How Do I Get Nominated?
As a SOCAN member, there are three ways you can become a candidate in the SOCAN Board of Directors elections.
Self-nomination
Any eligible member may self-nominate. The nomination must be signed by a minimum of 25 members who are eligible to vote in the 2024 election. A writer must be nominated by 25 eligible writer members and a publisher must be nominated by 25 eligible publisher members.
Nominating Committee
The Writer Nominating Committee will nominate eligible Writer Members, and the Publisher Nominating Committee will nominate eligible Publisher Members.
Incumbent Directors
Each member of the current Board will automatically be regarded as a candidate for re-election unless they are ineligible under the SOCAN By-Laws or instructs SOCAN in writing that they don’t wish to pursue re-election.
What is the Nominating Committee?
The Nominating Committee is responsible for selecting eligible candidates to run for the Board. They are members of SOCAN and are chosen by the current Board of Directors for their expertise and knowledge. The Nominating Committee shall nominate at least two candidates for each position as a Writer Director and at least two candidates for each position as a Publisher Director.
Are all SOCAN members eligible to serve on the Board of Directors?
Any Writer Member who received performing right royalties from SOCAN in the 2023 calendar year and whose principal residence is in Canada (or in the case of a Writer Member who no longer has a principal residence in Canada, the place of the Writer member’s previous Canadian address) is eligible to run for the Board.
Any representative of a publishing company that received performing right royalties from SOCAN in the 2023 calendar year is eligible if (1) the publishing company has a principal place within Canada where it carries out business and (2) the representative is a Canadian citizen or has their principal residence in Canada.
Who is on the Nominating Committees?
The Writer Nominating Committee comprises at least three but no more than five Writer members (chosen by the Writer members on the current Board), and the Publisher Nominating Committee comprises at least three but no more than five Publisher members (chosen by the Publisher members on the current Board). Each member of the Nominating Committee must have earned performing right royalties in the previous calendar year, and cannot stand as a candidate for the Board.
How many nominees do the Nominating Committees put forth?
The Writers Nominating Committee nominates at least 18 candidates. These candidates must be Writer members, where at least two are designated as “New Classical Music,” at least two are designated as “Audiovisual Music,” and at least ten are designated as writers of “Music Other Than New Classical Music,” at least six are designated as “Francophone,” at least four need to reside in “the West,” at least six need to reside in Quebec and at least eight need to reside in “the East.”
The Publishers Nominating Committee nominates at least 18 candidates who are Publisher Members of whom at least two are designated as “New Classical Music,” at least six are designated as “Francophone,” at least two need to reside in “the West,” at least six need to reside in Quebec and at least ten need to reside in “the East.”
What qualities do the Nominating Committees consider in a potential candidate?
A combination of experience, behavioural skills, personal qualities, and relevant knowledge are considered by the Nominating Committees. For additional information, review director competencies.
How are candidates notified once chosen?
Candidates selected by the Nominating Committees, self-nominations, and all incumbent Board Members will be notified of their nomination status by email. All nominees must then accept the nomination in writing.
