SOCAN Aircraft Music Tariff 2026–2028

Summary#

This item publishes SOCAN Tariff 13.A – Public Conveyances - Aircraft (2026-2028), a schedule of royalty fees for playing recorded music (including music inside video programs) on aircraft for the years 2026–2028. It sets per‑seat annual charges and requires operators to send periodic reports with detailed metadata about the music they play.

What it does#

• Sets annual royalties per aircraft seat for playing recorded music:
  • $3.05 per seat for music played while the aircraft is on the ground (prorated by days in service).
  • $7.22 per seat for music that is part of in‑flight programming (prorated by days in service).
• Clarifies that if the higher $7.22 in‑flight fee is paid for an aircraft, the $3.05 ground fee does not also apply.
• Defines when an aircraft is not considered “in service”: any period of 15 consecutive days or more when it is not used to carry passengers, or if it is no longer owned/leased/under contract by the user.
• Requires estimated payment and a report based on the previous year’s seating capacity to be submitted to SOCAN on or before January 31 each year.
• Requires quarterly reporting (no later than 30 days after each quarter) about audio and audiovisual files offered or transmitted, including detailed identifiers and metadata when available (titles, authors, performer credits, ISRC/ISWC/GRID codes, play counts, running time, etc.).
• Gives SOCAN the right to audit a user’s books and records on reasonable notice.
• Applies 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 amounts are exclusive of any federal, provincial, or other taxes.

Who's affected#

• Airlines and other companies that own or operate passenger aircraft and offer recorded music or audiovisual programming on board.
• Providers that supply in‑flight entertainment systems and the organizations that operate them on aircraft.
• Smaller charter operators and any other “users” who put music to passengers on aircraft could also be covered — the tariff applies to each aircraft owned or operated by the user.

If it is unclear whether a particular operator falls inside the tariff, the notice does not itself give exemptions; operators would need to check the tariff’s definitions or seek clarification.

Why it matters#

• It creates a clear, standard per‑seat fee for using recorded music on flights for 2026–2028, so airlines and entertainment providers know what to budget for licensing this content.
• The tariff adds detailed reporting and metadata requirements. That increases administrative work for operators and for companies that manage playlists or video libraries for flights.
• Because the tariff applies per aircraft seat and requires yearly and quarterly reporting, it may affect operating costs for carriers. The notice does not say whether or how those costs might be passed on to passengers.