SOCAN accepts Dance Ontario's offer

>> by Brittany Duggan
The Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) has recently agreed to Dance Ontario’s proposed Individual Licensing agreement for its studio members – a license that will enable dance teachers to legally use copyrighted music for any number of classes, with any number of students, at any studio, school or alternate teaching venue for an individual fee of $67.20, taxes included. Dance Ontario, acting on behalf of its studio members, began a discussion regarding a proposed individual license under Tariff 19, which covers Fitness and Dance Classes, in December of 2008. The membership-based association invited interested studio owners, independent dance teachers, two SOCAN representatives and a British Association of Teachers of Dancing representative to negotiate a possible offer. A year later, the Individual Licensing agreement is in place and members have until mid-February to contact Dance Ontario to be included.