SOCAN-free album collection
p2pnet news Music:- | P2P:- Are you a dentist, a hair-dresser, a school cafeteria manager or anyone else who wants to be able to play music on the premises —- without having SOCAN collectors on your case, demanding money and threatening you with legal action if you don’t cough it up?
The organisation went after Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, “for refusing to pay SOCAN tariffs for the public performance of the underlying music, a separate fee from the other fee musicians or their labels would be receiving for the event,” said Digital Copyright Canada’s Russell McOrmond.
“Whether there is a live musician doing their own work or doing covers, or someone playing recorded music in the background, SOCAN claims a right to get a cut,” he noted.
Officially, SOCAN is short for Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada. In reality, it stands for ‘Soak Canada’s Composers and Authors,” suggested a Reader’s Write.
But there is a way to enjoy music without it, says CanadaJams.
Specifically designed to stifle freedoms and innovation
SOCAN states it’s a, “copyright collective that administers the performing rights of more than 80,000 composer, author and publisher members, and hundreds of thousands of members of our affiliated performing rights organizations (PROs) worldwide, by licensing the use of their music in Canada”.
When I see the word ‘collective’ I always think of the old Soviet Union state-run organisations specifically designed to stifle any and all freedoms and innovation not officially sanctioned by the USSR.
Anyway, back in August last year, I had a(nother) demand from SOCAN. It had to do with a lampoon pic based on the original SOCAN logo.
The story headline was, SOCAN goes after hair dressers and, “We ask that you immediately cease and desist from all further use of any SOCAN trade-mark, or any confusingly similar mark thereto,” wrote SOCAN lawyer Andrea E. Kokonis.
“We further ask that you confirm to us in writing, received by SOCAN no later than August 2, 2007, that you have complied with the foregoing demand,” she said.
In an 2004 story, “SOCAN, “wanted to gouge health practitioners while their patients relaxed to the sound of music,” p2pnet posted, going on >>>
“This was a money grab,” says Dr Jack Cotrell of the Canadian Dental Association was quoted as saying.
In its latest effort, SOCAN wants dentists to fork out a yearly fee, with $100 as the minimum.
“I just feel it’s a money grab,” Vancouver dentist Kerstin Conn, who recently received a letter from SOCAN at her office, is quoted saying in the CBC item.
“We paid for our CD and we’re using it to listen to, and half the time my patients … don’t even hear the music.”
“[…]the music is not their property,” the report has SOCAN licensing manager Bruce Wilde stating.
“And if it’s being used in a public fashion or any kind of commercial fashion, then [musicians] deserve to be compensated for its use.”
It’s common practice for surgeons to play music in operating theatres while they’re working, we said, wondering, “How long before SOCAN goes after them as well?”
But it’s no joke.
Piped music into the cafeteria
A little while back my wife, daughter and I took a break, heading down to Ontario where we stayed with our friends, Wenda Atkins and Steve L’Esperance.
They run CanadaJams.ca and Wenda was telling us about an experience she’d had with SOCAN.
A school which piped music into the cafeteria stopped playing because of the fees due to Socan.
Not only but also, SOCAN wanted the school to send it a list of plays so SOCAN collectors could decide what to collect.
How about SOCAN sending the school a list of tunes so the school could weed out questionable items?
Nope.
Atkin is still waiting for a reply from SOCAN on what’s needed —- apart from supplying them with a list it has no business to ask for, that is.
But as we said at the beginning, there is a way to play music without interference from SOCAN.
“ATTENTION!” – says CanadaJams, continuing >>>
Want your original songs distributed to highschools, universities & colleges across Canada?
Free.
It’s called the
CanadaJams SOCAN-free Album Collection
- by independent artists who want their music heard.
- for schools, shops, dance studios, dental offices, hair salons and all public places.
The schools & shops who receive this Collection will be able to play it in the cafeterias, waiting rooms – and any place that would otherwise require them to pay a License Fee. (by Canadian Law)
It’s a win-win situation.
THEY save money, YOU get played. All legal.
Send your song(s) to:
socanfreesong@canadajams.ca
Keep in mind the song must NOT be under the SOCAN repertoire.
If you like, do your own introduction at the beginning (or end) of the song.
For example:
“My name is Chris Smith from The YaYaBabies – find us at www.YaYaBabies.ca – here’s our song “Flingin’ It Up”.
Already a SOCAN member?
Simply end your membership with them by notifying them in writing.
Size and format of the CanadaJams SOCAN-free Collection will be determined by response.
Nice, Wenda and Steve.
Good way to get indie music played.
Stay tuned.
Jon Newton – p2pnet
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July 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 am
SoakCan can go to hell
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:53 am
Would many artists really want their music played at dentists’ offices? Hearing them again might bring back memories of that root canal.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:10 am
Well it’s about damn time. These copyright collectives and enforcers of laws that do not serve the interests of the public have been bullying music fans and musicians alike far too long. Their monopoly must end.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:28 am
You should be thankful SOCAN doesn’t have the power that SACEM the society in France has..
if you don’t pay they simply shut you down.. that’s how it should be here to.. maybe people would recognize the work that we put into creating our songs.. would you like to work for free ?? think about that next time..
July 9th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I like the last answer. If people knew of what they are talking about maybe the could understand more the authors, composers and music publishers. Why people don’t call Socan to get the right information.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:34 am
“If people knew of what they are talking about maybe the could understand more the authors, composers and music publishers. Why people don’t call Socan to get the right information”^
Why doesnt socan simply publish list of what’s theirs?
September 29th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I can’t even begin to explain how irritating it is to read this nonsense. The ignorance is astounding… I guess you’re too busy ripping cd’s and stealing mp3’s for your iphone and ipod to take your heads out of your asses. It isn’t SOCAN’s responsibility to inform anyone of what is “theirs”. It isn’t “theirs”. Rights belong to the publishers and composers of work, SOCAN simply collects revenue to distribute to the creators of music. FYI the average musician’s salary is about $23,000 a year in this country. Also, SOCAN collects on behalf of people worldwide, so you’re not just screwing your fellow Canadians. You ridiculously greedy people should think about that before you go spouting off on issues you know nothing about. A small yearly fee to SOCAN with a list of your commonly played music is nothing and can mean the difference between eating and not eating to a music creator. If you don’t like it – listen to the radio. THEY pay their SOCAN fees. You people suck.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:12 am
I love it. Bravo proud Socan member.