SODRAC

SODRAC (Society for Reproduction Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers in Canada) was a Canadian collective management organization that administered mechanical and reproduction rights for musical works. It licensed the reproduction of music on physical media (CDs, vinyl, cassettes) and digital formats (downloads, ringtones, streaming), collecting fees from record labels, digital distributors, and other users and distributing them to songwriters, composers, and publishers. SOCAN acquired SODRAC in 2018, and its operations are now fully integrated into SOCAN.

How SODRAC Worked

SODRAC issued mechanical licenses to record labels, digital music services, and other entities that reproduced musical works. When a record label pressed CDs containing songs by SODRAC members, or a digital distributor offered those songs as downloads or streams, the label or distributor paid a mechanical royalty to SODRAC. SODRAC then distributed those royalties to the appropriate rights holders based on usage reports and sales data.

SODRAC also managed a joint venture with Canadian mechanical rights organization CMRRA called CSI (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency), which administered mechanical licensing for online music services in Canada. This joint arrangement allowed digital platforms to obtain a single mechanical license covering both SODRAC and CMRRA repertoires.

The acquisition by SOCAN closed in 2018 after extensive negotiations. SOCAN's existing technology platform and high auto-match rate for usage data meant more accurate distributions for reproduction rights holders. SODRAC staff transitioned to SOCAN, and SODRAC ceased to exist as a separate organization within approximately six months to a year of the acquisition closing.

In 2025, SOCAN reported CAD $11.8 million in reproduction rights distributions, reflecting the continued administration of these rights under the integrated SOCAN platform.

Real-World Example

Before the SOCAN acquisition, a Canadian songwriter who was a SODRAC member would receive mechanical royalties when their songs were reproduced. If a record label pressed 10,000 CDs containing one of the songwriter's compositions, the label paid a mechanical royalty to SODRAC based on the statutory or negotiated rate. If the same song was downloaded 50,000 times on iTunes, the digital distributor reported those reproductions and paid mechanical royalties to SODRAC (often through CSI).

After the 2018 acquisition, that same songwriter's mechanical royalties are collected and distributed by SOCAN. The songwriter no longer needs to maintain separate memberships for performing rights and reproduction rights. A single SOCAN membership covers both revenue streams, with reproduction rights distributions paid alongside performing rights distributions.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Canadian songwriter or publisher, you no longer need to join SODRAC separately. SOCAN's acquisition of SODRAC consolidated performing rights and reproduction rights under one organization. When you join SOCAN, your mechanical and reproduction royalties are administered through the same platform as your performance royalties.

This matters because mechanical royalties are a distinct revenue stream from performance royalties. When your songs are reproduced on physical media, downloaded, or used in certain digital services, mechanical royalties are generated. Without proper registration, these royalties go uncollected.

Register every composition with SOCAN and ensure your publishing rights are properly documented. This covers both the writer's share and the publisher's share of mechanical royalties. Submit accurate metadata including ISRC codes, ISWC numbers, and split sheets. SOCAN's integrated platform matches usage data across both performing and reproduction rights, increasing the likelihood that all your royalties are collected.

If you are a Canadian artist whose music was reproduced before 2018 and you were a SODRAC member, your historical royalty data and catalog information were transferred to SOCAN. Verify that your works and member information are correctly reflected in SOCAN's system.

Territory Covered

SODRAC covered Canada. It administered mechanical and reproduction rights for musical works across all Canadian provinces and territories. Since the 2018 SOCAN acquisition, these rights are administered nationwide through SOCAN's integrated platform, which covers both performing rights and reproduction rights across Canada.

How to Join and Membership Fees

SODRAC no longer accepts separate memberships. Since the 2018 acquisition by SOCAN, Canadian songwriters, composers, and publishers join SOCAN to have both their performing rights and reproduction (mechanical) rights administered under a single membership.

SOCAN membership is free. There is no application fee and no annual dues for writer members. To join SOCAN, a music creator must be a songwriter, composer, lyricist, or producer whose work has been published, recorded, or publicly performed. The application is submitted online through SOCAN's website. Publisher members must own or control at least five copyright-protected musical works written by a SOCAN member or by a Canadian.

Overhead Rate

SODRAC's historical overhead rate was not publicly reported as a standalone figure before the SOCAN acquisition. Since integration into SOCAN, reproduction rights royalties are administered under SOCAN's expense structure.

SOCAN reported an expense ratio of 12% in both 2024 and 2025. This means SOCAN retains approximately 12% of collected revenue to cover operating costs, with the remaining 88% distributed to rights holders. SOCAN does not charge an administrative fee on incoming international distributions, meaning members receive 100% of what foreign societies transfer.

In 2024, SOCAN collected CAD $559.4 million in total revenue and distributed CAD $512.4 million to rights holders. In 2025, SOCAN collected CAD $587.1 million and distributed CAD $511.9 million.

Royalty Distribution Schedule

Since the SOCAN integration, reproduction (mechanical) royalties follow SOCAN's distribution schedule:

• Reproduction royalties (physical products, online music, international): Quarterly, distributed on the 15th of March, June, September, and December
• Broadcast mechanicals (TV): Once per year (stations are not all distributed in the same quarter)
• Broadcast mechanicals (radio): Once per year, in September
• Sync royalties (over $250): Every two weeks

SOCAN's performing rights distributions follow a quarterly schedule with a lag:

• January-March performances: distributed by November 15 of the same year
• April-June performances: distributed by February 15 of the following year
• July-September performances: distributed by May 15 of the following year
• October-December performances: distributed by August 15 of the following year

In 2025, SOCAN reported CAD $11.8 million in reproduction rights distributions, reflecting the continued administration of these rights under the integrated platform.

Reciprocal Agreements

Through SOCAN, the former SODRAC repertoire benefits from reciprocal agreements with more than 75 affiliated performing rights organizations (PROs) and music rights organizations (MROs) worldwide, covering over 210 countries and territories. SOCAN does not charge an administrative fee on incoming international distributions, meaning members receive the full amount transferred by foreign societies.

Major reciprocal partners include ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC (United States), PRS for Music (United Kingdom), GEMA (Germany), SACEM (France), SODRAC (Brazil), and many others. When a Canadian songwriter's work is reproduced or performed internationally, the foreign society collects the royalties and transfers them to SOCAN, which then distributes them to the Canadian rights holder.

Before the acquisition, SODRAC also participated in CSI (CMRRA/SODRAC Inc.), a joint venture with CMRRA that administered mechanical licensing for online music services in Canada. This arrangement allowed digital platforms to obtain a single mechanical license covering both SODRAC and CMRRA repertoires.

Notable Members

SODRAC was co-founded in 1985 by Jan Matejcek, who was also instrumental in the merger of Canada's two performing rights societies (CAPAC and PROCAN) to form SOCAN in 1990. Notable figures associated with SODRAC include:

• Diane Juster: Singer-songwriter and co-founder of SODRAC. Wrote "Je ne suis qu'une chanson" (sung by Ginette Reno), which won the Felix Award for Song of the Year and sold over 350,000 copies. Also a founding member of SPACQ (Societe professionnelle des auteurs-compositeurs du Quebec).
• Jan Matejcek: Co-founder of SODRAC in 1985 and first CEO of SOCAN (1990). Established SODRAC as North America's first composer and author-controlled collective for mechanical and synchronization royalties.
• Gilles Valiquette: Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. Served on SODRAC's board of directors and was SOCAN president from 1998 to 2003. Received the SOCAN Special Achievement Award in 2019. Founded the Musitechnic school.
• Lise Aubut: Chair of SODRAC's Board of Directors and co-founder of SODRAC in 1985. Oversaw the negotiations leading to the SOCAN acquisition.
• Eddie Schwartz: Songwriter of "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" (Pat Benatar). SOCAN membership consultant and advocate for music creators' rights in Canada.

Comparison Table

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Similar PROs

• SOCAN - SOCAN now administers all former SODRAC operations including reproduction rights
• CMRRA - Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency, mechanical rights administrator
• BMI - Broadcast Music Inc., US performing rights organization
• ASCAP - American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers

Related Resources

• SOCAN - SOCAN now administers the reproduction rights formerly managed by SODRAC
• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Mechanical Royalties - How mechanical royalties are generated and collected
• Reproduction Rights - Understanding reproduction rights in music
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• SOCAN Official Website - SOCAN now handles all former SODRAC operations
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings