Village Gamer

With many Canadian bands and artists shining on the worldwide stage, live music in Canada is making a growing contribution to Canada’s economy and, based on data collected and analyzed by SOCAN – the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada – the trend is likely to continue. Where revenues from sound recordings have been declining in recent years, the income streams flowing to music creators and publishers from performing rights (TV, Cable, radio, live shows etc.) has continued to grow.

“We analyzed revenues generated from live music performances, and we’re pleased to report that our members are continuing to gain more than ever from concerts,” said Jennifer Brown, vice president, Licensing at SOCAN. “We’ve seen year-over-year growth in 2012 of 14 per cent in concert revenue, helped by major artists playing the Canadian circuit.”

In 2012, SOCAN distributions from concerts and live entertainment totaled $20.9-million. Growth in revenues has been steady for the last couple of years, as music creators increasingly rely on live performances as a revenue source.

“As a performing songwriter, concerts and live performance are essential to my livelihood,” said Ian D’Sa, songwriter, guitarist and singer with the Canadian band, Billy Talent. “It’s great data that supports what I have suspected: that there is more live music in more places at more times than perhaps ever before in Canada.”

The data collected shows that:

• Between 2010 and 2012, SOCAN put $57.3-million (from concerts) into the hands of its more than 110,000 members, and millions more internationally, for the use of their music, through partnerships with peer societies.
• In 2012 the top-three locations for live music in Canada were Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, with Montreal showing the biggest growth, 38 per cent over the previous year.
• Moncton, New Brunswick, registered the biggest growth in live concerts per capita, followed by Niagara Falls, Ontario, suggesting that live performance venues are in demand across Canada.
• Canadians have turned to live performances and concerts even during tough economic times. For example, from 2007- ’09 – in the middle of the economic downturn there was a two per cent growth in live performances.