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The Lion King returns to Calgary in Broadway Across Canada production

The Lion King returns to Calgary in Broadway Across Canada production

CTV News3 days ago
CTV's Ian White speaks with Mukelisiwe Goba, who plays Rafiki in Disney's The Lion King, which returns to Calgary as part of Broadway Across Canada July 30
It's perhaps one of the most recognizable and most distinctive ways to begin a Broadway musical – Rafiki's call in Zulu for all animals far and wide to come see the new lion.
'I'm saying 'Here comes the lion,'. So, what should you do? You have to run!' actor Mukelisiwe Goba told CTV News.
'It's my native language. I was born in it,' the South African said.
She admits she still gets goosebumps performing the scene that opens the play, several years after joining the cast.
The Lion King runs at the Jubilee Auditorium July 30 to August 17.
For more information, go here.
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Why SOCAN is suing a Quebec City music festival for copyright infringement
Why SOCAN is suing a Quebec City music festival for copyright infringement

CBC

time3 hours ago

  • CBC

Why SOCAN is suing a Quebec City music festival for copyright infringement

Social Sharing The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) is suing Quebec City's Festival d'Été de Québec (FEQ) music festival for copyright. In the lawsuit, which was first reported by The National Post, SOCAN says the festival infringed copyright by performing or authorizing the performance of musical works under its repertoire, without a license and without paying the royalties, in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The FEQ is among the biggest outdoor festivals in Canada. Every year, the 11-day event gathers a star-studded lineup of artists with some shows drawing 90,000 people each night in Quebec City. But this year, on its first day on July 3, FEQ was hit with a lawsuit from SOCAN, which represents over 200,000 Canadian music writers, composers and publishers. The FEQ argued that its charitable status means it doesn't have to pay the fees. But experts in copyright law say it's not a strong defence. What does SOCAN want? Music composers, authors and publishers hold copyrights over their works and have the right to license the use of their music to those who want to play or perform them. SOCAN grants licenses and collects royalties on their behalf. Instead of paying these artists the fees directly, those playing the music can cut the check to SOCAN, who will redistribute the funds. Any public venue playing music has to pay royalty and licensing fees to SOCAN, whether it's a restaurant, bar or festival. But, SOCAN says the FEQ has been avoiding paying their fees by claiming that their charity status exempts them from doing so. It's an argument they've been using for a while, said Alexandre Alonso, SOCAN's director of Quebec affairs. He didn't specify if the festival had been avoiding payment for more than three years, stating SOCAN couldn't comment on the FEQ's actions beyond what is in the statement of claim. What SOCAN is asking from the festival is "simple," Alonso said, adding that SOCAN doesn't accept the FEQ's argument. "They are paying everybody, the vendors, the technicians, the artists on stage, but they don't pay the license fees," he said. He said SOCAN is open to negotiating with the festival outside the courts. "If they want to come and have that conversation and find a solution for the payment, we are still open," he said. No specific amount of money is claimed in the lawsuit. Alonso says it should equal three per cent of the festival's revenue for paid events or three per cent of the artist performance fee for free events. It's information that the FEQ hasn't disclosed to SOCAN, he says, making it impossible to estimate the amount they could be owed. CBC News reached out to the FEQ about prior exchanges with SOCAN on this issue. In an emailed statement, they declined to comment. How common is this? SOCAN enforcing copyright laws is nothing new. The organization often does so for smaller venues, including restaurants and theatres, says Madeleine Lamothe-Samson, a lawyer specializing in copyright law. "What's new is that SOCAN is now suing some very well known festival," she said. Compared to those who run local restaurants, and who might be unaware of the intricacies of licensing and royalty fees, she says music festivals ought to know their obligations. In 2022, SOCAN successfully sued a local restaurant in Alberta for copyright infringement and was entitled to nearly $150,000. In 2019, it sued another restaurant for just under $25,000. What is the FEQ's claim? In a statement sent to Radio-Canada on Friday, the festival has denied any wrongdoing. It maintains it was well within its right as a registered charity. The festival, also known as the Festival d'Été International de Québec (FEIQ), has been a registered charity since 1974. By virtue of its mission and legal status, the festival claims it is exempt under the Copyright Act from the payment of royalties to authors, composers and publishers. Copyright lawyer, Madeleine Lamothe-Samson, says this claim has no merit. "It's irrelevant. You still pay your electricity bill if you're a charity, you've got to pay," she said. "They know they don't have any argument," said Ysolde Gendreau, professor of law at the Université de Montréal (UdeM) specializing in copyright law. She added that the festival is likely using a common tactic: "They probably say 'I won't bother [to pay] and eventually if they really mean something, they'll sue me,'" she said. What's next? Lamothe-Samson sees a straightforward resolution to this case, suspecting it will not proceed to trial and will instead be settled before the next edition of the festival. Gendreau agrees with this outcome, but also sees the lawsuit as a potential "warning" to other venues who aren't paying SOCAN. "If the user does not want to pay, then it cannot play the music," she said.

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