Copyright Board Passes New Tariffs on Live Events

The Copyright Board of Canada has passed new tariffs on recorded music, charging fees to live events such as conventions, karaoke bars, fairs and weddings.

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) already collect fees at from many of these events for the songwriters. This new tax will be collected for the record labels and the performers who played on the recorded piece.

The new tariff will be collected by not-for-profit organization Re:Sound. In a statement Re:Sound director of licensing, Martin Gangnier, outlined the importance music at live events "Recorded music is a vital part of the business model for many live events and, indeed, it is impossible to imagine a fashion show, festival, parade or karaoke bar without music,"

Fees for using recorded music will vary depending on the size of the audience and type of event.

For events with less than 100 people the cost is $9.25 per day which jumps to $39.33 for crowds over 500 (these fees double if there is dancing).

Karaoke bars will pay between $86.06 and $124 annually depending on how many nights of karaoke they do a week, and parades will be charged $4.39 for every float containing recorded music, with a minimum fee of $32.55 a day.

The reporting process works on the honour system, putting the onus on business owners and event organizer to tell Re:Sound how musch music they have used. There will however be a team of licensing professionals across the country to make sure rules are followed.