SOCAN Completes Acquisition of Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency from SoundExchange

On September 1 2026, SOCAN announced the finalization of its purchase of the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) from SoundExchange, a deal that unites two of Canada’s most prominent rights‑management organizations.

SOCAN, the country’s largest member‑owned performance‑rights society, represents more than 175,000 songwriters, composers and publishers. CMRRA, founded in 1975, has long been the leading agency for reproduction rights, licensing mechanical use of music on both physical and digital platforms and collecting royalties for its publisher clients.

The transaction was first disclosed on July 29 2026 and proceeded after regulatory approval and the satisfaction of all customary closing conditions. No complications were reported, and the September 1 closing marked the official transfer of ownership.

In a joint statement, SOCAN CEO Jennifer Brown remarked, “This is an important moment for Canada’s music industry. We are very excited to welcome the CMRRA team as part of SOCAN and to work together to build on our shared commitment to serving music publishers, songwriters and composers.” CMRRA President Paul Shaver added, “We are proud to begin this new chapter as part of SOCAN. This milestone creates new opportunities to expand and further strengthen our publisher administration capabilities.”

Both organizations stressed that CMRRA’s clients will continue to receive the same trusted services from the same expert team. SOCAN said the integration will provide a more streamlined rights‑management experience while maintaining the reproduction‑rights services that members and clients rely on today.

The consolidation brings together SOCAN’s performance‑rights infrastructure and CMRRA’s reproduction‑rights expertise, creating a single point of contact for publishers and songwriters seeking licensing and royalty services across all media. The move aligns with broader industry trends toward consolidation of rights‑management functions to improve efficiency and reduce administrative overhead.

Regulatory compliance remains a priority. SOCAN is approved by the Copyright Board of Canada to administer public‑performance royalties and will continue to operate under that mandate. CMRRA’s licensing agreements, including its joint venture with Montreal‑based SODRAC, will be maintained under the existing terms.

The acquisition does not alter the fee‑free membership model that CMRRA offers to publishers and self‑published songwriters. Clients are expected to see no change in the rate structure or the distribution process.

As of the closing date, SOCAN has no announced plans to restructure the CMRRA team or its service offerings. The organization will focus on integrating systems and processes to ensure a seamless transition for all stakeholders.

The deal represents a significant step in the evolution of music‑rights management in Canada, bringing together two long‑standing organizations to better serve the country’s creative community.