Music Licensing in Canada: Complete Guide
Businesses in Canada playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from SOCAN and Re:Sound. The Entandem combines both licences into a single fee. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with SOCAN and Re:Sound — venues using it are not invoiced by these organisations.
Collecting Societies
Businesses in Canada can obtain a combined music licence through Entandem (SOCAN and Re:Sound), which covers both composition and recording rights in a single payment.
- SOCAN — SOCANcomposition
- Re:Sound — Re:Soundneighbouring
Combined licence: Entandem (apply here)
Streaming Service Legality in Canada
| Service | Legal for business use? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Spotify Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Apple Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | YouTube Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Amazon Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Tidal Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Deezer Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| SoundCloud | No | SoundCloud Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
Royalty-Free Alternatives
Track Studios' AI-generated catalog is not registered with SOCAN and Re:Sound. Venues in Canada using Track Studios' included catalog are not invoiced by either organisation. The Track Studios subscription (€25/month per location) replaces all SOCAN and Re:Sound fees for the included music.
Venue Licensing Examples in Canada
| Venue type | Collecting societies | Estimated annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Music for Restaurants | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD 180–280/year |
| Music for Cafés | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Music for Bars | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Music for Gyms | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Music for Yoga Studios | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Music for Retail Stores | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD 120–190/year |
| Music for Supermarkets | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Music for Clothing Stores | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Music for Hotels | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Music for Hair Salons | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Music for Spas | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Music for Offices | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
Consumer Streaming Services in Canada
| Service | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Not legal in Canada. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Not legal in Canada. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | Not legal in Canada. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Not legal in Canada. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Not legal in Canada. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Not legal in Canada. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
Decision Checklist
- If the music is audible in a public or customer-facing area, treat it as a licensing question.
- If the source is a consumer account, check the service terms before using it in a business.
- If the music is registered repertoire, check the relevant collecting society or joint licensing scheme.
- If the music is royalty-free, keep documentation showing the catalog, subscription and rights position.
Common Misconceptions
- Paying for a personal subscription is enough.
- A personal subscription can unlock listening features, but it does not automatically grant public business playback rights.
- All royalty-free music works the same way.
- Royalty-free catalog terms vary. Businesses should keep evidence for the exact catalog and licence used.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What collecting societies operate in Canada?
- Canada has 2 collecting societies: SOCAN and Re:Sound. Both are available through the combined Entandem scheme.
- Do businesses in Canada need a music licence?
- Yes. Any business in Canada playing recorded music in a public-facing space must hold a licence from SOCAN and Re:Sound. This applies regardless of what service you use to play the music — including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or internet radio. The only exception is using music that is not registered with these societies, such as Track Studios' AI-generated catalog.
- Can businesses in Canada use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Playing Spotify in a Canada business violates these terms and may also trigger claims from SOCAN and Re:Sound. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- How can a business in Canada avoid SOCAN and Re:Sound fees?
- Use music that is not registered with SOCAN and Re:Sound. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with SOCAN and Re:Sound — venues in Canada using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
About Track Studios
What to do after researching Canada
Track Studios is a browser-based background music platform for businesses. It includes an owned royalty-free AI catalog, scheduling, announcements, Sonos-friendly stream workflows, multi-location controls and subscription documentation for active locations.
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Last reviewed: 2026-07-01