SOCAN Commercial Radio Tariff 2014–2018

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice publishes the Copyright Board’s tariff titled SOCAN Tariff 1.A – Commercial Radio (2014-2018). It sets the monthly royalty rates and the reporting, record-keeping and audit rules that commercial radio stations must follow for broadcasts of musical works in SOCAN’s repertoire for the years 2014–2018. The notice was published on May 31, 2025.

What it does#

• Sets royalty rates for commercial radio stations that broadcast music in SOCAN’s repertoire:
  • 1.5% of annual gross income for a “low-use” station (see criteria below).
  • 3.2% on the first $1.25 million of yearly gross income, and 4.4% on the rest for other stations.
• Defines a “low-use station” as one that broadcasts SOCAN repertoire for less than 20% of its total broadcast time in the reference month and that keeps recordings of its last 90 broadcast days.
• Requires monthly payments and reporting of a station’s gross income for the “reference month” (the second month before the month being paid).
• Requires detailed daily music-use reports (a sequential list) covering 365 days per year, with fields such as date/time, recording title, work title, author/composer, performers, duration, UPC and ISRC.
• Requires electronic submission of reports where possible (for example Excel).
• Sets record-retention and audit rules:
  • Keep broadcast-detail records for six months.
  • Keep gross-income records for six years.
  • SOCAN may audit those records during those retention periods.
  • If royalties are understated by more than 10%, the station must pay the reasonable audit costs within 30 days.
• Specifies interest on late payments equal to 1% above the Bank of Canada Bank Rate (calculated daily, not compounded).
• Sets confidentiality limits and situations where SOCAN may share station information (other collective societies, the Copyright Board, service providers, enforcement or distribution needs, or as required by law).

Who's affected#

• Primarily commercial radio stations in Canada that broadcast musical works represented by SOCAN.
• Stations that qualify as “low-use” will pay the lower 1.5% rate if they meet the 20% use and 90-day recording rules.
• Songwriters, composers and other rights holders represented by SOCAN (because these rules determine how royalties are collected and distributed).
• Service providers and auditors hired by SOCAN, and other collective societies that may receive shared information.
• The tariff does not apply to music uses already covered by other SOCAN tariffs (for example, SOCAN Tariff 16, SOCAN Tariff 22, SOCAN Tariff 25, and SOCAN Tariff 26).

Why it matters#

• It changes how much money radio stations must pay for using songs and how those payments are calculated (different rates for low-use vs. regular stations, and a $1.25 million threshold).
• It increases administrative work: stations must provide very detailed, daily electronic logs and keep records for set periods. That may be a significant burden for smaller stations.
• It raises the cost and risk for stations that underreport plays (audit costs, interest on late payments, and possible adjustments).
• For music creators, the tariff affects the flow of royalties from radio broadcasts of their works.