SOCAN tariff for CBC online use

Summary#

This item publishes the Copyright Board’s decision setting the royalty rules called SOCAN Tariff 22.E (2014-2018) for music used by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation / Société Radio‑Canada online. It says how much the CBC must pay SOCAN for streaming music and what reporting and record‑keeping the CBC must provide for the years 2014–2018.

What it does#

• Sets royalty formulas for different kinds of CBC online services:
  • For CBC online audiovisual services (examples named include “tou.tv” and “Gem”): the CBC pays 1.9% of its Internet‑related revenues multiplied by the share of audio page impressions (or 1.0 if that share isn’t available).
  • For CBC online music services (examples named include “cbcmusic.ca” and “espace.mu”): the CBC pays 5.3% of Internet‑related revenues.
  • For other online programming: a base amount of $72,128.91 multiplied by the share of audio page impressions (or 0.15 if that share isn’t available).
• Requires monthly payments, due on the first day of each month.
• Sets reporting rules for the CBC to tell SOCAN about plays, subscriber counts, revenues and identifiers for files, generally no later than 20 days after each month.
• Allows SOCAN to request narrower detailed transmission lists (up to 14 days in a year), which the CBC must provide within 14 days after the month in question when asked.
• Requires the CBC to keep records for six years and permits SOCAN to audit those records on reasonable notice.
• Includes confidentiality rules for the information that is exchanged between SOCAN and the CBC.
• Specifies interest on late payments as daily interest at 1% above the Bank Rate (as published by the Bank of Canada).

Who's affected#

• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation / Société Radio‑Canada — the payer of the royalties and the organization that must report and keep records.
• SOCAN — the society that collects and administers these royalties for songwriters and publishers.
• Music creators, performers and music publishers who rely on SOCAN for royalty distribution — they are the ultimate beneficiaries of these collections.
• Smaller affected groups could include the CBC’s online service users indirectly, if changes in costs affect services — the item does not set prices for users.

Why it matters#

• It fixes how much the CBC should have paid for music used in its online audio and video services for 2014–2018, and sets the practical rules for reporting and audits.
• The decision affects the CBC’s accounting and budgeting for music rights, and it affects how SOCAN gathers information to distribute royalties to creators.
• For creators and rights holders, it clarifies the revenue streams and data SOCAN can use when calculating and paying out royalties.
• The notice is largely administrative: it does not change user access rules or create new copyright rights, but it can influence how online content providers handle music licensing and reporting.