CSI Non-Commercial Radio Tariff (2018)

Summary#

The Copyright Board published the CSI – Non-Commercial Radio Reproduction Tariff (2018) on June 28, 2025. It sets the royalties and reporting rules that non-commercial over‑the‑air radio stations must pay for making copies of musical works in CSI’s repertoire for the year 2018, and includes a deadline for amounts owed.

What it does#

• Sets annual royalty rates based on a station’s gross operating costs: 0.16% on the first $625,000, 0.31% on the next $625,000, and 0.46% on the remainder.
• Applies to reproductions (copies) made by conventional AM/FM non‑commercial radio stations for broadcasting purposes, including real‑time simulcasting to the internet. It does not cover most other internet transmissions or copies used to promote a product, service, cause or institution.
• Requires each station to pay royalties and submit a certified declaration of its gross operating costs. Payments for a calendar year are due on January 31 of the following year.
• Allows CSI to request CRTC logs of music broadcasts once a year (up to 12 days) with 30 days’ notice; stations paying less than $2,000 a year in royalties only have to provide 4 days of logs.
• Requires stations to keep logs for 6 months and financial records for 6 years. CSI can audit those records; if underreporting exceeds 10%, the station must pay the audit costs.
• Charges interest on late payments at a daily rate equal to 1% above the Bank Rate (as published by the Bank of Canada), non‑compounding.
• Contains a transitional rule saying any amounts due under the tariff must be paid no later than September 29, 2025, with an interest factor applied back to 2018.

Who's affected#

• Primarily AM and FM non‑commercial radio stations licensed as not‑for‑profit or operated on a not‑for‑profit basis (community, campus and similar stations). The tariff excludes Canadian Broadcasting Corporation stations.
• CSI and the copyright holders it represents (they collect the royalties).
• Indirectly, station staff and boards who manage budgets and reporting. It is unclear from the notice whether any specific stations have already received invoices or how many stations will owe money under this retroactive tariff.

Why it matters#

• This is a retroactive fee for 2018, so some stations may face unexpected bills or adjustments now. Payments must be made by September 29, 2025 under the transition rule.
• The charges scale with a station’s size (gross operating costs), so larger community stations will pay more. Even small stations may face new paperwork (certified declarations, possible logging and audits).
• Stations that underreport could be required to cover audit costs and interest, increasing financial risk.
• If you run, volunteer at, or fund a non‑commercial radio station, this affects budgeting, record‑keeping and potential cash flow for the coming months.