SOCAN Hotel and Motel In‑Room Tariff 2025–2027

Summary#

The Copyright Board has published SOCAN TARIFF 23 – HOTEL AND MOTEL IN-ROOM SERVICES (2025-2027), a set of royalty rules for hotel and motel in-room audiovisual and music services. For 2025 to 2027 it sets specific percentage fees for pay-per-view films and for in-room music, and requires quarterly payments and reporting within 60 days. It was published under section 70.1 of the Copyright Act.

What it does#

• Sets royalty rates for the communication to the public by telecommunication of works in SOCAN’s repertoire when delivered through hotel or motel in-room audiovisual or musical services:
  • 1.25% of the fees guests pay to view audiovisual works that are not mature-audience films.
  • 0.3125% of the fees guests pay to view mature-audience films that contain any work requiring a SOCAN licence.
  • 5.5% of the revenues of the provider of any musical service.
• Defines “mature audience film” as an audiovisual work whose main component is sexual activity and that is marketed separately as adult entertainment.
• Requires payments and a detailed quarterly report to accompany each payment. Reports must list titles used and the fees or revenues for:
  • audiovisual works (titles and fees);
  • mature audience films (titles, fees, and documentation when a film contains no SOCAN-licensed works);
  • musical services (fees, provider revenues, and recordings’ Universal Product Code (UPC) and International Standard Recording Code (ISRC)).
• Lists exclusions where the tariff does not apply:
  • musical works transmitted with a television signal for private or domestic use;
  • musical works delivered by online services (including online music, online audiovisual, user-generated content, allied audiovisual, or game services);
  • musical works in connection with a pay audio service;
  • Internet access services and video game services.
• Gives SOCAN the right to audit a user’s books on reasonable notice during normal business hours.
• Applies late-payment interest at a daily rate equal to 1% above the Bank Rate (as published by the Bank of Canada) on the last day of the previous month; interest does not compound.
• States that all amounts are exclusive of federal, provincial, or other taxes.

Who's affected#

• Hotels and motels that offer in-room pay-per-view films, on-demand audiovisual services, or in-room music services.
• Companies that operate or supply those in-room audiovisual and music systems.
• SOCAN members (music creators and publishers) whose works are in the repertoire covered by the tariff.
• Guests may be indirectly affected if providers pass costs on in the form of higher fees.
• It is unclear from the notice whether some newer streaming models or third‑party dongles used by guests are covered; the tariff explicitly excludes many online and Internet access services.

Why it matters#

• Practical cost impact: the tariff creates a clear fee structure operators must pay for using music and film works in rooms. That can raise operating costs for in-room entertainment systems.
• Pricing and service decisions: hotels or service providers might raise guest charges, change which films or music services they offer, or alter reporting systems to comply.
• Administrative burden: quarterly reports, possible audits, and interest on late payments add compliance work for operators.
• Clarifies scope: the exclusions mean many online streaming services and Internet-access uses are not covered, which affects what providers must license through SOCAN.