Photo by Brad Ardley

SOCAN Leadership Updates: Michael McCarty, Part Two

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday May 20th, 2020

In the midst of social distancing to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, SOCAN is continuing to operate at full capacity. To keep you posted about what we’re doing to adapt to the situation, and how we’re doing it, we present a series of SOCAN Leadership Updates – online video interviews with various SOCAN executives.

This time, SOCAN’s Chief Membership and Business Development Officer Michael McCarty offers some suggestions to help SOCAN members through self-isolation.

The first Leadership Update video features McCarty discussing his team’s work during the pandemic, including SOCAN’s $2 million enhanced emergency program for members, and in another video, our new Interim CEO Jennifer Brown discusses her new role at SOCAN.

Stay tuned for more videos from the SOCAN team!

Photo by CARAS/CBC Music

City and Colour, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joel Plaskett, Sarah Harmer to play JUNOs 365 Songwriters’ Circle series

Story by Howard Druckman | Friday May 22nd, 2020

CBC and The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) present the third of five instalments of the JUNOs 365 Songwriters’ Circle virtual series, adapted for an online audience after the popular “Jewel of the JUNOs” event was cancelled in Saskatoon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presented by SOCAN in association with Music Publishers Canada, the series of five online events, continuing next Friday, May 29, 2020, features some of Canada’s best songwriters telling the intriguing stories behind the songs, and performing from their homes. The third episode will feature City and Colour, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joel Plaskett, and Sarah Harmer.

The JUNOS 365 Songwriters’ Circle will be available free in Canada on CBC Gem and globally on CBC Music’s Facebook and YouTube pages and cbcmusic.ca/junos, every other week on Fridays, until June 26.  For more information, click here.

SOCAN annual general meeting postponed until Fall

Story by SOCAN | Tuesday May 19th, 2020

Due to the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis, SOCAN’s annual general meeting is postponed until the fall of 2020.

The organization is working to determine the date and format for the event. The plan currently is to hold the meeting online, with full registration and voting capabilities.

As with most non-profit and publicly-traded organizations, SOCAN has applied to Corporations Canada for postponement. Once we hear from Corporations Canada, a date will be determined and SOCAN members will be notified accordingly.

We look forward to reporting on 2019 financials and activities to our members in the fall, and appreciate their patience and understanding as we work through these extraordinary circumstances.