PATRON OF MUSIC AWARDS
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SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Sherry Kerr) by Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco Being informed that SIRIUS Satellite Radio was one of the two Anglophone recipients of SOCAN’s Patron of Music Award this year was music to the ears of the folk at Canada’s top satellite radio network. The award marks yet another achievement the company set out to accomplish when it was launched in 2005. |
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“We’re a young company and we went through the Copyright Board of Canada process to set our tariffs,” says Sherry Kerr, vice-president and general counsel for SIRIUS, which already has in excess of 500,000 subscribers. “From the beginning, we didn’t want to take an antagonistic approach as a user. So winning this award feels like recognition of our efforts to be a good corporate citizen, and the fact that we have managed to create a very positive relationship with SOCAN. For us, that’s very worthwhile, and that’s what we set out to do.” As with this year’s other recipient of the award—Live Nation Canada—SIRIUS’ commitment to promoting Canadian talent is far-reaching. Its selection of more than 100 channels includes CBC Radio 3, which showcases emerging Canadian artists, as well as Iceberg Radio, dedicated entirely to playing Canadian rock music. “As part of our conditions of licence, the CRTC decided that our Canadian content requirement on our Canadian channels, instead of being 35 percent, had to be 85 percent,” says Kerr. “So the folks over at Iceberg decided, ‘Why don’t we go all the way and make it 100 percent Canadian?’” But SIRIUS’ dedication to growing the audiences of English and French Canadian artists — established and emerging — extends beyond Canada to the US. And because SIRIUS offers commercial-free niche channels, it has also become a medium through which musicians in less mainstream music genres can connect with fans. “I often hear Canadian music in the US channels that you normally wouldn’t be able to hear even in Canada,” says Kerr. “I’ve heard local Toronto blues acts getting played on the blues channel. Because the channels are so niche, it allows them to be more in-depth. We have 15 rock channels alone, each with a slightly different slice of the rock pie.” Click here to access a Patron of Music webcast of Sherry Kerr talking about the relationship between SIRIUS Satelite Radio and SOCAN. |
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Live Nation Canada (Riley O'Connor) by Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco For the first time in the 20-year history of the SOCAN Awards, there were not one but two recipients for the Anglophone Patron of Music Award, given to a SOCAN customer who excels in their recognition of the importance of paying SOCAN’s licence. Live Nation Canada, one of this year’s recipients, has not only excelled in this, but it is also the country’s top promoter of live concerts, and has a passionate commitment to furthering the reach and impact of Canadian musicians. |
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“I think it’s just an honour we’re given recognition as contributors to artists and their publishing and recordings in Canada,” says Riley O'Connor, chairman of Live Nation Canada, whose Los Angeles-based parent company has produced more than 16,000 concerts for 1,500 artists in 57 countries and is the largest producer of live music concerts internationally. “It’s an incredible achievement and hopefully we’re doing something positive.” Live Nation Canada, says O’Connor, takes a lot of pride in its Canadian tours—turning up the volume on talented artists in a wide range of genres, both established and emerging. “We had outstanding success with Bryan Adams and Michael Bublé,” explains O’Connor. “We’re about to launch a Jann Arden tour and had a fantastic run with The Tragically Hip. We work with a lot of young artists breaking out and younger acts such as Hedley. We have a tour coming out with Three Days Grace and had a fantastic run with Nickelback. We had a wonderful tour about a year ago with Anne Murray. It just doesn’t stop. And we’re going to continue supporting Canadian artists from coast to coast.” In fact, in February of this year, Live Nation Canada announced a new initiative to increase its strength in connecting audiences with the country’s music talent. A landmark partnership with SIRIUS Satellite Radio, the other recipient of this year’s The Patron of Music Award, gives SIRIUS listeners access to exclusive live broadcasts featuring Canadian artists. |
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The Quebec Corporation of Bar, Pub and Tavern Owners (Renaud Poulin) As part of 2009 SOCAN Awards ceremony this past November, the CEO of the Quebec Corporation of Bar, Pub and Tavern Owners (CPBBTQ), Renaud Poulin, accepted the Francophone Patron of Music Award in recognition for his organization’s business partnership with SOCAN. |
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Noting that this recognition marked the progress made since the onset of the relationship between the two organizations in 1995, Mr. Poulin explained that “we wanted to make our members aware of copyright, and this award is saying that we’ve been up to the task.” Noting that initial tensions and ambiguities had gradually given way to mutual understanding, the CEO explained that “our members were properly informed, and they understood SOCAN’s essential role. Once we had explained to them why music could not be used for free, our partnership and collaborations improved year over year and became increasingly enjoyable.” A karaoke contest initiated jointly by the two organizations last year has had a positive impact on perceptions. “Instead of viewing SOCAN as an organization that takes money from their pockets, our members are now seeing it as a primary support,” Mr. Poulin said. “They agree that music creators are worth their salt while realizing that their own places of business are enhanced by the music they are able to play. This contest is great promotion for music copyright, and it fosters greater harmony.” In the wake of last year’s success, it is hoped that more premises will take part in the next karaoke event. “For our initial contest, we had expected 15 premises to enrol, and 30 showed an interest,” Poulin recalled. “We have set no specific targets for the next event, but we’ve received quite a few calls from new premises that would like to work with SOCAN.” The prospects for future collaborations sound bright. Click here to access a Patron of Music webcast of Renaud Poulin talking (in French only) about the relationship between the CPBBTQ and SOCAN. |
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