FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONNECT and SOPROQ Announce Strategic Partnership to Enhance Rights Management and Revenue Collection for Canadian Music Creators Toronto, ON, September 26, 2024 – CONNECT Music Licensing and SOPROQ, in conjunction with the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), are pleased to announce a strategic partnership designed to improve rights management and revenue collection for owners of sound recordings and music videos. This partnership brings together two of Canada’s leading music licensing and collective management organizations to streamline operations, reduce costs, and maximize the potential for rights holders. Under the partnership, CONNECT will continue to represent Canada’s major record labels, and will negotiate licensing on behalf of the entire Canadian record label industry, while SOPROQ will represent independent rights owners, overseeing the collective management of rights and providing comprehensive support for its members. CONNECT and SOPROQ’s licenses will be offered jointly on behalf of all of their members. This partnership will yield several key benefits for CONNECT and SOPROQ’s members:

• Cost Reduction: Streamlining operations to reduce overall costs and fees.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Increasing efficiencies in repertoire matching, comprehensive data management and conflict resolution to accelerate accurate and timely payments.
• Increased Revenue Opportunities: Members will see improved revenue through expanded licensing coverage, leading to better monetization of their repertoire.

In addition, the partnership will benefit commercial music users by offering one-stop, cross industry licenses for recorded music. “Since joining CONNECT, my mission has been to drive meaningful change for our members and the Canadian music landscape,” said Sundeep Chauhan, President of CONNECT Music Licensing. “This alliance with SOPROQ represents a bold step forward in that endeavour. By combining our strengths, we are not only enhancing our service offerings but also ensuring Canadian rights holders receive the dedicated support and fair remuneration they deserve. All makers will continue to benefit from CONNECT’s dynamic licensing teams and entrepreneurial vision, which are key to maximising revenue and exploring new opportunities for growth.” Andrew Cash, President of CIMA, added, “This new arrangement between CONNECT and SOPROQ will undoubtedly benefit the members of CIMA. By leveraging the strengths of both organisations, our members will receive unparalleled support and services, allowing them to focus on what they do best – creating music.” Mark Lazare, President of SOPROQ’s Board of Directors, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “SOPROQ is excited to be the go-to collective for indie music in Canada. This partnership with CONNECT will enable us to better serve all members, providing them with robust support and opportunities to thrive in an ever-evolving music industry. With ADISQ and CIMA by our side, we now have all the assets to make a greater contribution to the independent music production sector in Canada and, most importantly, to keep administration fees as low as possible.” The strategic partnership will begin on January 1, 2025 with SOPROQ taking over the management of new repertoire submissions. In the meantime, CONNECT will continue to fully serve all of its current members, including continuing to oversee the completion of distribution of royalties for past years post-transition. Detailed information will be shared directly with CONNECT members in the coming weeks about the transition which will take place throughout 2025. The alliance will take full effect in 2026 when SOPROQ will issue the first payments for broadcasts occurring in 2025. About CONNECT Music Licensing CONNECT Music Licensing (CONNECT), representing the Major Record Labels and their affiliates, acts as a non-exclusive agent to administer licenses to third parties in Canada for the reproduction of sound recordings, and the reproduction and broadcast of music videos on behalf of its members. About SOPROQ Soproq is a not-for-profit Collective Management Organization for makers of sound recordings and music videos administered by independent Canadian companies and artists. A leading figure in independent production, Soproq’s repertoire already includes more than 2.5 million titles belonging to 8,000 rights holders from across Canada and several other countries: The organization collects and distributes royalties from public performances, reproductions and from the private copying regime. About CIMA CIMA is the national not-for-profit trade association representing Canadian-owned and controlled music businesses. CIMA’s membership includes labels, artists, managers, publishers, and other professionals involved in every aspect of the music and music-related industries.Its 400 companies are connected to over 6,000 Canadian artists including: TALK, Aysanabee, Haviah Mighty, Serena Ryder, Cadence Weapon, Tegan and Sara, Pierre Kwenders, Shad, Rich Aucoin, and The Sheepdogs. For more information, please contact: info@connectmusic.ca