Paul Shaver is stepping down as president of the Canadian Music Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA). Shaver's tenure as president of the CMRRA will conclude on Oct. 1, almost exactly seven years after he took on the role in 2019.
The news comes weeks after SOCAN finalized its acquisition of CMRRA, bringing the distribution of performance and mechanical royalties under one umbrella.
With Shaver's departure, SOCAN has appointed Veronica Syrtash in the newly established role of chief business officer of reproduction rights after previously holding the role of senior vice president of business affairs and corporate development at CMRRA.
“I want to thank Paul for his years of successful and valued leadership and service to CMRRA,” says Jennifer Brown, CEO of SOCAN. “His commitment has helped build a trusted organization that serves music publishers and music creators with excellence. We’re pleased to have Veronica in her new role as part of CMRRA’s updated management structure and to help bring SOCAN’s and CMRRA’s important work closer together.”
Shaver's leadership was linked to a growth period for CMRRA which saw collections and client distributions rise by over 120% since 2020. Last year, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary by distributing over $94 million in royalties to publishers and self-published songwriters, reaching an even higher sum in 2024 with $96 million. Shaver landed a coveted spot on the Billboard Canada Power Players 2026 list and was also included on the inaugural list in 2024.
"Paul Shaver operates at the centre of one of the music industry’s most important — and often least visible — systems: making sure songwriters and publishers actually get paid," Billboard Canada wrote of Shaver on this year's Power Players list. "As president of the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) and SX Works, Shaver oversees the data, licensing and royalty infrastructure that powers music rights management across Canada and beyond. At a time when streaming, AI and digital platforms are making rights ownership increasingly complex, the organization has become critical to ensuring accurate compensation flows through the ecosystem."
Shaver is optimistic for the future of CMRRA under the SOCAN umbrella.
“It has been a privilege to serve as president of CMRRA and work alongside such a dedicated team,” says Shaver. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and confident that CMRRA is well positioned for the future. Veronica brings deep knowledge of the organization, the industry, and the communities we serve, and I know she will continue to be a strong advocate for CMRRA, its team and clients.”
Veronica SyrtashCourtesy Photo
In her new role, Syrtash will provide strategic leadership for CMRRA's reproduction rights business, overseeing licensing and rate setting strategy, advocacy and business development. She previously made the Billboard Canada Power Players 2025 list in the Legal category for her work, which includes securing important licensing deals in Canada with major music platforms like Apple, Google and Spotify.
“I’m honoured to take on this new role at CMRRA and continue working alongside our talented team in support of music publishers and self-published songwriters,” says Syrtash. “CMRRA has a strong foundation and an important role to play in the evolving music rights landscape, and I look forward to helping advance that work, supporting our team and continuing to advocate for the community we serve.”
