SOCAN parade music fees (2026–2028)

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice publishes SOCAN Tariff 10.B – Parks, Parades, Streets and Other Public Areas - Marching Bands; Floats with Music (2026-2028). It sets the fees event organizers must pay when marching bands or floats with music perform works in SOCAN’s repertoire at parades between 2026 to 2028. The notice was published on October 11, 2025 by the Copyright Board.

What it does#

• Sets a royalty of $12.23 for each marching band or float with music participating in a parade.
• Requires a minimum fee of $45.33 per day for each parade.
• Applies to performances of works in SOCAN’s repertoire during the years 2026 to 2028.
• Requires the user (the parade organizer or payer) to file a report and pay royalties no later than 30 days after the end of each quarter in which music was performed.
• Gives SOCAN the right to audit the payer’s books on reasonable notice during normal business hours to verify payments.
• Charges interest on late payments at a rate equal to 1% above the Bank of Canada’s Bank Rate, calculated daily and not compounded.
• States that all amounts are exclusive of any federal, provincial or other taxes or levies.

Who's affected#

• Parade organizers and event producers who host parades with live or recorded music on bands or floats.
• Municipalities and community groups that run public parades or street events.
• Owners or operators of marching bands and floats with music, who may see changes in how events are billed.
• It is not clear from the notice whether small community or charitable events get any exemption.

Why it matters#

• Organizers will need to budget a $12.23 fee per band or float, or at least $45.33 per day, which can add up for large parades.
• The quarterly reporting and possible audits add administrative work for event organizers.
• Late payments will cost extra because of daily interest at 1% above the Bank Rate.
• This directly affects how public parades and similar street events handle the cost of using copyrighted music from SOCAN’s repertoire.