By Tabassum Siddiqui
An early passion for music led Marie-Eve Rochon toward a career in the music industry. She recalls her mother driving her to the nearest town to buy her first vinyl records, including Prince’s Purple Rain (an album that she says “coloured my life and my relationship with music”) when she was very young.
Now Head of Licensing and Publishing for Montreal-based Bonsound, a full-service music company, Rochon entered the business with experience as a musician and occasional DJ in Montreal’s music scene.
“Music has always been part of my daily life, both personally and professionally,” Rochon says. “I’m still amazed when I discover a new song, artist, or rediscover an old, forgotten track. Whether I’m hunting down rare gems online or in record stores, or creating playlists, that love continues to drive me today.”
While playing in local pop rock band Comme un homme libre, Rochon learned that her bandmate, Jean-Christian Aubry, had co-founded Bonsound to provide artist management, show production, and booking. Ready to move on from retail work while gigging with the band, she called to express her interest in joining the company.
“Two weeks later, despite having very little experience in the field, I began a career as a booking agent – a position I held at Bonsound for about ten years,” Rochon says.
When Bonsound expanded into music publishing, Rochon took on the challenge of launching its publishing arm, Les éditions Bonsound, completing a course through the Association des professionnels de l’édition musicale (APEM) and learning the ropes of music publishing “from scratch.”
Today, her role includes securing licensing opportunities, promoting Bonsound’s wide-ranging catalogue, developing relationships with creators and collaborators, participating in export missions and events, and helping support creative projects. She also oversees responsibilities on the label side, including master licensing and neighbouring rights.
“More broadly, my role helps build a sustainable music ecosystem by ensuring the creators we work with are well-represented, supported, and provided with favourable conditions,” she says. “We aim to develop a cohesive, high-quality catalogue, build lasting relationships with creators and partners, and champion original and authentic creators whom we truly love.”
As part of its work in music publishing, Bonsound is represented by CMRRA for the administration and licensing of its reproduction rights. Rochon highlights the value of this relationship in supporting the company’s day-to-day operations.
“Our collaboration with CMRRA, extending over a few years, is an important partnership for our business. The clarity of the reports generated and the ease of navigating the CMRRA Direct portal undoubtedly simplify administrative tasks, allowing us to focus more time on developing our catalogue and other aspects of our work. We also appreciate the team’s availability, openness, and willingness to listen – they are always accessible to answer our questions and guide us through our processes,” she says.
In an era of declining record sales, Bonsound’s move into publishing was driven by a desire to diversify its revenue streams and tap into new market opportunities. While the label’s artists had achieved commercial success over the years (including a Gold certification for Lisa LeBlanc’s self-titled debut album), publishing was a promising way to bolster creators’ prospects.
“One of my greatest highlights is seeing our work to develop synchronization opportunities bear fruit,” Rochon says. “A placement built through development and networking can give new momentum to an artist who has been working for years. Seeing that impact is a concrete reminder of why the work is worth it.”
“One of my goals is to introduce foreign audiovisual productions to the great talent of the artists we work with,” Rochon adds. “I hope their work will reach far beyond our borders and resonate around the world. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to collaborate with so many talented people – and I would deeply love for their work to be discovered and appreciated by as many people as possible.”
Her involvement in the industry extends to APEM’s Board of Directors, where she has served over the past year, giving back to the sector while continuing to grow professionally.
That growth has been supported by Bonsound, which she credits with encouraging her development. “They have given me, more than once, the opportunity to take more initiative and develop my independence,” she says. “They have also encouraged me to pursue further training and engage in various professional activities that contribute not only to my own development, but – most importantly – to the continued growth of the department.”
Along the way, she’s also drawn support and inspiration from her Bonsound colleagues, the copyright management team at David Murphy et Cie, APEM, and the creators she works with. The challenges and setbacks have also taught her valuable lessons along the way.
Leading a team that works directly with songwriters and creators is a key source of inspiration for Rochon, and she’s heartened by the energy and devotion of the next generation of artists and music-industry colleagues who are bringing their unique approaches and creativity to the scene.
“They push us to rethink the way we do things and show great openness to new ideas that help the industry renew itself. At times, we can feel a little lost in the face of all these new musical trends, which sometimes lack soul and authenticity, especially with the advent of AI,” she notes.
“That said, when I look at this new generation of artists who remain true to themselves, who are moving forward and creating while drawing inspiration from those who paved the way before them and respecting their contributions, I find it very encouraging and reassuring for the future.”
For Rochon, navigating an evolving industry also means learning to embrace uncertainty. “You have to trust life, take time to breathe, and let things fall into place naturally,” she says. “Most importantly, we learn from our failures and mistakes by finding the positive in them and turning it into something constructive.”
