Non‑Commercial Radio Reproduction Tariff (2018)

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice publishes the CSI – Non-Commercial Radio Reproduction Tariff (2018) as set out by the Copyright Board. It fixes how much non-commercial AM and FM radio stations must pay CSI to make copies of musical works for over‑the‑air broadcasting (including simulcasts) for the year 2018, and it sets reporting, record‑keeping and audit rules.

What it does#

• Sets an annual royalty formula for reproductions by eligible non‑commercial radio stations for 2018:
  • 0.16% of the station’s first $625,000 of gross operating costs;
  • 0.31% of the next $625,000; and
  • 0.46% on the remainder.
• Covers copies made for conventional over‑the‑air broadcasting, including simultaneous streaming of the over‑the‑air signal (simulcasting).
• Does not cover other Internet transmissions (except simulcasts) or copies used in connection with a product, service, cause or institution.
• Requires each station to pay royalties annually (due January 31 of the year after the calendar year covered) and to send a certified declaration of its gross operating costs with the payment.
• Allows CSI to request a station’s broadcast logs once per year (30 days’ notice) for up to 12 days; stations paying less than $2,000 per year must provide logs for only 4 days.
• Requires stations to keep logs for six months and financial records for six years; it gives CSI the right to audit those records and to require the audited station to pay audit costs if understatements exceed 10%.
• Charges interest on late payments at a rate equal to 1% above the Bank of Canada Bank Rate; the tariff gives an interest multiplier of 1.1668 for 2018 when calculating amounts due under the transitional rule.
• Sets a transitional deadline that any amount due under this tariff must be paid no later than September 29, 2025.

Who's affected#

• Main group: non-commercial radio stations — AM or FM stations that are licensed as not‑for‑profit or are owned/operated on a not‑for‑profit basis, whether or not they carry advertising. The tariff excludes the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
• Stations whether or not licensed by the Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) may be caught if they meet the non‑profit description used here.
• CSI and, by implication, the musicians and rights‑holders who receive distributions from CSI are affected because the tariff sets the royalties CSI may collect.
• Listeners are not directly targeted, but station budgets and administrative work may be affected.

Why it matters#

• Community, campus, campus‑community and other non‑profit radio stations may owe retroactive fees for 2018 and will need to gather certified cost data, keep logs and records, and be prepared for audits.
• The fees are set as a small percentage of gross operating costs rather than flat rates; that links payments to a station’s size and spending.
• The transitional deadline (September 29, 2025) means stations should check whether they owe amounts for 2018 and be ready to make payments and provide the requested information.
• The notice uses the name CSI but does not expand that name in the published text.