SOCAN Tariff for Passenger Ships (2026–2028)

Summary#

This notice from the Copyright Board publishes SOCAN Tariff 13.B for passenger ships for the years 2026–2028. It sets a royalty of $1.46 per person per year (minimum $87.37) for recorded music played or transmitted to the public on passenger ships. The item was published on October 11, 2025.

What it does#

• Sets the royalty rate for recorded music played or communicated to the public on passenger ships at $1.46 per person per year, using the ship’s authorized passenger capacity to calculate the fee.
• Establishes a minimum annual royalty of $87.37 per ship.
• Reduces the royalty for ships that operate less than 12 months: a reduction of 1/12 of the annual fee for each full month with no operations.
• Requires the operator to report authorized passenger capacity and pay the fee to SOCAN on or before January 31 of each year covered by the tariff.
• Gives SOCAN the right to audit the operator’s records (with reasonable notice and during normal business hours) to check reported figures and payments.
• Charges interest on late payments equal to 1% above the Bank of Canada Bank Rate (calculated daily, non‑compounding).
• States that royalties are exclusive of any federal, provincial, or other taxes or levies.

Who's affected#

• Operators of passenger ships that play recorded music for the public, such as cruise lines, ferries, tour-boat companies, and similar passenger vessels.
• Smaller or seasonal operators will be affected too, since the tariff applies per ship and offers the month-by-month reduction for part-year operation.
• It is unclear from the notice whether every type of passenger vessel is included; the tariff uses the ship’s “authorized passenger capacity” as the basis.

Why it matters#

• Operators will need to budget $1.46 per passenger per year (subject to the $87.37 minimum) for music royalties, which could affect ticket prices or operating costs.
• Seasonal businesses can reduce fees for months they do not operate, which helps part‑year services.
• The reporting and audit rules create an administrative requirement and a compliance risk if records are incomplete.
• The tariff ensures that songwriters and music publishers represented by SOCAN are paid when recorded music is played on passenger ships.