Airline per-seat music royalties (2023–2025)

Summary#

The Copyright Board published SOCAN Tariff 13.A – Public Conveyances - Aircraft (2023–2025). It sets per‑seat royalties that companies must pay when recorded music (including music in video programming) is played on aircraft during 2023–2025.

What it does#

• Sets two annual per‑seat fees for each aircraft in service:
  • $2.69 per seat for music played while on the ground (prorated by days the aircraft is in service).
  • $6.36 per seat for music played as part of in‑flight programming (prorated). If the higher in‑flight fee is paid for an aircraft, the ground fee does not apply.
• Defines an aircraft as not “in service” if it is no longer owned, leased or under contract by the operator, or if it has not carried the operator’s passengers for any period of 15 consecutive days or more.
• Requires operators to estimate and pay the yearly royalty based on last year’s total seating capacity, and to provide a report about their aircraft:
  • Estimated payment and report due on or before January 31 of the year the tariff covers.
  • Final adjustment is made after the operator reports actual seating and service days.
• Gives SOCAN the right to audit operators’ books with reasonable notice.
• Late payments accrue interest at a rate equal to 1% above the Bank Rate (as published by the Bank of Canada) on the last day of the previous month. All amounts exclude taxes.

Who's affected#

• Airlines and other companies that own or operate aircraft and play recorded music or music in audiovisual programming on those aircraft.
• Charter operators, air‑taxi services, or any public‑transport aircraft operators that provide onboard music.
• If unclear: the tariff speaks to the “user” who owns or operates the aircraft, so any entity in that role could be required to comply.

Why it matters#

• It creates a clear per‑seat cost for playing recorded music on aircraft. That cost affects airline operating expenses and could influence ticket prices, onboard entertainment choices, or whether music is offered at all.
• Operators must track seating, days in service, and submit reports on time. There is a compliance burden and a risk of audit and interest on late payments.
• It ensures that creators and rights holders represented by SOCAN are paid when their music is used in aircraft services during 2023–2025.