SOCAN Public Conveyances Tariff 2023–2025

Summary#

This item publishes SOCAN Tariff 13.C – Public Conveyances - Railroad Trains, Buses and Other Public Conveyances, Excluding Aircraft and Passenger Ships (2023-2025) as decided by the Copyright Board. It sets the royalty rules for playing recorded music in trains, buses and similar public vehicles for the years 2023 to 2025, with a charge of $1.32 per person per year (minimum $78.75 per vehicle).

What it does#

• Sets a royalty of $1.32 per person per year for the performance or public communication by telecommunication of recorded music in covered public conveyances for 2023 to 2025.
• Bases the fee on the authorized passenger capacity of each car, bus or other conveyance, subject to a minimum annual royalty of $78.75.
• Requires the operator to report authorized passenger capacity and pay the royalty on or before January 31 of each year covered by the tariff.
• Gives SOCAN the right to audit the operator’s books and records, with reasonable notice during normal business hours.
• Charges interest on late payments at a rate equal to 1% above the Bank Rate as published by the Bank of Canada, calculated daily and not compounded.
• States that all amounts are exclusive of any federal, provincial or other taxes or levies.

Who's affected#

• Operators of railroad trains, buses and other public conveyances that play recorded music in public (excluding aircraft and passenger ships).
• Small operators or vehicles with low passenger capacity may be most affected by the $78.75 minimum.
• SOCAN, the music rights organization that collects these royalties.
• It is not clear from the notice how the tariff interacts with any other music licences an operator might already hold.

Why it matters#

• It creates a predictable, per-passenger cost for using recorded music in public transit and similar services. That cost must be reported and paid each year by January 31.
• For large operators the per-person rate may be modest. For small operators the $78.75 minimum could be a noticeable new annual cost.
• Operators who don’t report or pay on time risk audits and daily interest charges based on the Bank of Canada rate plus 1%.
• The tariff affects how music creators are paid when their recorded music is played in public conveyances.