Describe your background and industry experience, and explain how it will help you contribute to the SOCAN Board of Directors?
I am the President and co-founder of Hyvetown Music Publishing, a boutique global music rights company I launched in 2008 with a clear, creator-first philosophy. For more than 30 years, I have worked directly with songwriters, composers, and artists across publishing, artist management, touring, and A&R, giving me a practical understanding of how creators build sustainable careers—and where they need more support.
My day-to-day work is focused not only on protecting existing income streams, but also on helping creators develop creatively and identify new revenue opportunities. This includes facilitating international collaborations, securing placements, expanding into emerging markets, and adapting to new forms of exploitation as the music ecosystem evolves. I am involved in the operational realities that affect creator income: registrations, metadata accuracy, royalty tracking, sub-publishing relationships, audits, and resolving discrepancies across territories and platforms.
I currently sit on the Board of Music Publishers Canada, contributing to policy, licensing, and advocacy initiatives that directly impact creators nationwide. I previously served on the Board of CARAS from 2002 to 2008, where I gained valuable experience in governance and representing the broader Canadian music community.
I believe my combination of hands-on, creator-focused work and board-level experience allows me to bring a grounded, practical perspective to the SOCAN Board. My goal is to support systems, policies, and initiatives that help creators not only get paid accurately, but also develop, adapt, and thrive in a changing global marketplace.
In your opinion, what issues will be most important to SOCAN members over the next three years?
Over the next three years, SOCAN members will be focused on ensuring their careers remain sustainable as the industry continues to evolve.
Accurate, transparent, and timely royalty distributions will remain foundational. Improvements in metadata, reporting clarity, and international collections will directly affect creator income, particularly as usage grows across digital platforms and borders.
Equally important is the need to help creators understand and access new revenue streams. As traditional models shift, SOCAN can play a role in education, advocacy, and strategic partnerships that support creators in areas such as emerging platforms, international markets, and new forms of licensing—including responsible approaches to AI.
Strong advocacy will remain essential to protecting the value of music in negotiations with digital services, broadcasters, and emerging technologies, including AI-driven uses of music, ensuring creators are protected and properly compensated. Finally, clear communication and ongoing education will help ensure creators feel informed, represented, and confident that SOCAN is working in their best interests.