Advocating for a sustainable future for Canadian screen composers

The Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC) advocates for policies that recognize the essential contribution of composers to Canada’s screen and audiovisual industries and ensure that Canadian composers can build sustainable careers in a rapidly changing digital and creative landscape.

As the industry evolves, so too must the policies that support it. SCGC works with governments, regulators, industry partners and other creator organizations to ensure that the interests of screen composers are represented in discussions around Canadian content, copyright, artificial intelligence, discoverability, digital platforms and the economic sustainability of the creative sector.

Protecting the value of composers’ work

Canadian screen composers contribute significantly to the cultural and economic success of film, television, animation, games and other audiovisual productions. We advocate for a fair and sustainable framework in which composers are appropriately recognized and compensated for the use of their work across traditional and digital platforms.

We work to ensure that public policy keeps pace with changes in the global digital marketplace and that the value created by Canadian creators is not diminished as technology and business models evolve.

Supporting Canadian content and culture

Canadian stories depend on Canadian creators. SCGC advocates for strong Canadian content policies that recognize the important role of original music and composers in telling Canadian stories and building a distinctive Canadian cultural identity.

We engage with government and regulatory bodies on policies affecting Canadian content, expenditure, discoverability and support for Canada’s audiovisual and music sectors.

Addressing the impact of AI

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the creative industries and presents both opportunities and significant challenges for composers and other creators.

SCGC is advocating for a policy framework that respects copyright, supports transparency and consent, protects creators’ rights, and ensures that the development of AI does not come at the expense of the people whose creative works make these technologies possible.

A voice for Canadian composers

SCGC believes that meaningful policy development requires creators to have a seat at the table. We work collaboratively with government, regulators, industry organizations and creator communities to bring the perspective of professional screen composers into national policy discussions.

The presence of women in the ranks of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC) and among professional screen composers is low. This research project aimed to document the particulars of the work of women in the screen composing industry, with emphasis on the presence of women in screen composing, hiring practices affecting the presence of women, and other barriers to entry or access to meaningful work in screen composing. In many ways, our results support earlier observations.