[MikeK]

I have also found HGTV listed in my Tuensat account so I was curious and looked into a few things.
It seems HGTV and the other “Scripps” channels are now part of Warner/ Discovery. If you google they list all the channels under “our brands”.
I emailed my PRO, Socan to see if they could provide some information too.
Here is some of the info they provided which might help clarify some things:

“Hello Mike,

Since HGTV in Canada has paid SOCAN a license fee each year so far**, if they report airing the program that used your music and as long as we have a cuesheet for each episode of the show in question that lists your music, we’d ideally pay you 9 to 11 months after the airdate (for the Canadian airings).

…As for whether or not they pay the US PROs ASCAP, BMI and SESAC a license fee as does the Canadian affiliate, I don’t know, but if we bring up a US claim on your behalf for the show in question, we could find out from whoever is your US rep for your music on that show.

In general, SOCAN does lobby the Copyright Board of Canada (who approves SOCAN’s proposed license fee tariffs in public hearings) to try to ensure that all broadcasters and media that air or stream TV shows in Canada pay license fees (which are the source of royalties we pay to the composers), and I’m sure ASCAP, BMI and SESAC do the same with their equivalent of the Copyright Board, but sometimes the rulings from the public hearing may allow for exceptions (or reduced license fees).

** We can only go back 3 years from the broadcast period that was covered in the last SOCAN distribution in February. ”

From this explanation and the fact that the tracks, in my case, which have been used are exclusive, it would seem the library would also have an interest in having cue sheets submitted in order that they receive the publishers share of the license fee which HGTV has been paying, at least to SOCAN.
Maybe as Atomica Music indicates above this is some sort of blanket fee and no cue sheets or show/episode information is filed. I guess I will check with the library.

Hope this helps.
Mike

[Author]

Posts