Dear Editor,

If I don’t use Canadian music, do I still have to get a SOCAN licence?

– SOCAN Licensee

Dear SOCAN Licensee,

Yes, a SOCAN licence gives you permission to use copyright-protected musical works from anywhere around the world. Through agreements with international performing rights organizations (PROs), SOCAN issues licences for all music used in public by businesses in Canada, no matter to which PRO the creators belong. SOCAN then transfers the corresponding monies to the appropriate society, and vice versa.

– Editor



When Terry McBride first began practising yoga in the early 2000s, he was less than impressed with the facilities. The Vancouver-based co-founder and CEO of Nettwerk Music Group — which represents Sarah McLachlan, Avril Lavigne and Barenaked Ladies, among others – found himself bending and stretching in various facilities, none of which had showers, towel service, changing rooms, or much social interaction.

So in 2004, with Lara Kozan, he launched a yoga-focused wellness centre called YYoga (“why yoga”) in Vancouver. “I loved the yoga itself, but I didn’t love the experience going in and coming out,” says McBride. “So I thought, if I passionately love this – which I do, music and yoga – I need to go and build my own studio. Then it resonated with so many people that it was, okay, let’s build a couple more.”

Now, nine years later, it’s a chain of nine centres in British Columbia, with a new one opening in Toronto on Oct. 28, 2013 – the first east of the Rockies – with plans to open more spaces in Toronto before expanding further into Calgary.

With McBride bringing his formidable marketing skills to bear on the ancient art, his YYoga studios incorporate not only the towels, showers and changing rooms he was missing, but also tea lounges with wi-fi, infrared saunas, and a wide variety of yoga classes customized for each location. The company even offers “valet yoga,” where teachers will come to practitioners’ homes, hotel rooms, or workplaces for a class.

And, of course, YYoga also incorporates music. As a veteran music industry mogul, McBride ensures that all of the music played during YYoga classes, and in its lounges, is licensed through SOCAN. “We have classes that are specifically music-driven,” says McBride, “where the teacher takes time to create a playlist that fits the class. Music is thousands of years old and deals with emotion; yoga is thousands of years old and deals with emotions. I’m passionate about them both.”



Dear Editor,

How are SOCAN licence fees set?

– SOCAN Licensee

Dear SOCAN Licensee,

SOCAN licence fees are set by the Copyright Board of Canada, an independent body appointed by the government. Each year SOCAN files proposed tariffs with the Copyright Board. Interested parties are then permitted to submit objections to SOCAN’s proposals within a limited period. If an objection or concern is raised concerning a particular tariff, the Copyright Board may hold a hearing. After hearings are completed and any amendments are made, the Copyright Board publishes the approved tariffs in the Canada Gazette.

– Editor