ArtistDirect News
SOCAN Finalizes Acquisition of Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency, Expanding Canadas Rights-Management Network
A landmark deal reshapes Canada’s music‑rights ecosystem as SOCAN completes its purchase of the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) from SoundExchange. The transaction, first disclosed on July 29, closed on September 1, 2026, after all customary closing conditions were satisfied.
The deal brings CMRRA, a 50‑year‑old licensing collective founded in 1975, into SOCAN’s umbrella. SOCAN, the country’s largest member‑owned music‑rights organization, will now administer both performance and reproduction rights for Canadian songwriters, composers and publishers.
According to SOCAN’s CEO, Jennifer Brown, the acquisition "is an important moment for Canada’s music industry." She added that CMRRA’s existing team and services will remain unchanged, and that clients will continue to receive the same trusted support while gaining the benefits of SOCAN’s broader network.
CMRRA’s president, Paul Shaver, said the move "creates new opportunities to expand and further strengthen our publisher administration capabilities." He emphasized that the agency’s focus on publishers and creators would stay the same.
CMRRA has long represented the majority of music publishers operating in Canada. Its roster includes large multinational publishers and individual songwriters. The agency licenses reproduction rights for music on a wide range of platforms, including major online music services that operate in Canada, and it collects and distributes royalties tied to recorded, sold and broadcast works.
SOCAN’s core business is the collection of licence fees for public performance and the distribution of royalties to rights holders. By adding CMRRA’s reproduction‑rights expertise, SOCAN now covers the full spectrum of mechanical and reproduction licensing that music creators encounter when their works are streamed, broadcast or sold.
The acquisition also ends SoundExchange’s ownership of CMRRA. SoundExchange, an American non‑profit that collects digital performance royalties for sound recordings, had held CMRRA since a 2017 partnership that linked the two organizations.
Industry analysts note that the merger reflects the growing complexity of music‑rights administration. As listening shifts toward digital platforms, royalties can flow through multiple licences and rights organisations. Combining performance and reproduction rights under one entity is intended to streamline the licensing process for publishers and songwriters.
SOCAN already represents nearly 200,000 songwriters, composers and publishers. Adding CMRRA’s 50‑plus years of reproduction‑rights expertise expands SOCAN’s reach into a complementary area of the royalty ecosystem.
Both organisations have stated that day‑to‑day services for CMRRA clients will continue unchanged. SOCAN plans to explore a more integrated approach to rights management over the long term, but it has not announced any immediate changes to licensing or distribution processes.
The finalisation of the deal marks a significant consolidation in Canada’s music‑rights landscape. By uniting the country’s leading performance‑rights and reproduction‑rights agencies, SOCAN aims to provide a more seamless experience for music publishers and creators.
At present, CMRRA will operate as part of SOCAN with its existing team, led by President Paul Shaver, continuing to administer licences and distribute royalties for its members.
The acquisition is expected to strengthen Canada’s position in the global music‑rights market and to enhance the efficiency of royalty collection and distribution for Canadian songwriters, composers and publishers.
The deal brings CMRRA, a 50‑year‑old licensing collective founded in 1975, into SOCAN’s umbrella. SOCAN, the country’s largest member‑owned music‑rights organization, will now administer both performance and reproduction rights for Canadian songwriters, composers and publishers.
According to SOCAN’s CEO, Jennifer Brown, the acquisition "is an important moment for Canada’s music industry." She added that CMRRA’s existing team and services will remain unchanged, and that clients will continue to receive the same trusted support while gaining the benefits of SOCAN’s broader network.
CMRRA’s president, Paul Shaver, said the move "creates new opportunities to expand and further strengthen our publisher administration capabilities." He emphasized that the agency’s focus on publishers and creators would stay the same.
CMRRA has long represented the majority of music publishers operating in Canada. Its roster includes large multinational publishers and individual songwriters. The agency licenses reproduction rights for music on a wide range of platforms, including major online music services that operate in Canada, and it collects and distributes royalties tied to recorded, sold and broadcast works.
SOCAN’s core business is the collection of licence fees for public performance and the distribution of royalties to rights holders. By adding CMRRA’s reproduction‑rights expertise, SOCAN now covers the full spectrum of mechanical and reproduction licensing that music creators encounter when their works are streamed, broadcast or sold.
The acquisition also ends SoundExchange’s ownership of CMRRA. SoundExchange, an American non‑profit that collects digital performance royalties for sound recordings, had held CMRRA since a 2017 partnership that linked the two organizations.
Industry analysts note that the merger reflects the growing complexity of music‑rights administration. As listening shifts toward digital platforms, royalties can flow through multiple licences and rights organisations. Combining performance and reproduction rights under one entity is intended to streamline the licensing process for publishers and songwriters.
SOCAN already represents nearly 200,000 songwriters, composers and publishers. Adding CMRRA’s 50‑plus years of reproduction‑rights expertise expands SOCAN’s reach into a complementary area of the royalty ecosystem.
Both organisations have stated that day‑to‑day services for CMRRA clients will continue unchanged. SOCAN plans to explore a more integrated approach to rights management over the long term, but it has not announced any immediate changes to licensing or distribution processes.
The finalisation of the deal marks a significant consolidation in Canada’s music‑rights landscape. By uniting the country’s leading performance‑rights and reproduction‑rights agencies, SOCAN aims to provide a more seamless experience for music publishers and creators.
At present, CMRRA will operate as part of SOCAN with its existing team, led by President Paul Shaver, continuing to administer licences and distribute royalties for its members.
The acquisition is expected to strengthen Canada’s position in the global music‑rights market and to enhance the efficiency of royalty collection and distribution for Canadian songwriters, composers and publishers.