SOCAN First to Use Cloud-Based Technology for Real-time Electronic Music Royalty Tracking

Partnership with Pioneer DJ and KUVO starts with simple, free system in Toronto area nightclub

TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2017 /CNW/ - SOCAN today announced it has partnered with Pioneer DJ Corporation of Japan to become the first music rights organization in North America to use direct metadata extraction technology, KUVO, to identify electronic dance music performances automatically and seamlessly in nightclubs and other electronic music venues.

The Pioneer-KUVO device is being provided voluntarily to nightclubs, beginning with the Toronto area, as an additional aspect of their SOCAN music license agreement. Once installed, the KUVO device easily plugs into a DJ's mixing board, capturing metadata from the music, which is then collected and relayed to SOCAN to tabulate and distribute royalties more accurately to the copyright holders of the music.

Simply put, KUVO helps to ensure that the correct owners of music used in nightclubs are compensated accurately from the music licenses already being paid. There are no additional costs, expectations or maintenance required from electronic music venues that voluntarily adopt the easily-installed system.

"For years we've been dissatisfied with the system in place, knowing that not all licenses we pay are getting in to the hands of artists behind the music played in our venues and at our events," said Joel Smye, owner of CODA nightclub in downtown Toronto, one of the largest and most successful electronic music venues in Canada and the first to adopt the technology. "Now, through technology, the use of a simple device will ensure that the music licenses that we pay and have always paid will go to the right people."

The initiative is championed by the Association for Electronic Music (AFEM) in support of its global campaign "Get Played, Get Paid," that seeks to ensure dance music creators are accurately compensated for the use of their work.

"Everyone wants to be paid fairly for their music, and I hope that clubs and festivals will be eager to use technology to help ensure that the right people get their fair share of the legal music licenses that they already pay. Props to SOCAN for using the latest technology of KUVO to be even more accurate and transparent for music creators like me," said dance music DJ, producer, and SOCAN member, Richie Hawtin, who recently collaborated with KUVO through his own music-recognition platform, RADR.DJ.

SOCAN is the first music rights organization in North America to adopt such technology, and other performing rights organizations around the world have seen improved accuracy in their identification and distribution of royalties to electronic music rights holders.

"DJs spin more music in one show than the vast majority of other live musical performances, but it's nearly impossible for them to submit accurate set lists of music for shows that they perform," said Vice President of SOCAN's Distribution department, Kit Wheeler. "Pioneer-KUVO technology addresses this problem and enables SOCAN to capture even more musical performances in real time and more accurately. Our partnership with Pioneer and KUVO is a great step forward in getting our more than 150,000 members fairly paid for their work."

"We're delighted that SOCAN will use metadata from KUVO and we hope that other PROs in North America will see how accurate the service is and come aboard," said Pioneer DJ's General Manager, Mark Grotefeld. "It's a huge territory and currently there's a lot of the money paid by the venues in license fees that isn't finding its way to the artists who deserve it. KUVO can help solve that problem and reward those who produce the music played by DJs."

Nightclubs are required by law to pay licenses to SOCAN and other music rights organizations for the blanket use of music that they use for their business. Without technology like KUVO, matching license payments with the correct music rights holders would be done manually and can be an onerous task for either the DJ or the nightclub. Music creators depend on royalties to sustain and build their career.

As a result of KUVO technology being implemented first at the CODA nightclub, royalties from the use of electronic music by DJs will begin flowing to SOCAN members and international rights holders as of November 2017.

About SOCAN
SOCAN connects more than four-million music creators worldwide and more than a quarter-million businesses and individuals in Canada. Nearly 150,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers are its direct members, and more than 130,000 organizations are Licensed To Play music across Canada. With a concerted use of progressive technology and a commitment to lead the global transformation of music rights, with wholly-owned companies Audiam and MediaNet, SOCAN is dedicated to upholding the fundamental truths that music has value and music creators and publishers deserve fair compensation for their work. For more information: www.socan.com

About Pioneer DJ
Pioneer DJ Europe Ltd. is the subsidiary of Pioneer DJ Corporation responsible for sales and marketing in EMEA. For more than 20 years, Pioneer DJ has been a market leader in the design and production of innovative DJ equipment and software. The company works closely with DJs and clubs to deliver next generation products that inspire and shape the global dance music community and has recently launched a new range of musical instruments for production and live performances. Its portfolio includes brands such as TORAIZ, Pioneer Professional Audio and Pioneer DJ Radio as well as social platforms KUVO and DJsounds. Pioneer DJ Corporation is a privately held company headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is led by Chairman Yoshiaki Ide and CEO and President Akio Moriwaki.

About the Association for Electronic Music (AFEM)
AFEM is the global voice for electronic music; representing our community, culture and commerce. We connect our worldwide membership to drive change and develop opportunities. AFEM is the trade body for the entire ecosystem of Electronic Music, from Labels to Live, Managers to Media, Technology to Talent. We have over 150 members in 20 countries including some of the biggest companies in our community as well as promising new start-ups. AFEM exists to make sure the long term future of the electronic music industry is sustainable – both commercially and creatively. www.associationforelectronicmusic.org

SOURCE SOCAN

For further information: Media contacts: Environics Communications (for SOCAN): Lorna Freeman, 416-969-2711, [e-mail]; SOCAN: Amal Yassir, 416-442-3838 ext. 3747, [e-mail]; Pioneer DJ (Americas): Ryan Roth, [e-mail]; Pioneer DJ (Europe): Keleigh Batchelor, 44 (0) 203 761 7249, [e-mail]