SOCAN participated once again in the golf open tournament of L’Association des restaurateurs du Québec (ARQ) on Aug. 19, 2008, at the Grand-Portneuf Golf Club in Pont-Rouge, Quebec. SOCAN business development representative Éric Chouinard and industry relations representative Yanik Hardy both attended the event, along with 248 players who gathered in the tee-off area on the eighth hole.

Besides offering every fourth player on the green a chance to win a variety of merchandise by spinning SOCAN’s prize wheel, the event provided our representatives with an opportunity to inform future clients of the many benefits of a SOCAN music licence. Many lucky players also took home prizes ranging from radio coolers to golf umbrellas and towels, to coffee mugs, coasters, pens and notepads.

SOCAN’s external communications efforts have paid off over the past several years, with most people now aware of our role, and understanding the importance of securing a SOCAN licence for the public performance of music in a business environment. Rather than questioning the rationale for such music licenses, clients are now more likely to want to know how the royalties collected are being distributed among SOCAN members.

Over the years, SOCAN’s participation in the ARQ golf open has helped forge closer links between our organization and this major industry representative, by allowing SOCAN greater visibility to current and potential clients, and by strengthening our mutually beneficial business relationship.