Describe your background and industry experience, and explain how it will help you contribute to the SOCAN Board of Directors?
As a two-time JUNO winner and member of The Strumbellas, songwriting is at the core of what I do as a musician and performer. Songs I have contributed to, including the global hit “Spirits,” have amassed over 850 million streams worldwide, reaching countries around the world. In this experience, I have learned the importance of SOCAN to creators and songwriters across Canada and worldwide. We are fortunate as SOCAN members to be part of an organization that is run and controlled by its members.
I have seen first-hand the importance of a rights management organization in an increasingly global music economy. Social media has given songwriters and musicians a chance to reach audiences in wider and wider ways than ever before, over longer periods of time. Sometimes creators may not recognize the extent of how far their music has reached until they see the origin and extent of their royalties. I understand the importance of having a trusted rights management organization that collects from countries around the world. Over my 15-year career I have gained knowledge and experience that would be instrumental to being a member of the SOCAN Board of Directors.
I can bring additional experience as a composer (Gisele’s Mashup Adventures) and instrumental musician (Full Rigged Ship) that will allow me to better represent the variety of composers and songwriters of SOCAN. I have had the opportunity to collaborate and learn from writers across many genres including pop, folk, rock, and country. Collaboration is at the heart of what I do, and I would bring this collaborative attitude to SOCAN. SOCAN has brought many musicians together, and I would love to help increase and foster this environment of teamwork and comradery that is so important to this industry.
In your opinion, what issues will be most important to SOCAN members over the next three years?
The most important thing in the next three years for SOCAN members is continued advocacy for fair compensation for performing and reproduction rights in the digital space. As the music business continues to evolve, ensuring musicians are paid appropriately for their work across social media and streaming platforms is paramount. Radio continues to make up a large portion of income for many SOCAN members. However, as radio’s footprint shrinks, SOCAN members need to ensure they can earn a living through the performance of their music in the digital economy.
Secondly, Artificial Intelligence will increasingly become an important issue to SOCAN members over the next 3 years. Making sure SOCAN members are protected when their work is used to train AI platforms is a key issue. It is also important that creators are protected from the increase in AI repertoire making its way onto streaming platforms.
Lastly, continuing to foster creative connections among SOCAN members continues to be an important issue. The talent pool among SOCAN members is wide and varying. Finding ways for Canadian creators to collaborate and create together strengthens the Canadian music economy and Canadian culture as a whole.