III Music Copyright Royalties in Canada

Music Writing and Publishing

foreign songwriters, composers and pub 

in Canada 

lishers, and collect international royalties

for distribution to Canadian songwriters,

Music publishers work closely with writers

composers and publishers. 

and composers to promote their songs. In 

a typical publishing agreement, the song 

In 2003, SOCAN's total funds available for

writer or composer assigns ownership and

distribution to its members rose 10.3%

control of a copyright protected musical

from the year before, to $152.1 million.

work to the publisher, who in turn earns 

Total revenue, including Private Copy

a percentage of the income derived from

royalties of $3.8 million, for SOCAN in

the work's commercial use. The Society of

2003 was $180.7 million, an 8.9% rise

Composers, Authors and Music Publishers

from the previous year. Net administrative

of Canada (SOCAN) administers the 

costs in the same period rose slightly by

performing rights on behalf of these song 

1.9% to $28.7 million. 

writers, composers and their publishers

and collects license fees from users of

Over the last five years, SOCAN has seen

copyright protected music in Canada (for

an increase in both the numbers of its

the public performance of the works) and

members as well as the royalties it collects

distributes these fees to its members in

and distributes. The number of songwriter

the form of royalties. SOCAN is the only

and composer members who received

copyright collective for the public per 

royalties jumped from just over 16,000 in

formance of musical works in Canada.

1999 to over 19,500 in 2003, while royal 

Virtually all Canadian songwriters,

ties for writers and composers grew 73.2%

composers and publishers are SOCAN

in the same time period. The number of

members, therefore the data provided by

publishers, meanwhile, grew from 4,218 to

SOCAN will assist to explain the success

4,771, while publishers' domestic royal 

y

of Canadian songwriters, composers and

ties rose 48.6% to $41.3 million. (Note:

their publishers. SOCAN also works with

These results exclude any special cable

international affiliated performing rights

arrears, pay audio arrears, cable overhead

organizations to distribute royalties to

rebates and private copy royalties.) 

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