SOCAN has launched its ambassador program, a new initiative aimed at enhancing our reach to meet the diverse needs of our members, both in Canada and the U.S. The program kicks off with the appointment of accomplished film composer Robert Kraft and 2024 ECMA Songwriter of the Year nominee Carleton Stone, as the first-ever SOCAN ambassadors.

The program is designed to engage our members and allow them to foster industry connections. Its objective is to equip members with valuable business and creative resources, empowering them to effectively navigate the music industry.

“As our members’ music careers grow, it’s our goal to consistently support their journey, regardless of their location. Our ambassadors will ensure that we remain accessible, and will help us extend our reach to even more SOCAN members across Canada and the U.S.,” said Cameron Kennedy, Vice President, Creative & Member Relations.

“We want the SOCAN membership and creative team to feel accessible to our members. We want to continue to add value to their careers and creative pursuits, and continue to build that sense of community where our members work and live.  We also want to ensure these ambassadors can relate to our members, and truly understand the journey of a creator. Experts in the music industry and creators themselves, Robert Kraft and Carleton Stone join the SOCAN team as part of our efforts to support more members.”

In their roles as SOCAN ambassadors, Kraft and Stone will leverage their extensive music industry expertise to strengthen SOCAN’s relationships with our members on the East Coast and in Los Angeles; provide career advice to support their creative growth; and gather their feedback, to guide and inform our decisions and offerings in the dynamic music market.

“I’m thrilled to embark on this new journey with SOCAN,” said Kraft. “Being part of an organization that consistently prioritizes its support for the careers of music creators is genuinely inspiring. There are many opportunities ahead for the brilliant composers and musicians I’m meeting, and I look forward to exploring all the opportunities that lie ahead, as we turn a new chapter for Canadian film and TV music creators.”

Stone added, “I’m honoured to join the SOCAN team! I’ve always been passionate about supporting music creators, and I’m looking forward to helping strengthen the relationship between SOCAN and the incredible community of songwriter members from Atlantic Canada.”

SOCAN’s creative services team is an essential point of contact for more than 185,000 members. They provide songwriters, composers, and music publishers with craft development opportunities, music business education, and various resources to support their music careers. As the first two program ambassadors, the appointments of Kraft and Stone reinforce SOCAN’s dedicated efforts to enhance its creative services by making programming accessible to more SOCAN members regionally.