The Socan is continuing the summer festival for unpaid fee and license rights

On July 3. For example, 2025, when the Quebec Summer Festival (FEQ) launched its 57^e Edition, the Canadian Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers (SOCAN) filed a prosecution against the FEQ and BLEUFEU in front of the Federal Court.

As reported on Friday the National Postthe pursuit of Sancowhich represents more than 200,000 songwriters and Canadian music publishers, alleys that the Feq and bluefeu have counterfeit copyright by executing or authorizing the execution of musical works in the repertoire Sanco During the festival, without license and without paying the fees due, unlike the law on copyright For editions 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Open in full screen

Among the 11 artists mentioned in the document. In addition, we find Karkwa, the three chords, blue jeans blue, Alexandra STRELISKI and HALF MOON RUN.

The Feq is recognized to enhance some of the most talented artists in Quebec. For example, Canada and around the world, and we recognize its significant impact on the culture and economy of Quebecexplains Alexandre Alonso, Executive Director of Affairs of Quebec of the Sanco In an email sent to Radio-Canada.

Unfortunately. Bleufeu and the Quebec Summer Festival have not paid royalties to music creators and their publishers for the execution of their musical works Feq for several yearshe continues.

Open in full screen

The Quebec Summer Festival is a non -profit organization. but the Sanco support that The shows he presents are practically identical to those of his for -profit competitors, and the Canadian law requires the payment of license rights for these services.

The Sanco is deeply concerned about the fact that the organization of the festival continues to maintain that its tax status exempts it from paying royalties to creators of music and their publishers and editors when their music is executed at Feq.

The Sanco estimates that the summer and blue festival have unjustly benefited and will continue to garner profits, while socan continuing summer festival unpaid the Sanco has suffered and will continue to suffer, in particular damage in the form of lost royaltiescan we read in the document filed in Federal Court.

The Sanco is unable to estimate the amount of royalties due by the defendants, because the calculation depends on information which is to the attention of the latter.

According to the law. the Sanco Establish the applicable fees, i.e. 3 % of raw revenue at the counter of the paid concerts. or 3 % of the fees paid to the performers, musicians, dancers who participate in a free concert. This price offers payment or annual payment options, can be read in the pursuit document.

Open in full screen

The Quebec Executive Director of Affairs Sanco affirms that Do not pay royalties to creators of music and their publishers and editors weakens the foundations of the music industry and deprives them of the income that legitimately returns for their work.

We call Bleufeu. the Quebec Summer Festival as well as all socan continuing summer festival unpaid the entities that organize festivals to do what is right and to pay the creators of music their fair sharehe adds.

The Bleufeu organization which manages the summer festival did not respond to our interview request.