Is your hairdresser breaking the law?

The folks that track music for Canadian composers, representatives of SOCAN are keeping an ear open at hair cutting emporiums across the nation, listening for the identifiable sounds of Canadian music.

And if your hairdresser has a disposition for Avril, the Hip or any other Canadian chanteuse or band, he or she had better pay up promptly.

Following on the heels of their putting the muscle on the dental industry last year, SOCAN is peeking into the basements and corner stalls of the nation to weed out those that play Canadian music.

While we're in full favour of Canadian artists receiving their fair share, we're not too sure on the success of this latest bit of enforcement.

We can't think of too many people that will be "ratting out" their favourite barber or hairdresser, after all, you can hide a bad smile caused by an angry dentist, but a haircut, well that's pretty well on open display to the world.



Hairdressers must pay to play Canadian music, SOCAN says
Last Updated: Thursday, July 19, 2007 4:20 PM ET
CBC News

Canadian hair salons are being asked to pay for the right to play Canadian music in their businesses, said SOCAN, the umbrella group for Canadian music composers.

The performing rights organization for music in Canada has sent out notices to hair salons across the country, urging them to pay a licensing fee or face legal action.

The law has always required that barbers and hairdressers pay to play Canadian music in public, said Serge Boutros, a SOCAN customer operations manager.

"Hairdressers happen to utilise music quite frequently and so currently, we are targeting hairdressing salons to educate them on the fact that they do require a licence if they are using music," he told CBC News.

The licensing fee varies according to the size of the salon, with a minimum cost of $94 per year.
SOCAN says it approached dentists last year with the same request.