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 an award-winning 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, ADVANCE, and Canada’s Music Incubator.
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 MMF Honour Roll Award, Billboard Canada’s Women in Music, and Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award at the 2026 JUNOS.
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 am passionate about SOCAN membership and keeping intellectual property in Canada. 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?
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.
Bill C-11 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.
AI is already shaking up long-standing ideas around intellectual property, copyright, derivation, and ownership. It’s forcing the industry to ask some tough questions, such as who actually owns the rights when an AI-generated song becomes a hit. SOCAN’s membership spans a wide spectrum, from those who strongly oppose AI to those who are fully embracing it as the future. That means SOCAN has both a real opportunity and responsibility to offer guidance and value no matter where members land, helping them navigate a technology that’s evolving quickly and challenging the status quo.