depending upon the nature of the arrangement.

Shawn Mendes
Member

Shawn Mendes

SOCAN member Shawn Mendes’ first hit single “Stitches” reached the Top 10 in the U.S. and Canada, and No. 1 in the U.K. His albums Handwritten and Illuminate both debuted atop the U.S. Billboard 200. In only a few years, the 20-year-old pop star has already opened a tour for Taylor Swift and headlined at Madison Square Gardens. He earned a SOCAN Breakout Award in 2015 and Pop/Rock Award in 2016, and the Allan Slaight Honour from Canada's Walk of Fame. After 10 JUNO Award nominations, in 2017 Mendes finally won the Fan Choice Award. A few days later, he joined his hero John Mayer onstage.



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