SOCAN — SOCAN

SOCAN (SOCAN) is a performing rights organisation in canada. Businesses playing music publicly must hold a licence from SOCAN. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with SOCAN — venues using Track Studios are not invoiced.

Overview

SOCAN (SOCAN) is a performing rights organisation that licenses the public performance of musical compositions (melodies and lyrics). Founded in 1990, it operates in canada and manages licensing for businesses that play music publicly.

Founded: 1990
Type: Performing rights (compositions)
Country: Canada
Website: https://www.socan.com

Combined Licence: Entandem

SOCAN and RESOUND offer the Entandem as a single combined licence. Apply for Entandem.

How SOCAN Fees Are Calculated

SOCAN uses tariff codes to calculate fees by venue type. Examples: Restaurant (Tariff 15A (Background Music)): approximately CAD 180–280/year; Retail Store (Tariff 15B (Background Music — Retail)): approximately CAD 120–190/year. Fees are typically calculated on the basis of seats.

Venue Type	Tariff Code	Basis	Typical Annual Cost
Restaurant	`Tariff 15A (Background Music)`	seats	CAD 180–280/year
Retail Store	`Tariff 15B (Background Music — Retail)`	area	CAD 120–190/year

Apply for SOCAN licence

How to Avoid SOCAN Fees

Businesses can avoid SOCAN fees by using music that is not registered with SOCAN. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with SOCAN or re-sound — venues using the included catalog are not invoiced.

Start free trial — no SOCAN invoices

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SOCAN (SOCAN)?: SOCAN (SOCAN) is a performing rights organisation based in canada. Founded in 1990, it collects fees from businesses that play copyrighted music compositions publicly and distributes them to rights holders.
Does my business need an SOCAN licence?: If your business plays commercially released music in a public-facing space — restaurant, shop, gym, hotel lobby, etc. — you are legally required to hold an SOCAN licence (and a separate licence from re-sound). Using Track Studios' included AI catalog exempts you from SOCAN licensing for that music.
How does SOCAN calculate its fees?: SOCAN calculates fees based on factors including venue size, number of seats, or annual turnover depending on the venue type. Contact SOCAN directly for a quote.
Can I avoid SOCAN fees legally?: Businesses can avoid SOCAN fees by using music that is not registered with SOCAN. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with SOCAN or re-sound — venues using the included catalog are not invoiced.
What happens if my business plays music without an SOCAN licence?: SOCAN can issue a civil claim for back-fees covering the period of unlicensed use, plus additional damages. SOCAN employs field inspectors who visit businesses unannounced to verify compliance.