Our History

40 Years of Advocacy, Education, and Community

The Songwriters Association of Canada was founded in 1983 when a group of music creators, led by Terry McManus, were concerned with the lack of input songwriters were having in the music industry, as well as the apparent absence of real copyright registration in Canada.

In response to these issues, with the help of Stephen Stohn (lyricist and lawyer) and esteemed music creators such as Eddie Schwartz and Rich Dodson, the Songwriters Association of Canada was formed (originally under the name Canadian Songwriters Association).

Terry McManus

Since inception, the S.A.C. has grown significantly and has established an industry presence by driving the professional development of music creators through workshops, writing sessions, and performance opportunities.

The S.A.C. also created the “Canadian Song Depository” (Songvault). This Canadian copyright registration service offered a timestamp of music creators’ works and helped the S.A.C. to become a leading organization in advocating to protect the creative, business, and legal interests of music creators in Canada and around the world.

Eddie Schwartz

As our membership has grown, so has our impact in advocating for meaningful changes in copyright and broadcast reform. With this growth, our ability to promote fair legislation has also strengthened, making advocacy for music creators a central focus of our mission.

This role has become increasingly crucial with the emergence of new music sharing technologies. As technology evolves, it’s vital for regulatory frameworks to adapt to safeguard the rights of creators. The S.A.C. serves as the voice of creators in these discussions, ensuring that our members’ perspectives shape policies to protect creators’ interests as they evolve.