SOCAN partners with Musical AI to secure songwriter rights in AI-generated music

When Canadian songwriters faced a new frontier, SOCAN turned to AI to protect them. On 21 July 2026, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada announced a partnership with Musical AI, a rights‑management technology firm, to give creators control over how their work can be used by generative artificial intelligence.

The deal names Musical AI as an approved technology partner for attribution services. Creators will retain full control over any AI use of their music, with every instance on an opt‑in basis. If a song or recording feeds into an AI‑generated output, the system will flag the contribution and produce a report that can support future licensing and compensation.

Musical AI’s attribution engine splits influence between sound recordings and musical compositions, then assigns a proportional share that always adds up to 100 %. The method mirrors the structure of traditional licensing agreements, letting rights holders see precisely how much of an AI output derives from their material.

SOCAN, which represents more than 200,000 songwriters, composers and publishers worldwide, said the partnership will help the organization “protect the rights and livelihoods of songwriters, composers and music publishers” in an industry increasingly shaped by AI. CEO Jennifer Brown highlighted that the collaboration “establishes a foundation for attribution and compensation, to ensure that music creators are paid when their music is used by AI.”

Sean Power, CEO of Musical AI, echoed the focus on creator control. "Artists and songwriters should always retain control over their work as AI systems evolve," he said. "The first step is consent. The next step is attribution that can show how music contributes to an output and how value should flow to artists and songwriters."

The partnership also opens the door to Musical AI’s consent‑management tools, designed to make opt‑in choices clear, structured and scalable for creators. SOCAN will use the attribution capabilities to support music creators and rights holders in the future.

Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, framed the initiative as part of a broader national effort to support Canadian songwriters. He said the partnership “helps ensure that creators and their work can be properly identified and attributed” and called it “responsible Canadian innovation” that protects human creativity while opening new opportunities.

SOCAN’s core role as a performance‑rights organization involves collecting licensing fees and distributing royalties to its members. The new collaboration seeks to extend that model into the AI domain, where the line between training data and derivative use has become blurred.

Founded in Canada, Musical AI has built consent‑management and attribution infrastructure specifically for generative music. Its technology has already attracted attention from AI‑music platforms and media companies that need to navigate licensing risks.

Industry analysts see the partnership as a response to growing uncertainty about how AI‑generated content will be monetised. With AI tools capable of producing music that incorporates elements of existing works, the need for clear attribution and compensation mechanisms has become urgent.

SOCAN’s approval of Musical AI’s technology is a first step toward a systematic approach. The two organisations will continue to develop additional products, including tools that streamline opt‑in processes for creators.

At present, the partnership provides a framework for identifying and reporting the influence of copyrighted works in AI outputs. The next phase will involve integrating these reports into licensing and royalty‑distribution systems, although specific timelines have not yet been announced.

In summary, SOCAN and Musical AI have joined forces to give Canadian songwriters a say in how their music is used by AI, to ensure proper attribution, and to lay the groundwork for future compensation. The collaboration reflects a broader industry shift toward transparent, rights‑respecting AI practices.