What background music really costs a Canadian venue
Two societies, one invoice, plus a subscription: a small venue pays CAD 350–500 a year to SOCAN and Re:Sound through Entandem, and CAD 300–430 for a licensed music service on top. This page breaks the numbers down and counts the alternative.
Right now: about CAD 970 a year (licences + a music service).
With Oktava: CAD 250 a year. That's the whole bill.
You keep about CAD 720 a year.
SOCAN Tariff 15.A: CAD 232 a year. Re:Sound Tariff 3.B: about CAD 318 a year (by capacity, 365 days). A licensed music service on top: CAD 420 a year (Soundtrack Your Brand Essential).
SOCAN and Re:Sound tariffs are federal — the province doesn't change the rate.
Rates: SOCAN Tariff 15.A (2025–2027) and Re:Sound Tariff 3.B (2023–2026), certified by the Copyright Board of Canada; service price from Soundtrack Your Brand. Rates checked: July 2026. Updated whenever the tariffs are revised.
The table behind the calculator
| Category | Annual rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| SOCAN 15.A — per square metre | CAD 2.32 / m² | SOCAN Tariff 15.A (2025–2027) |
| SOCAN 15.A — minimum annual fee | CAD 177.99 | SOCAN Tariff 15.A (2025–2027) |
| SOCAN 15.A — seasonal (under 6 months/year) | 50% of the annual rate | SOCAN Tariff 15.A (2025–2027) |
| Re:Sound 3.B — per attendee | CAD 0.0931 per attendee | Re:Sound Tariff 3.B (2023–2026) |
| Re:Sound 3.B — by capacity | CAD 0.01745 × capacity × operating days | Re:Sound Tariff 3.B (2023–2026) |
| Re:Sound 3.B — by area | CAD 0.2910 × m² × operating days | Re:Sound Tariff 3.B (2023–2026) |
| Re:Sound 3.B — flat rate | CAD 49.85 | Re:Sound Tariff 3.B (2023–2026) |
Both tariffs are certified by the Copyright Board of Canada and billed together through Entandem — one invoice, split between the societies.
Why Oktava isn't in these tables
SOCAN and Re:Sound license music from their repertoires, and the Copyright Board tariffs above price access to those repertoires. The Oktava catalog is original work the service creates itself and registered with neither society, so there is no tariff line for it: for our catalog, there is nothing for Entandem to bill. The named certificate and the playback log in your dashboard document exactly that.
The scope matters. If you also play radio, Spotify or live music, the tariffs still apply to that — the exemption is about what's actually playing, not about your venue as such. Many venues keep it simple: Oktava on the speakers, nothing else.
Questions, answered
Are these the societies' real numbers?
Yes — SOCAN Tariff 15.A and Re:Sound Tariff 3.B as certified by the Copyright Board of Canada, linked under the calculator with the tariff periods. When the Board certifies new rates, this page is updated.
What's the catch with "outside the repertoire"?
The promise is catalogue-scoped: no license is needed for the Oktava catalog, because it's registered with neither SOCAN nor Re:Sound. The moment radio or Spotify comes on, the tariffs apply again. Your playback log shows which of the two is true in your room.
Why does the invoice come from Entandem, not SOCAN?
Entandem is a joint venture that bills for SOCAN and Re:Sound at once — one invoice instead of two, split between the societies. Got one? See our page on what an Entandem invoice actually means.
This information is provided for general reference and is not legal advice.