SOCAN Tariff 18 Recorded Music Fees

Summary#

This is a notice from the Copyright Board publishing the SOCAN Tariff 18 – Recorded Music for Dancing (2023-2025) on March 28, 2026. It sets the annual licence fees venues must pay to play recorded music for dancing during the years 2023–2025, with specific rates like $356.76, $713.50, and $1,427.00 depending on size and how often they operate.

What it does#

• Sets annual royalties for playing recorded music for dancing in venues such as bars, cabarets, restaurants, taverns, clubs, dining rooms, discotheques, dance halls, ballrooms and similar premises for 2023–2025.
• For premises accommodating no more than 100 patrons, the annual fees are:
  • Operates 1–3 days per week and for 6 months or less: $356.76
  • Operates 4–7 days per week and for 6 months or less: $713.50
  • Operates 1–3 days per week and for more than 6 months: $713.50
  • Operates 4–7 days per week and for more than 6 months: $1,427.00
• For premises with more than 100 patrons:
  • Capacity 101–120 pay 10% more than the base amounts above.
  • For each additional increase of up to 20 patrons, another 10% of the base amount is added.
• Payment and reporting:
  • Establishments must pay the applicable royalties to SOCAN and report room capacity no later than January 31 of the year covered by the tariff.
  • All fees are exclusive of taxes.
  • Late amounts bear interest calculated daily at a rate equal to 1% above the Bank Rate (as published by the Bank of Canada); interest does not compound.
  • SOCAN may audit a user’s books and records, on reasonable notice, to verify royalties.
• The tariff does not cover music already covered by other tariffs, for example concerts or music used as part of receptions, conventions, assemblies or fashion shows.

Who's affected#

• Small and large venues that play recorded music for dancing: bars, clubs, restaurants, taverns, dance halls, ballrooms and similar places.
• Venue operators who must report room capacity and pay annual fees to SOCAN.
• Event planners for concerts or shows are likely not affected when those events are covered by other tariffs.
• The notice is about fees for 2023–2025; the item does not explain how payments for past years are to be handled, so it may raise questions for affected businesses.

Why it matters#

• It creates a clear price list for venues that play recorded dance music. That can affect operating budgets, ticket prices, cover charges, or whether a venue offers recorded-music dancing at all.
• There are administrative obligations: annual reporting of capacity, a January 31 payment deadline, possible audits, and interest on late payments. Missing these can add costs.
• Because the tariff covers 2023–2025 but was published on March 28, 2026, businesses may want to check how this affects any past payments or obligations; the notice itself doesn’t spell out whether or how the fees are being applied retroactively.