Lynne Partridge

A pioneer of the BC Music Industry, in 1967 Lynne (Reusch) Partridge began working in her father’s Aragon Studios, the first multi-track studio in Vancouver. Here she met many luminaries of the Vancouver music industry while doing everything from managing the office and bookings to studio set-up.

In 1968 she was hired to establish the Vancouver office and oversee Western Canada for BMI Canada (Broadcast Music Inc) recruiting new members, being first contact for new and established members and building relationships with the local industry.  At that time when no one in the West was aware of performing rights, Lynne single-handedly educated hundreds of songwriters in the value of their copyrights and music publishing, providing support and encouragement to a fledgling music industry. In 1968 the BMI Canada office on Pender Street was a drop-in center for people starved for info on the music business, all learning together. By 1981, largely because of Lynne, increased number of affiliates and staff warranted a move to larger premises. By 1989 there were 7,000 creators and 13 staff working with the Vancouver office.

Lynne took a hiatus from BMI Canada in 1973 and was deluged with calls from songwriters seeking the information she had always provided. She moved to Edmonton to work with Tommy Banks at Century II where she met her future husband Dale Partridge then returned to Vancouver. In 1978 while working with Les Weinstein and the Irish Rovers she heard rumours that the Western office was closing and returned to BMI Canada to revitalize the organization which was renamed PROCAN and today is known as SOCAN. Lynne left the organization in 1989 and continued to work in publishing and management for The Irish Rovers and Raffi until she moved to Salt Spring Island in 1993.