Re:Sound Adult Entertainment Tariff (2024–2028)

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice publishes the Re:Sound 6.C – Adult Entertainment Tariff (2024-2028), a fee schedule for playing recorded music to accompany adult entertainment. It was published by the Copyright Board on August 23, 2025 and sets small daily royalties based on the venue’s capacity for the years 2024 to 2028.

What it does#

• Sets an annual royalty fee that each venue pays by multiplying a per-day rate by the venue’s capacity.
  • Rate for 2024: 6.18¢ per day per person of capacity.
  • Rate for 2025–2028: 6.29¢ per day per person of capacity.
• Requires venues to estimate and pay royalties up front each year, and to file a report and a final adjustment of actual days operated.
  • Estimated payments and the year-end reconciliation are due by January 31 each year.
• Requires venues to keep records used to calculate fees for six years and allows Re:Sound to audit those records.
• Allows limited sharing of reported information with certain groups, including SOCAN, the Copyright Board, and service providers, and requires confidentiality agreements when appropriate.
• Charges interest on late payments at 1% above the Bank Rate (calculated daily, non-compounding).

Who's affected#

• Owners and operators of venues where adult entertainment is performed, such as:
  • adult entertainment clubs, nightclubs, dance clubs, bars, and hotels that host such performances.
• Music licensing organizations and rights holders represented by Re:Sound and SOCAN.
• It is clear who the tariff targets (venues hosting adult entertainment). If a venue’s use of music is unclear, the source does not spell out edge cases.

Why it matters#

• If your business hosts adult entertainment and plays recorded music, this sets a predictable per-day fee based on how many people the venue can hold. That affects operating costs, budgeting, and pricing decisions.
• The rules add paperwork: annual estimates, year-end reports, and record-keeping for audits. Missing deadlines can trigger interest charges.
• For performers and rights holders, this creates a formal way for recorded-music royalties from adult-entertainment settings to be collected and distributed.