Photo credit: Marie-Michèle Bouchard
Pictured left to right: Marc Ouellette, Ariane Charbonneau, Laurence Lafond-Beaulne, Martine Groulx, Arun Chaturvedi

On May 27, the Songwriters Association of Canada (S.A.C.) participated in SOCAN on the Hill 2026 in Ottawa. Hosted annually by SOCAN, the event brings together music creators, industry leaders, and federal policymakers to discuss the issues shaping the future of Canada’s music ecosystem.

Representing S.A.C. were Chair and SOCAN Director Greg Johnston, S.A.C. Vice President Martine Groulx, and President Arun Chaturvedi.

The evening featured a timely panel discussion, Music, AI, and the Future of Creativity, with Dominique Fils-Aimé, Shad, and TALK, moderated by SOCAN legal counsel Fraser Turnbull. The conversation explored the growing impact of artificial intelligence on music creation, with a focus on transparency, copyright, consent, and fair compensation for creators.

The discussion reinforced a principle S.A.C. continues to champion: innovation and creativity can coexist, but creators’ rights must be respected and protected.

S.A.C. extends thanks to SOCAN for organizing another successful event, as well as to fellow creator organizations and industry partners for their ongoing collaboration. S.A.C. also acknowledges the Members of Parliament, legislators, and policymakers who engaged in these important conversations. S.A.C. is grateful to Dominique Fils-Aimé, Shad, and TALK for sharing their perspectives and lived experiences as creators. Their voices helped ground the discussion in the realities facing music creators today and underscored the importance of ensuring creators remain at the centre of conversations about the future of music, culture, and artificial intelligence.