SOCAN Tariff for Public Conveyances

Summary#

This notice publishes SOCAN Tariff 13.C – Public Conveyances - Railroad Trains, Buses and Other Public Conveyances, Excluding Aircraft and Passenger Ships (2026-2028). It sets the fee that operators must pay to play recorded music in trains, buses and similar public vehicles for the years 2026 to 2028. The item was published on October 11, 2025 and cites the Copyright Act.

What it does#

• Sets the royalty for playing recorded music in eligible public conveyances at $1.46 per person per year, measured by the vehicle’s authorized passenger capacity, with a minimum annual royalty of $87.37.
• Requires the user (the operator or owner who plays the music) to report authorized passenger capacity and pay the royalty on or before January 31 of each year covered by the tariff.
• Gives SOCAN the right to audit the user’s books and records, with reasonable notice and during normal business hours, to check reported capacity and payments.
• Charges interest on late payments at 1% above the Bank Rate, calculated daily from the due date until payment, and not compounded.
• States that all amounts are exclusive of any federal, provincial or other governmental taxes or levies.

Who's affected#

• Transit operators and vehicle owners who play recorded music in public conveyances such as railroad cars, buses and similar vehicles (but not aircraft or passenger ships).
• Companies that manage or lease passenger cars or buses and are responsible for reporting passenger capacity and paying royalties.
• Passengers are not charged directly by the tariff, but operators may consider these fees when setting fares or budgets.

If it’s unclear who counts as the “user” in a particular case, the tariff text delegates that reporting and payment responsibility to the operator or owner.

Why it matters#

• It puts a clear, per-passenger price on using recorded music in public transit and similar vehicles for 2026 to 2028. Small per-seat fees can add up across fleets and may affect operating costs.
• Operators need systems to track authorized passenger capacity, report it, and pay by January 31 each year to avoid interest and audits.
• The tariff implements how copyright holders get paid when their recorded music is played in public conveyances.