SOCAN Tariff 18: Dance Music Royalties

Summary#

The Copyright Board published SOCAN Tariff 18 – Recorded Music for Dancing (2023–2025), a schedule of annual fees that venues must pay to play recorded music for dancing. The tariff sets specific yearly amounts based on room capacity and how often a venue operates; payments are due by January 31 of the year covered.

What it does#

• Sets annual royalties for playing recorded music for dancing in places such as bars, cabarets, restaurants, taverns, clubs, dining rooms, discotheques, dance halls, ballrooms and similar premises for the period 2023–2025.
• For premises accommodating no more than 100 patrons:
  • If open for 6 months or less: $356.76 per year for venues operating 1–3 days; $713.50 per year for venues operating 4–7 days.
  • If open for more than 6 months: $713.50 per year for 1–3 days; $1,427.00 per year for 4–7 days.
• For larger rooms:
  • Premises with 101–120 patrons pay 10% more than the amounts above.
  • For each additional group of up to 20 patrons, add another 10% (calculated off the base amounts for up to 100 patrons).
• Other rules in the notice:
  • Payment and reporting of room capacity must be made no later than January 31 of the year covered by the tariff.
  • Amounts are exclusive of taxes.
  • Late payments incur interest at a rate equal to 1% above the Bank Rate effective on the last day of the previous month; interest is calculated daily and does not compound.
  • SOCAN has the right to audit a user’s books and records to verify royalty payments.
  • The tariff excludes music covered under other tariffs (for example, concerts or music used at receptions, conventions, assemblies or fashion shows).
  • Published pursuant to section 70.1 of the Copyright Act.

Who's affected#

• Businesses that offer recorded music for dancing, including bars, clubs, restaurants with dance floors, discotheques, dance halls, ballrooms and similar venues.
• Larger-capacity venues will pay more; the fee scale increases by 10% bands as capacity goes up.
• Event organizers who use recorded music for dancing at covered premises may be affected if the venue charges the fee back to them.
• It is not clear from the notice whether or how these fees are applied in every specific case (for example, mixed-use events or partial-night dance uses).

Why it matters#

• These fees are a direct, predictable cost for venues that run dancing with recorded music. Small and part-time venues face lower fixed amounts (e.g., $356.76), while full‑season or larger venues can pay significantly more (up to $1,427.00 for the base case and higher with capacity increases).
• The audit and interest provisions mean nonpayment or late payment can add extra cost and administrative burden.
• Venue owners, managers, and event planners should know these rates when budgeting or negotiating contracts for spaces where people dance to recorded music.
• The tariff covers the years 2023–2025 and was published in the Canada Gazette on March 28, 2026, which may be relevant for questions about timing and implementation.