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SOCAN gears up for 2008 member survey
SOCAN is preparing to conduct its fifth annual online survey of members in November, a process that serves as the organization’s most reliable poll of members’ experiences and satisfaction levels with their performing rights organization. As always, this year’s survey will represent a cross-section of SOCAN members from all ages, length of membership, audio-visual and non-audio-visual music backgrounds, geographic regions, genres and royalty-earning levels. E-mails are sent to members who have provided SOCAN with an e-mail address, inviting them to participate in the survey.
SOCAN’s 2007 online survey attracted a record 3,500-plus responses, and showed members’ overall satisfaction climbing to 7.79 on a scale from one to 10, in comparison with the 2006 figure of 7.67. SOCAN’s goal is to continue to improve that rating, and the organization takes each year’s survey results very seriously. To date, many issues raised in the survey responses have been addressed, resulting in significant changes and new services. Some of these include requests for:
Better navigation processes at www.socan.ca: SOCAN is currently undertaking a redesign of the website.
Board of directors transparency: SOCAN has released a governance disclosure document, available to all at www.socan.ca in the left frame under Features.
Promptness of service and expertise of SOCAN’s Membership reps: SOCAN has introduced cross-training programs with members in order to broaden staff knowledge of the industry, and has carried out staff secondments with publishing companies.
Information on royalties calculations: SOCAN created an Education team within Membership, through which expert staff members provide information sessions and panels on a variety of topics, often during music-industry events across Canada. As well, SOCAN continues to produce informative podcasts on a number of industry topics, and members have access to online calculators and other tools at www.socan.ca to help with royalty queries.
Information on international performing-rights organizations and earnings: SOCAN has presented seminars at industry events on international royalty distribution, co-ordinates member meetings across the country with open forums and Q&A sessions, and is working to create a series of “cheat sheets” on a number of topics to coincide with the website redesign.
Networking and how-to information for new members: SOCAN has begun a tip-of-the-month program, featuring monthly e-mails to new members that contain information on a variety of topics. As well, SOCAN has installed mobile offices at some music-industry events, including this past summer’s North by Northeast in Toronto, providing one-on-one opportunities for members to pose questions to SOCAN staff. And the newly redesigned website will feature a new-members section.
Expanded monitoring of performances, using up-to-date technology: SOCAN implemented a new digital audio identification (DAI) process for tracking performances on commercial radio via census data (approximately 160 stations across Canada are part of the census) in 2007. And www.socan.ca features pre- and post-distribution information for members seeking more details on their distribution statistics.
In an effort to continuously improve the accuracy and scope of its online surveys, SOCAN urges all members to participate in the survey. Also, please ensure we have your current e-mail address. If you have updates to provide, visit your online profile in the secure section of www.socan.ca, contact the Information Centre at 1-866-307-6226 or e-mail members@socan.ca.
Uploaded Fall 2008
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
Send them to Rick MacMillan, Words & Music Corporate Editor, at
wordsandmusic@socan.ca.
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