Evangeline: PMPA’s song lyrics database

Following the example of similar initiatives currently undertaken by various music publisher associations around the world, the PMPA has recently begun developing a song lyrics database. The objective of this is primarily to meet the demand of Internet users who are eager to have access to the texts of their favourite songs.

The creation of such a database aims to establish an official and legal source for song lyrics that can be licensed to broadcasters of digital content – whether they are website owners or content providers (aggregators) – who currently have no legitimate source for such material in Canada.

The project also aims to ensure that there is a legitimate alternative in place in the context of an eventual intervention against the many illegal lyrics sites that currently exist on the Internet.

The contents of the database will also be offered to any other organization, company or association that may have an interest in disseminating such content to a specific clientele.

It goes without saying that this project will benefit not only publishers, and the songwriters they publish, but also the whole recording industry. Indeed, in addition to being a natural complement to the sale or streaming of music, having lyrics available in this form will also encourage the sale of digital sound recordings.

In addition, it will highlight and promote our national musical repertoire, both recent and “classic”, while providing commercial benefits (royalties) to concerned beneficiaries.

The realization of this project was supported in part by