SOCAN - Performing Rights Licence

Act: Copyright Act 

To Whom Does This Apply?

Music users.

Summary

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) is the Canadian copyright collective for the performance of musical works.

SOCAN operates on a *not-for-profit basis and ensures that its members (composers, lyricists, songwriters and music publishers) are compensated when their music is broadcast or performed in public.

A Brief Introduction to Copyright Act

A copyright is made up of a variety of different rights, and the performing rights that SOCAN administers is one part of that copyright.

The Copyright Act recognizes three main rights:

SOCAN deals with only performing rights. All other rights are handled by the copyright owners or by other organizations.

What Is a Music User?

If you use music as part of your business or functions, you are a music user and require a SOCAN performing rights licence.

Do You Need a SOCAN Performing Rights Licence?

If you perform or authorize the performance of copyright-protected music in any public setting, or if you communicate those works to the public by telecommunication, you need the permission of the copyright owners. It's the law.

In order to use music as part of your business, you usually need a performing rights licence. SOCAN will grant such a licence, allowing you access to virtually the world's entire repertoire of copyright-protected music for communication and public performance, at rates approved by the Copyright Board of Canada. A SOCAN performing rights licence ensures that the music and the rights of those who create and publish it are respected.

Generally speaking, there are a few main categories of music user industries:

• telecommunications (radio, television, cinema, internet);
• hospitality (bars, restaurants, dance clubs, private clubs, hotels, karaoke clubs);
• retail (stores, shopping malls);
• recreation (game halls, fitness facilities, private clubs, sports arenas, bowling alleys, sports clubs);
• concert (live bands or recorded music);
• workplace (in offices, service establishments, on hold on the telephone).

*Note: "non-profit" also known as nonprofit organizations, non profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations, voluntary organizations and volunteer organizations.
 

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Manitoba Contact(s):
See National Contact. 

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National Contact(s):
Business Development
SOCAN
Toll-free (information): 1-866-944-6210
E-mail: customers@socan.ca
Web site: http://www.socan.ca/jsp/en/index.jsp 

 

• The right to produce or copy the musical work (such as sheet music).
• The right to reproduce the musical work, including mechanical rights (such as cassette and digital audio reproductions) and synchronization rights (such as music in films, videos, and multimedia productions).
• Performing rights, which are the rights to perform a work in public (such as a live concert, a recording or any other type of public performance) and the right to communicate to the public by telecommunication (e.g., a broadcast).