SOCAN and Music Canada are pushing for new regulations and licensing for AI firms using Canadian music, citing risks to creators' income and copyright protections.

October 18, 2025

Source:
CBC
Canadian Music Groups Press for AI Regulation
Major industry organizations, including SOCAN and Music Canada, are calling on the Canadian government to take action over AI firms’ use of Canadian music. The main issue: generative AI systems are trained using vast libraries of copyright-protected songs, often without permission or compensation for original creators.
Key Concerns Raised
Unauthorized use of protected works by AI companies is widespread (SOCAN Magazine).
Industry leaders fear that AI-generated music could severely reduce creators’ income and disrupt licensing markets.
SOCAN President Marc Ouellette emphasized the difference between human creativity and AI’s ability to generate music by predicting patterns.
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Source:
The Globe and Mail
Calls for Transparency, Licensing and Copyright Reform
SOCAN and industry allies have formally urged Parliament to require more transparency from AI companies. They want firms to disclose which copyrighted works are being used for AI training. This would enable rights holders to negotiate proper licenses and receive compensation, similar to streaming platforms’ existing models (SOCAN Position on AI).
Parliamentary Testimony
SOCAN leadership spoke to the House of Commons heritage committee, warning that without transparency, creators are unable to prove or negotiate use of their music (Parliament Record).
Music Publishers Canada said nearly every Canadian song has already been scraped by AI developers, often without consent or compensation. They advocate rejecting broader exceptions for text and data mining (TDM) that could further erode creator rights.
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Source:
Billboard Canada
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