Kane Kevin

Describe your background and industry experience, and explain how it will help you contribute to the SOCAN Board of Directors?

I have been a songwriter for 45+ years, joining SOCAN (then CAPAC) as a teen. I’m most well-known for co-founding The Grapes of Wrath, who made their mark in the 80s/90s with hits such as “All The Things I Wasn’t”, “Peace Of Mind”, “Backward Town”, and “O Lucky Man”, earning gold and platinum albums with Capitol/EMI, and touring extensively here and in the US and Europe. As well as my work with the Grapes, I’ve released several solo albums and have worked with a diverse range of artists as a collaborator, band member, session musician, and producer. In addition, I have held a wide range of jobs in and around the industry; everything from directing videos to journalism and promotion, distribution and retail, to building and repairing instruments and amplifiers. Since 2017, I’ve also been a member of fellow legacy rockers The Northern Pikes, contributing songs to their last two albums, “Forest Of Love” (2019) and “Time To Time” (2023). After having spent much of my life in Vancouver and Toronto, my wife and I now call Nova Scotia home. 

I can best contribute to the SOCAN board by utilizing my vast and varied knowledge and perspective drawn from extensive experience as a composer, performer, writer, producer, and educator. I’ve worked with international major labels, small imprints, and indie distributors, negotiated deals with large and small publishers and co-publishers, hosted songwriter’s retreats, mentoring sessions, and panels, taught courses in record production post-secondary, and know what it’s like to “get in the van” and tour extensively in every type of scenario. I passionately believe that artists and creators must be properly valued for the ways in which they and their music enrich the lives of everyone: no matter what the experience or situation, it is markedly enhanced when music is a part of it, and I hope to be in a position where I can work with and advocate for my fellow composers. 

 

In your opinion, what issues will be most important to SOCAN members over the next three years?

Undoubtably, a pressing issue facing songwriters, musicians, and all creators is the rising prevalence of AI. It is essential that the tech and creative sectors, as well as government, work together on initiatives that protect both artists from having their sound and stylistic likeness plagiarized by new technologies, and for the public at large from being bamboozled by algorithms being passed off as genuine human expression. Other areas of concern are the impact that streaming and similar technologies has on members rights and their ability to make an income, and the effect that post-COVID economics has had on the livelihoods of performers and venues. In the age of social media, a musician must take on many more jobs than simply making music; I would like to see SOCAN continue to develop resources to help and educate writers and performers on how to become more diversified in their skill sets and to bolster stronger connections with fellow creators to maximize the ability to distribute and promote their works. SOCAN’s support is essential to the young, diverse group of future creators in Canada, protecting their rights as artists and the works they produce at home and internationally.