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ARTICLE · 11 JUNE 2012

Using Music At Live Events? New Copyright Fees Apply, Retroactive To 2008

Anyone whose business includes live events in Canada – convention centres, reception halls, restaurants, hotels, sports arenas, theatres, karaoke bars and more – will soon be paying more to use recorded music.

CanadaIntellectual Property

Anyone whose business includes live events in Canada – convention centres, reception halls, restaurants, hotels, sports arenas, theatres, karaoke bars and more – will soon be paying more to use recorded music.

These venues have all paid royalties for years to SOCAN, the Canadian copyright collective representing authors, composers and publishers. If the venues use recorded (rather than live) music, they will now have to pay fees to a second collective, Re:Sound Music Licensing Company. Re:Sound is unaffiliated with SOCAN, and represents record companies and performers. The collective filed a proposed Live Events Tariff with the Copyright Board of Canada back in 2007. After several years of negotiation between Re:Sound and affected groups, and a written proceeding before the Copyright Board, the Board certified Re:Sound Tariff No. 5, Use of Music to Accompany Live Events (2008-2012) on May 26.

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