About Speaker Eric Baptiste…
As the head of the Society of Composers, Authors & Music Publishers of Canada, Eric Baptiste is one of Canada’s most influential music industry leaders. Under his direction since 2010, SOCAN has grown its membership base and increased the number of organizations licensed to use music to record-high levels. With more than 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Eric Baptiste has influenced broadcast media and cultural policy, and promoted new talent around the world.
Prior to joining SOCAN, Eric worked for eight years in radio in France, including General Manager of RFI (French public international radio) and CEO of the commercial radio station, 95.2 Paris, and was Director General of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors & Composers (CISAC) for close to 12 years. In addition to being CEO of SOCAN, he serves as non-executive Chairperson of the board of the International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies (CISAC), vice-chair of the board of Fast Track, the global technical alliance among 13 Copyright Societies, vice-chair of the board of the Canadian Private Copying Collective as well as chairperson of the board of the International ISAN Agency (ISAN-IA). A graduate of the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris and the École nationale d’administration, Eric Baptiste was awarded the French government’s Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2006.