BMI Canada Ltd.

Canadian rights society and publisher operating from 1940 to Jul 15, 1977 out of its head office in Toronto. From 1940 to 1947 it operated mainly as a branch office of BMI, licensing its repertoire for use in Canada. Started its publishing division in 1947, which operated until 1969 when it was sold to Berandol Music Limited. Opened a Montreal branch in 1948 and another in Vancouver in 1968. Rights society credit may appear as BMI Canada Limited, BMIC, or BMI Canada. In 1977 it became P.R.O./PRO Canada/ PROCAN (Performing Rights Organization of Canada). PROCAN later merged with CAPAC (Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of Canada Limited) in 1990 to form SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada). In 1973 it purchased the Melbourne label from Rodeo Records Ltd., which it sold to Waterloo Music Co. Ltd in 1977.