SAC Music Sharing Proposal Garners Attention
3 Comments
Recent Posts
Debating the Online Harms Act: Insights from Two Recent Panels on Bill C-63 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 199: Boris Bytensky on the Criminal Code Reforms in the Online Harms Act 
AI Spending is Not an AI Strategy: Why the Government’s Artificial Intelligence Plan Avoids the Hard Governance Questions 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 198: Richard Moon on the Return of the Section 13 Hate Speech Provision in the Online Harms Act 
Tweets Are Not Enough: Why Combatting Relentless Antisemitism in Canada Requires Real Leadership and Action
What a non-starter!
This proposal is a real non-starter. First, many, many Canadians use the internet without ever once using it to download music. This proposal would penalize all of them to subsidize the SAC. And like the experience with SOCAN show, “reasonable fees” will soon become totally unreasonable.
President, Songwriters Association of Canada
Actually, our proposal penalizes no one since if you don’t music file-share you would not have to pay our proposed license fee. As far as reasonable rates go, we are currently employing an arms-length 3rd party survey company to find out what Canadians feel a “reasonable” fee for music file-sharing might be. We will continue to advocate for a solution that is fair to both creators and consumers.
Many thanks
Eddie Schwartz
Executive Director – Songwriters Association of Canada
Thanks for drawing attention to the S.A.C.’s business to business model to monetize music file-sharing. Please allow us to clarify a few points.
1. Our current proposal does not support or advocate a levy or tax of any kind, or of any amount, including the $10.00 amount mentioned.
2. As is clearly stated in our paper on the proposal, available at our website http://www.songwriters.ca/proposalsummary.aspx and http://www.songwriters.ca/proposaldetailed.aspx, musicians, songwriters, performers and all rights-holders including record labels would be compensated from the revenues the proposed business model might generate.
3. Canadians households who do not wish to music file-share would pay nothing. There would be no charges of any kind.
4. Canadians households who would like unlimited music file-sharing would be licensed to do so legally. All Canadians would have the choice to opt in or out.
5. Since independent musicians are now by some counts over 30% of the market place much of the revenue derived would go to encourage new talent and allow struggling music creators to make a living.
The S.A.C. is a small not for profit organization. We will continue to advocate what we believe are reasonable solutions that are fair to consumers, music creators and rights-holders.
Thank you
Eddie Schwartz – President
Don Quarles – Executive Director
Songwriters Association of Canada