Pandya Sandy

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

With over 25 years in the Canadian music industry, I have forged my own path, championing artists and producers while pushing boundaries to create opportunities where none existed. My passion for music and inability to accept the word “no” supported my affinity for championing underdogs both on and off the stage.   

Today, I lead ArtHaus, a creative incubator that integrates an independent record label, music publisher, management company, and educational nonprofit. Under my leadership, artists have amassed over 1 billion streams and received 50+ award nominations, including JUNOs, Canadian Sync Awards, CFMAs, ECMAs, and Canadian Screen Awards. Through the ArtHaus Community nonprofit, we provide accessible education programs in partnership with organizations like Live Nation, Canada’s Walk of Fame, RBC, and The Unison Fund.   

Beyond ArtHaus, I serve on the Board of Directors for FACTOR and CIMA while supporting grassroots creative initiatives nationwide. My contributions have been recognized with the 2018 CIMA Brian Chater Industry Award, the 2019 MMF Honour Roll Award, and inclusion in Billboard Canada’s Women in Music 2024.   

These experiences give me a well-rounded perspective to bring to the SOCAN board. I’ve sat on all sides of the table – advocating for artists, running a business, and ensuring fair industry practices – always mindful of what’s at stake for all involved. I’ve long championed SOCAN, including successfully coaxing The Weeknd producer Doc McKinney to return after years with another PRO. Having built and sustained a business in an ever-evolving industry, I understand the challenges ahead. I’ve benefited from SOCAN’s work, and I’m eager to contribute to its continued growth and success. 

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

1. Competitive International Marketplace: The rise of privately funded companies luring members away with bulk royalty collection and advances has been ongoing. However, a recent shift has seen these companies actively targeting successful independent artists and catalog copyright holders who have long relied on SOCAN for rights representation. This has created more options than ever before. While there’s no question that SOCAN is better equipped to serve artists and rights holders than many of these competitors, maintaining that position will require real strategy and innovation to effectively communicate SOCAN’s value to its members. 

2. Bill C-11: Finalized in 2023, this legislation has introduced a new playing field for the Canadian music industry – one that is still evolving and being contested in the courts. Regardless of the outcome, SOCAN must closely monitor its impact, from the distribution of Canadian copyrights to the royalties they generate. Balancing advocacy and lobbying at the highest levels while educating both SOCAN’s leadership and its members on these ongoing changes will be critical. 

3. Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is already disrupting industry norms around intellectual property, copyright, derivation, and ownership – raising urgent questions about who holds the rights when an AI-generated song becomes successful. SOCAN’s membership spans from anti-AI purists to AI-driven futurists, meaning the organization must find ways to provide value and guidance, regardless of individual perspectives on this rapidly evolving and disruptive technology.