Canadian Film Weekly Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry (1956)

CAPAC is an association of composers, authors and music publishers which was organized to collect fees for public per¬ formances of copyright music. Like all similar organizations in other countries, CAPAC can make no profits for itself, pays no dividends and charges its members no agency commission, no entrance fees or subscriptions. All fees collected are distribu¬ ted among the composers, authors and publishers concerned, in proportion to the relative use of their music. No expenses are deducted from the fees beyond the bare cost of administration, which is less than fifteen percent of the gross amount collected. CAPAC is necessary not only to composers, authors and publishers, but also to those concerned with the public per¬ formance of music. In the report of the 1935 Copyright Com¬ mission this was officially recognized: — “It (CAPAC) is a central bureau ... for the convenience of the copyright owners . . . and the music users . . . such bureau is necessary to protect the performing rights of authors, composers and publishers, and is also a convenience to the users of music ...” Most countries have legislation similar to the Canadian Copyright Act and so, through its affiliation with national soci¬ eties in 30 countries, CAPAC is able to grant a licence covering the music of 100,000 composers, authors and publishers of many nationalities. Membership in CAPAC enables Canadians to receive fees for performances of their music in other countries. The fees CAPAC collects from broadcasting stations, mo¬ tion picture theatres, concert halls, hotels, restaurants, clubs, public parks, dance halls, sports arenas, factories, steamships, etc., are fixed each year by a government board known as the Coypright Appeal Board, and are published in the “Canada Gazette.” COMPOSERS, AUTHORS AND PUREISHERS ASSOCIATION of Canada Limited 170