SOCAN Tariff for Popular Music Concerts

Summary#

The Copyright Board published SOCAN Tariff 4.A – Popular Music Concerts (2025–2027) on May 9, 2026. It lays out how much organizers must pay SOCAN for live popular-music performances in concert halls, theatres and similar venues for the years 2025–2027, including a choice of per-event or annual payment methods and specific reporting and payment deadlines.

What it does#

• Covers live, in-person performances of musical works at concert halls, theatres and similar places, and explicitly includes DJs when they are the featured act and lip-synching performances.
• Does not apply to:
  • the online streaming of music;
  • live performances in cabarets, cafes, clubs, cocktail bars, restaurants and similar establishments;
  • events where recorded music is played mainly for dancing.
• Sets the basic royalty rate at 3% of gross ticket receipts for paid concerts or 3% of performers’ fees for “free” concerts (where no separate admission is charged).
• Minimum fees:
  • Per-event option: minimum royalty of $49.93 per concert.
  • Annual option: minimum royalty of $85.59 per concert (paid as an estimated annual amount, adjusted the following year).
• Reporting and timing:
  • Concert reports and payment due within 30 days after each concert under the per-event option.
  • For the annual option, an estimated payment and report are due by January 31 for the year, with a final adjustment and report due by January 31 of the following year.
• Administrative rules:
  • SOCAN may audit users’ books on reasonable notice.
  • Late payments incur interest calculated daily at a rate equal to 1% above the Bank Rate (published by the Bank of Canada); interest does not compound.
  • All fees are stated before any federal, provincial or other taxes.

Who's affected#

• Concert promoters, event producers and venue owners who put on popular-music concerts in concert halls, theatres and similar spaces.
• Music festivals and organizers of open-air concerts where no separate admission is charged (they may owe royalty based on performers’ fees, subject to the minimum).
• Featured DJs (when billed as the act) are treated as performers under this tariff.
• Small venues and events that typically rely on recorded music for dancing, or cafes/clubs/restaurants, are generally not covered by this tariff.
• The notice does not clearly say whether this publication is a final, binding tariff or still subject to further steps; that may affect when the rules take effect.

Why it matters#

• Promoters and venues will need to budget for a royalty equal to 3% of ticket revenue or performers’ fees, with minimum payments that can be significant for low-grossing shows.
• Free festivals and smaller events could face the $49.93 minimum per concert based on performers’ fees, which may change how they plan lineups or pay artists.
• The tariff adds paperwork: reports within 30 days or annual estimates and reconciliations by January 31, plus the possibility of audits and interest on late payments.
• Knowing whether an event is covered (for example, whether a venue is classed as a theatre vs. a club) will matter to organizers when setting ticket prices and contracts with artists.