Fighting for the rights of the world’s music creators
Eddie Schwartz has been a life long advocate for the rights of music creators. He has held and continues to hold leadership positions in Canadian, US and global creators’ rights organisations all of which work to bring fairness and equality to songwriters and composers.
Eddie’s work as an advocate for music creators began in the 1980s when he was asked to join his fellow music creators, Randy Bachman, Brian Adams, Jim Valance, Burton Cummings and others, in urging the Canadian government to allow increases to the 2¢ royalties paid songwriters on recordings up to that time. The campaign was a success and led to a dramatic increase in royalties to music creators and publishers.
Until the ‘2¢ Too Long’ campaign, I was oblivious to the fact that it was a constant struggle to ensure that we creators got paid fairly for our music. And just as importantly, I realized that if artists and songwriters worked together, we could make a real difference to our own lives and the lives and our fellow music creators and rights holders around the world.”
The list of organizations Eddie has supported and been associated with in the ensuing years includes the Songwriters Association of Canada (the S.A.C.), the board of BMI Canada (PROCAN), the board of SOCAN, Fair Trade Music International (FTMI), Music Creators North America (MCNA) and the International Council of Music Creators (CIAM) based in Paris.
The voice of songwriters and composers must be heard in the challenging environment we face. It’s to the benefit of future generations of songwriters, composers, artists, and our partners in the music business, as well as to everyone who loves music, that we music creators are the heart of a healthy, fair and sustainable music ecosystem.”
President
International Council of Music Creators (CIAM)
CIAM was created in 1966 to advocate for the cultural and professional aspirations of music creators. The council focuses on economic and legal interests, serves as a forum for the exchange of information, ideas and best practices, and provides practical advice to help musical creators achieve their goals. CIAM’s mission is to serve as the unified global voice of music creators of all repertoires, and from all regions of the world.
Learn more at www.ciamcreators.org
President
Music Creators North America (MCNA)
MCNA is a continental alliance of prominent American and Canadian music creator organizations. MCNA began in 2012 largely as a response to legislative and legal setbacks for creators when it became clear that new approaches were needed and that individual and national solutions were no longer enough in an increasingly globalized environment for creators.
Today MCNA is focussed on the issue of how music creators can be properly paid for the use of their work in the digital realm.
Learn more at www.musiccreatorsna.org
board member
Fair Trade Music International
The Fair Trade Music movement is dedicated to building an ethical, sustainable and transparent music ecosystem that is equitable for everyone in the music value chain. The movement furthers these goals by giving consumers and creators the information they need to make ethical choices when producing, distributing, streaming or purchasing music.
The movement is coordinated and overseen by Fair Trade Music International (FTMI), an independent not-for-profit organization backed by more than 500,000 music creators from around the world.
Learn more at www.fairtrademusicinternational.org
President emeritus
Songwriters Association of Canada
Founded more than 35 years ago, the Songwriters Association of Canada (S.A.C.) is one of Canada’s leading advocating bodies on behalf of Canadian songwriters. Led by a board of renown Canadian songwriters and industry experts, the S.A.C. is dedicated to the representation and advancement of our members’ interests at the national, and international levels.
With over 1,000 current members, including 200+ professionals, the Songwriters Association of Canada provides advocacy, education and community for music creators in Canada and around the globe.
Learn more at www.songwriters.ca
Past board member (six terms)
Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada
SOCAN is Canada’s largest member-based rights management organization. It connects more than 4 million creators and publishers worldwide, and ensures that they are paid for their work.
The organisation also fights for the legal, fair and ethical use of its members’ music, and advocates for songwriters, lyricists, concert music composers, film scorers, music publishers, and other types of music creators.
Learn more at www.socan.com
