ECMW 2016 Implements SOCAN's Licensed To Play Program

The 2016 edition of East Coast Music Week has received the Licensed to Play designation from SOCAN – indicating that allof the venues where artists will play in the festival have been licensed by SOCAN. This means that the songwriters of all the songs played at these venues during the festival will be fairly compensated for the use of their work.

Licensed to Play is SOCAN's program that enables businesses using music to show that they support fair compensation for songwriters, composers and music publishers. Almost 30,000 SOCAN-licensed businesses have become part of the initiative, and East Coast Music Week is the latest festival to receive the special collective designation, after Breakout West and Canadian Music Week (CMW) were both designated in 2015.

“The Licensed to Play designation is a badge of honour that shows East Coast Music Week is committed to being an ethical and legal part of the Canadian music ecosystem,” says SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste. “Music rights and fair licensing is a partnership, and it's gratifying to see a major festival like East Coast Music Week get on board with the Licensed to Play initiative. East Coast Music Week and its venues are doing what’s right for music creators and music publishers.”

Licensed to Play encourages businesses and their customers to think of music as an instrumental aspect of their experience. Being Licensed to Play showcases the partnership and mutual admiration between more than 125,000 licensed businesses and more than 130,000 SOCAN members.

"We are extremely happy to announce that Eastlink East Coast Music Week is now a Licensed To Play designated event," says ECMA Executive Director Andy McLean. "We are constantly trying to find new ways to support East Coast musicians, and this program is a great example. We encourage other festivals to follow suit and consider implementing SOCAN's Licensed To Play into their own programming."

East Coast Music Week is one of the premier entertainment events in North America, celebrating the best in Eastern Canadian music, and showcasing more than XX acts at live venues across Halifax from Apr. 13-17, 2016. The city will be buzzing with industry representatives from across Canada and local music-makers, and almost all of the Canadian acts performing include a SOCAN member.