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Publishing
CMRRA Marks 50th Anniversary by Distributing $94 Million in Royalties to Publishers and Songwriters in 2025
While it celebrates its anniversary, the rights organization says it is focused on how to "respect copyright and value songs as creative works" into the future.
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The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) is marking 50 years with some good news. The agency has revealed that it distributed $94 million in royalties to publishers and self-published songwriters in 2025.
While it’s a notable figure, it’s an overall 2% decrease in distributions from 2024, which saw the agency distributing $96 million. Still, 2025’s numbers are a 19% increase from 2023’s figures at $78 million.
This year, much of the CMRAA’s growth is credited to its 477 new client affiliations, which include music publishers, self-published songwriters and administrators. Of that number, 137 were allotted for international collections – a royalty segment the agency didn't start collecting until 2021. It’s a 33% increase in client affiliations from last year.
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Meanwhile, broadcast mechanical distributions — royalty payments that are issued when a musical composition is reused for broadcast on radio or TV — increased by 119%.
It's a change from the major drivers for last year's distribution numbers, which were fuelled by a growth in streaming and TikTok.
The numbers come hot on the heels of the CMRRA’s 50th anniversary. In 2025, the agency reported that it renewed licensing deals with major streaming platforms and collaborated with partners including the Juno Awards, Honey Jam and the Indigenous Music Summit.
Throughout the year, multiple members from the agency were recognized by Billboard Canada.
Last year’s Power Players legal list honoured Veronica Syrtash, SVP of business affairs & corporate development, while the second-ever Billboard Canada Women in Music industry spotlight tapped Andrea England, associate director of publisher engagement & strategy and director of industry relations & communications, Elyssa Macri. On the inaugural Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 list, Karen Visser, licensing & distribution operations coordinator, was celebrated.
Looking ahead, the agency shares it will remain focused on supporting music publishers and self‑published songwriters, as the rise of AI and modern technology continues to dominate the Canadian music industry. Ensuring that partners "respect copyright and value songs as creative works," the agency will continue evolving its licensing framework to be "grounded in consent, transparency and fair value for creators."
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“As we build on our 50‑year legacy, CMRRA is focused on the future, investing in technology, data intelligence, and scalable services that support music publishers and self‑published songwriters,” says the agency’s president, Paul Shaver. “The industry is evolving rapidly, and CMRRA is committed to leading that change by delivering smarter tools, building stronger relationships and creating sustainable opportunities for our clients well into the future."
During the first quarter of the year, the agency has started on a high note, recently reporting that it has distributed over $24 million in mechanical royalties to clients.
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