SOCAN Tariff for Circuses and Shows

Summary#

The Copyright Board published SOCAN Tariff 11.A – Circuses, Ice Shows, Fireworks Displays, Sound and Light Shows and Similar Events (2023-2025) on November 25, 2023. It sets the fee rules that event organizers must pay to perform music from SOCAN’s repertoire at those kinds of events for the years 2023 to 2025.

What it does#

• Sets a royalty of 1.6% of gross receipts from ticket sales (excluding sales and amusement taxes) for each event covered by the tariff.
• Requires a minimum fee of $78.70 per event, even if the percentage calculation would be lower.
• Covers performances using live performers or recorded music at circuses, ice shows, fireworks displays, multimedia shows (including sound and light), and similar events.
• Gives SOCAN the right to audit a user’s books and records (with reasonable notice, during normal business hours) to check statements and royalties.
• Charges interest on late payments at a rate of 1% above the Bank Rate (as published by the Bank of Canada), calculated daily and not compounded.
• States that fees are exclusive of any federal, provincial, or other government taxes or levies.

Who's affected#

• Event organizers and promoters running circuses, ice shows, fireworks displays, sound-and-light or multimedia shows, and events the tariff describes as “similar.”
• Venues and producers who sell tickets for those events.
• Smaller or unusual events may be affected if they use music from SOCAN’s repertoire — the exact scope for “similar events” is not spelled out in detail.

Why it matters#

• It changes how much event organizers must budget for music licensing for 2023 to 2025. For many events, the fee will be 1.6% of ticket sales or at least $78.70 per event.
• Organizers who miss payments can face daily interest and possible audits, which can add costs.
• The tariff is how songwriters and music publishers represented by SOCAN get paid when their music is used at these public shows.