SOCAN is launching a national campaign calling on its members, the entire music industry, and the public to urge the Government of Canada to stand behind Canada’s creative industries by ruling out any new copyright exceptions that would permit free unauthorized use of copyright-protected works for AI training.
Why This Campaign Matters
Canada’s creative industries contribute billions of dollars to our economy each year, and support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the sector. As the Government of Canada explores policies that will shape the future of AI, it’s essential that the voices of the people who power this economy remain at the centre of the discussions, and the decisions that follow.
Generative AI is re-shaping the music and cultural sectors at an unprecedented pace. Every day, global streaming platforms are flooded with tens of thousands of AI-generated outputs by tools trained on copyright-protected works without consent, without credit, and without compensation. AI companies continue to scrape and use copyright‑protected works without transparency or accountability.
This is having immediate and measurable consequences for Canadian music creators and publishers.
Economic assessments indicate that music creators’ incomes are projected to decline by up to 24% by 2028 due to the impact of generative AI.
Canadians overwhelmingly support protections for human creativity:
- 87% of Canadians say they want to listen to music created by Humans – not AI and
- 85% of Canadians support government regulation of AI to ensure ethical use.
These findings show that creators, publishers, and the public share a common expectation: AI must develop in ways that respect human expression.
What’s at Stake
Canada has long championed cultural sovereignty and the value of human creative expression. Without strong policy direction, the country risks losing:
- Our legacy of Canadian storytelling;
- The value of human creativity and expression; and
- The economic benefits of a strong music industry.
The choices made now will determine whether Canadian music remains a viable profession and a globally recognized cultural export.
A Call for Collective Action
SOCAN’s letter‑writing campaign empowers members to speak directly to policy-makers at a critical moment, and ask the Government of Canada to stand behind the Canadian music industry by ruling out any new copyright exceptions that would permit free, unauthorized use of copyright-protected works for AI training. ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CAMPAIGN!
SOCAN’s Principles for AI Policy
In addition, we ask the Government of Canada to adopt the following principles when developing AI policies:
- Protect Human Expression
Ensure that AI developers cannot use copyrighted works without explicit consent, credit, and appropriate compensation to the music creators that made them. - Require transparency from AI companies
Mandate disclosure of training data sources and establish clear obligations for documentation, reporting, and accountability. - Require clear labelling of AI-generated outputs
Music creators must know when their work has been used in AI-generated outputs, and audiences must know when the music they encounter is generated by AI. This is essential for attributing royalties, consumer awareness, industry fairness, and maintaining trust. - Protect Canada’s cultural sovereignty
Ensure that AI policy prioritizes the long-term health, competitiveness, and diversity of Canadian cultural industries.
SOCAN is committed to ensuring that AI evolves in ways that respect the rights and livelihoods of the people who create Canada’s music.