Music Publishers Canada calls for copyright safeguards in age of AI
As Canada embarks on an ambitious national strategy to harness the potential of artificial intelligence, the newly elected Carney government has placed AI at the forefront of its policy agenda. In a historic move, Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed former journalist Evan Solomon as the country's first-ever Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, signaling a commitment to positioning Canada as a global leader in AI development and regulation. The government has also launched its inaugural AI Strategy for the federal public service, aiming to enhance digital services and ensure the ethical use of AI technologies.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries across the globe, Music Publishers Canada (MPC) is raising critical concerns about how the technology is being deployed in the creative sector — particularly in music — and urging policymakers to protect human artistry as the digital landscape evolves.
“We talk about AI every day,” said Margaret McGuffin, CEO of Music Publishers Canada. “It is really becoming the issue that we need to focus on as an association, and our membership is really interested in where this is going to take them in the next decade.”
McGuffin acknowledged AI’s potential to boost innovation and efficiency within the music publishing world but drew a firm line when it comes to how AI intersects with copyright and human creativity.
“AI holds great potential to make music publishing companies more innovative [and] efficient, and the tools that are being used already in the studio or in our offices… are already there and being used efficiently and helping with their growth,” she said. “We are very concerned that we maintain the value of human artistry and resist legislation that unfairly penalizes songwriters, composers and music companies. Copyright allows songwriters and composers to build their careers and music publishers to invest in emerging creators.”
She issued a warning against a future where technological tools eclipse the creators behind the songs. “We need to work collaboratively as a sector to promote a future where shiny new technologies are not boosted at the expense of human creation.”
“We need to work collaboratively as a sector to promote a future where shiny new technologies are not boosted at the expense of human creation.”
Margaret McGuffin, CEO, Music Publishers Canada
Though often operating behind the scenes, music publishers have become a formidable force in Canada’s creative economy. McGuffin noted that 80 per cent of revenue for independent music publishers now comes from international markets, compared to only 25 per cent two decades earlier.
Canadian songwriters, often backed by publishers, are increasingly finding global audiences — from Los Angeles and New York to Korea and Germany — even if their music never charts at home. “These songs may never even be heard by Canadians, but they're really important to the Canadian songwriter and to the music publisher who's investing in those markets,” McGuffin explained.
As a member of the Coalition for a Better Future, Music Publishers Canada sees cross-sectoral collaboration as vital to advancing Canadian prosperity. “Collaboration is key to our success as an association. Collaboration is really something that's in my DNA, and it's something that we as an association, do quite often in terms of working cross-sectorally,” McGuffin said. “We're stronger together, and we can learn a lot from each other, even if we're in totally different sectors. We have a much stronger voice if we can find things in common and work together.”
When it comes to building a better future, MPC’s message to government is clear: valuing creators and investing in their future is essential. “Songwriters and creators are the heart and soul of this country,” McGuffin said. “You would not have that favourite song if you didn’t have the songwriters first who have put their creativity and their heart and soul into that song.”
McGuffin also pointed to the wider economic and cultural ripple effects of a thriving music publishing sector. “We need songwriters and music companies in our communities across Canada, and we want to ensure that we're valuing human creation, respecting copyright and making sure that these businesses and creators are contributing to Canadian communities,” she said. “There are songwriters and composers in every community across Canada, and they come out of our music programs in high schools and elementary schools, and then they go and take their songs to the world, but they stay in those communities and are adding many things that go beyond just the economic impact.”
“There are songwriters and composers in every community across Canada, and they come out of our music programs in high schools and elementary schools, and then they go and take their songs to the world, but they stay in those communities and are adding many things that go beyond just the economic impact.”
Margaret McGuffin, CEO, Music Publishers Canada
Recognizing the need to elevate underrepresented voices in music, MPC has also made efforts to promote gender equity and Indigenous sovereignty in the industry.
“We've really focused on women in the studio over the last seven years,” said McGuffin. “Only six per cent of the songs you hear are produced by women, and only about 15 per cent are written by women. We need to make a difference.”
Initiatives like MPC’s Women in the Studio Accelerator have become a cornerstone of this work, alongside efforts to engage with the music industry regarding respect for indigenous protocols in songwriting and storytelling.
As Canada navigates the twin challenges of technological disruption and global competition, McGuffin and Music Publishers Canada are advocating for a balanced path forward — one that preserves the human spark at the heart of every great song.
“Yes, songwriting and publishing is an economic venture, and we need to grow that and continue to thrive,” she said. “But we also need to make sure that we are looking at the future songs and the future songwriters and making sure they still come out of Canada.”
