SOCAN makes newspaper headline

Subject: RE: SOCAN makes newspaper headline
From: JohnB
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 01:29 PM

I "assume" (please correct me if I am wrong) that this is only applicable to "recorded" music.
"Live" music would be another thing?
If not they might be after our Morris side next.
It really ANNOYS me when all these Irish dancers use canned music, they should be forced to pay for not using live musicians.
JohnB.

Subject: RE: SOCAN makes newspaper headline
From: Barry T
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 01:19 PM

Today's paper announces that SOCAN is now targeting buskers in Vancouver's Skytrain rapid transit stations.

- - - - -
Musicians and singers who are approved to perform inside the region's SkyTrain stations were sent a letter in October... ...informing them they could soon be asked to pay as much as $1,500 annually for a performance licence.
- - - - -

(Currently the musicians pay a $75 annual fee for the right to perform in those locations.)

'Makes you want to think twice before singing in the shower!

Subject: RE: SOCAN makes newspaper headline
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 02:09 PM

Sorry about the double negative.

Subject: RE: SOCAN makes newspaper headline
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 02:03 PM

That has been the issue for aeons. I don't know that the money collected falls into the wrong hands; however, it may not be falling into the writers' hands. SOCAN sent all members a cheque way back due to some fairly large payment or other from a big company on the i'net. SOCAN then pro-rated the payments to each member. C'est la vie. BUT, the ripoff crap that occurs hits people who are working for a living. I love music, but I love eating, too. Writers are working. It's an art/craft. That doesn't make it free other than in the minds of people who don't feel they shouldn't pay for it. IMO and with no offence intended.

Subject: RE: SOCAN makes newspaper headline
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 01:16 PM

I do agree that the composer and performer have every right to royalties due. That being said does SOCAN have any means of ensuring that this is done? How many people use a tune in a facility such has this, how often and how do you tell? How do you ensure that the royalty payment gets where it belongs instead of to some big recording company who is getting all the airtime? It has absolutely nothing to do with radio air play which they often use as a gauge, so to apply a formula of their own invention is where the problem lies. I suspect that much of the money collected falls into the wrong hands, at least from a moral if not legal standpoint!

Subject: RE: SOCAN makes newspaper headline
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 12:17 PM

From the linked article:

"Non-profit groups can't believe SOCAN wants to charge kids royalties for tunes"

Maybe the non-profit groups should write their own music?

Subject: RE: SOCAN makes newspaper headline
From: gnu
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 10:58 AM

I was not aware of the "digital" thing. I hope they get on that real quick.

Subject: RE: SOCAN makes newspaper headline
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 10:53 AM

it seems mean-spirited but they're trying to get folks to pay for the music they use. This benefits the author/composer, but squeezes the 10 year olds on a tight budget

Socan ought to be going after satellite radio networks like Galaxy, who I was recently told, doesn't pay anything because the existing agreement only applies to analog broadcast not digital...

Subject: SOCAN makes newspaper headline
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 09:46 AM

This was on today's front page of Nova Scotia's Halifax Herald.
It seems that SOCAN is following in the footsteps of royalty collectors in Britain and the USA.

SOCAN