CISAC 2023 Annual Report highlights global efforts to support creators

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday May 31st, 2023

CISAC published its 2023 Annual Report on May 25, 2023, providing an overview of its work to support 227 member collective management organizations (CMOs) throughout the world – which cumulatively manage the rights of more than five million creators in the fields of music, audio-visual (film, TV, and online productions), visual arts, drama, and literature.

Download the 2023 CISAC Annual Report

In addition to updates on its technology, legal, and lobbying services, the report highlights successful CISAC projects in Greece and Turkey that are helping to turn around previously challenged markets and increase collections for creators.

The report also shows progress in extending the adoption of the ISWC as a required music works identifier for metadata, a top priority for the CISAC network, aimed at ensuring fair and accurate remuneration for creators in the streaming world.

The document outlines CISAC’s lobbying actions in multiple countries to promote stronger laws protecting creators and rights holders. It also provides an update on the solidarity actions taken by the CISAC community through its global initiative, “Creators for Ukraine” – which has contributed EUR 1.4 million to individual creators, and charities that help victims of the war.

Forewords by CISAC President Björn Ulvaeus (of ABBA), Board Chair Marcelo Castello Branco, and Director General Gadi Oron set out CISAC’s current priorities and strategic vision for the future. These include the rapidly growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI), and CISAC’s campaign for more fairness in remuneration from the streaming market.

“Participating in CISAC initiatives is crucial to SOCAN, and beneficial to all our members,” says SOCAN CEO Jennifer Brown. “As one of two Vice-Chairs of the CISAC Board of Directors, I can share a Canadian viewpoint on widespread issues, with CMOs from around the world, and contribute to leveraging new opportunities. With copyright going increasingly digital and crossing international borders, changing our ways of operating, it’s more crucial than ever for SOCAN to be involved in this large music ecosystem, and its ongoing conversations about the future of collective management.

“With this report, CISAC has left nobody behind. We collectively take action to preserve a robust copyright market, to protect creators’ rights, and to promote collective management vision, worldwide, with equal involvement from form the smallest markets to the biggest ones.”

In his foreword, Oron says, “The pandemic may be over, but it’s anything but ‘business as usual’ for the CISAC network. The shift to digital is spurring collections growth globally, but at the same time posing unprecedented new challenges to the operations of many societies. In this context, CISAC continues to work relentlessly to help deliver collections growth and provide essential business services to our members.”

The report also covers CISAC’s support for a campaign furthering the un-waivable right of remuneration for audio-visual authors, and outlines CISAC’s continued lobbying for international implementation of the resale right for visual artists.

The CISAC General Assembly takes place June 1, 2023, in Mexico City.

Photo by Marie-Michèle Bouchard

SOCAN recognizes Black Music, Pride, and Indigenous History months in June 2023

Story by SOCAN | Thursday June 1st, 2023

In June 2023, SOCAN honours the contributions and impact of Black music creators, Indigenous peoples, and the LGBTQ2S+ community, all of whom have played important roles in shaping the history, culture, and heritage of our country, and the world.

In recognition of Black Music Month, Pride Month, and National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), SOCAN will share both new and recent feature stories, profiles, and personal columns of our members from these vibrant, crucial communities.

We’ll continue to support the contributions of BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ peoples in Words & Music, and on our social media channels. Please stay tuned for more this month – and every month.

Photo by SOCAN. Left to right/De gauche à droite : Houtan Hodania (SOCAN) and/et Adam Shomer; Luca Mauti; Nathan Ferraro; Ayden Pelle (SOCAN), Racquel Villagante (SOCAN), and/et Sara Diamond.

SOCAN presents No. 1 Song Awards to Adam Shomer, Sara Diamond, Luca Mauti, Nathan Ferraro

Story by Howard Druckman | Monday May 29th, 2023

SOCAN was pleased and proud to present SOCAN No. 1 Song Awards to Adam Shomer, Sara Diamond, Luca Mauti, and Nathan Ferraro, for their roles as co-writers and/or co-producers of four songs that topped various charts in 2022 – as follows:

SOCAN presented the No. 1 Award to Adam Shomer, for his contribution to “No Love For You,” performed by Regard and Drop-G, and published by Reliant 1 Music. The song topped the Mediabase U.S Dance Chart on Dec. 17, 2022.

Sara Diamond earned a No. 1 Song Award for her co-write of “Flowers Need Rain” performed by her co-writers Preston Pablo and Banx & Ranx, and published by Sony/ATV Allegro. The song reached No. 1 on both the CBC Music Top 20 on Oct. 3, 2022,  and the Billboard Canada Mainstream Adult Contemporary chart on Jan. 9, 2023.

We presented Luca Mauti with his No. 1 honour for his co-production on “Hurt Me So Good,” performed by Jazmine Sullivan, and co-published by Warner Chappell Music Publishing. The song reached the peak of the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay Chart on Dec. 10, 2022. Mauti’s SOCAN co-writers/producers DZL and Akeel Henry also received their plaques, in 2022.

Nathan Ferraro received his No. 1 plaque for co-writing “Revolver,” performed and co-written by bülow, that topped the CBC Music Top 20 on July 22, 2021. The song is co-published by Hyvetown Music Publishing, Arts & Crafts Music, and Universal Music Publishing Canada, and is co-written by SOCAN members Mike Wise and DCF (a.k.a. David Charles Fischer). Other SOCAN member stakeholders in “Revolver” will be awarded at a later date.