SOCAN COVID-19 update

Story by SOCAN | Friday March 13th, 2020

SOCAN’s operations during the COVID-19 situation continue.

We’re following guidelines and working with employees, members, and visitors to mitigate risk of spread of the virus.

While every situation is unique and fluid, we’ve prepared well in advance to work through a crisis like this. We’ve already halted non-essential travel, moved to online meetings, and all employees will work from home starting on Monday, March 16th.

We have every reason to believe that our operations will continue to run well. We will work to keep you informed on developments.

This situation affects all people and organizations. SOCAN has taken and is taking measures to ensure that our business runs as smoothly as possible.

We wish you good health and safety as we work through this challenging situation together.

SOCAN Cancels SOCAN 2020 Awards in Toronto

Story by SOCAN | Friday March 13th, 2020

Due to Ontario’s chief medical officer issuing instructions to “avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada” and the “immediate suspension” of all gatherings of more than 250 people because of the COVID-19 pandemic, SOCAN has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 SOCAN Awards, which had been scheduled to be held on March 30th in Toronto.

“We made this decision with great sadness, following guidelines recently set out and thinking first and foremost about what is best for our staff, our members, the Canadian music community and the public at large,” said SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste. “We look forward to celebrating the incredible achievements of Canada’s most successful songwriters, composers and music publishers in an alternative way.”

The SOCAN Awards are a private celebration, but travel to and from the event and holding a gathering of several hundred people are clearly not advisable.

Photo by courtesy/courtoisie. Allan Reid of/de CARAS.

SOCAN Stands with CARAS

Story by SOCAN | Friday March 13th, 2020

The cancellation of the 2020 JUNO Awards was met with sadness and disappointment by all at SOCAN.

“We stand with our friends at CARAS,” said SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste. “SOCAN had been looking forward to celebrating the success of nearly 250 of our music creator and music publisher members who had been part of a JUNO nomination, and many others who were scheduled to perform at the event. We look forward to better days ahead for all in the Canadian music industry.”

SOCAN was one of the many sponsors and supporters of the 49th JUNO Awards and JUNO Week, which were scheduled to be held in Saskatoon before their necessary cancellation due to the COVID-19 situation.

“Our congratulations still go out to SOCAN members on their success, and to CARAS for the incredible effort that their staff and contractors put into the 2020 JUNOS,” Baptiste added. “We offer whatever help that we can provide as they work through the situation. The Canadian music industry is very much a family, and it’s important that we stand together during this crisis.”

SOCAN is currently reviewing various options and asking its members for their input regarding the SOCAN Awards in Toronto on March 30th.