Entandem sent you an invoice. Here's what it's actually for.
Entandem is a joint venture of SOCAN and Re:Sound that licenses music for both at once — one invoice instead of two. The invoice is correct if your venue plays music from their repertoires: radio, Spotify, commercial playlists. It's not a tax on doing business with speakers on. The question that decides everything: what is playing in your room?
The two societies behind one invoice
SOCAN collects for songwriters and publishers, Re:Sound for recordings and performers. Practically all commercial music sits in both repertoires, which is why for most venues the invoice is simply right — a small salon or café pays CAD 350–500 a year, plus a music service subscription on top (CAD 650–930 all-in). What the societies cannot do is charge for music that isn't theirs to license.
If your venue plays Oktava
The Oktava catalog is original work the service creates itself and registered with neither SOCAN nor Re:Sound. Reply to Entandem that your venue plays the Oktava catalog, attach the named certificate (QR-verifiable) and a playback log export from your dashboard. A reply template is included there.
A representative came to my venue in person
That happens — Entandem does field visits. Show the certificate on your phone or the printed copy; the QR code resolves to a live verification page with your venue's name and the certificate's validity dates. The staff memo (also in the dashboard) tells your team what to say if you're not around.
Or forward it to us
Send the invoice or letter to letters@oktava.app. We reply on the record, with the documents attached, and copy you. That's part of the subscription, not an extra.
Questions, answered
Is Entandem a government agency?
No. It's a private licensing venture of SOCAN and Re:Sound. Its invoices are legitimate for repertoire music and enforceable through the courts — which is exactly why documents matter.
I already paid this year. Can I switch now?
Yes. Licenses run their term; from the day Oktava is your only music source, the playback log documents it, and there's nothing to renew.
Does this work in Quebec?
The service works; French-language documents and pages are on the way.
This information is provided for general reference and is not legal advice.