What background music really costs a Canadian venue
Two societies, one invoice, plus a subscription: a small venue pays about CAD 220–350 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 764 a year (licences + a music service).
With Oktava: CAD 250 a year. That's the whole bill.
You keep about CAD 514 a year.
SOCAN Tariff 15.A: CAD 232 a year (the 2025–2027 proposed rate). Re:Sound Tariff 3.B: about CAD 111.76 a year (by area, 365 days, at the 2020 approved rate). 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 as proposed for 2025–2027 — still pending before the Copyright Board of Canada (the last approved 15.A, for 2012–2019, is CAD 1.23/m² with a CAD 94.51 minimum) — and Re:Sound Tariff 3.B (2016–2020), approved in 2021, at its 2020 rates; service price from Soundtrack Your Brand. Rates checked: August 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 (proposed 2025–2027) | SOCAN Tariff 15.A (2025–2027, proposed) |
| SOCAN 15.A — minimum annual fee | CAD 177.99 (proposed 2025–2027) | SOCAN Tariff 15.A (2025–2027, proposed) |
| SOCAN 15.A — seasonal (under 6 months/year) | 50% of the annual rate | SOCAN Tariff 15.A (2025–2027, proposed) |
| Re:Sound 3.B — per attendee | 0.098¢ (CAD 0.00098) per attendee | Re:Sound Tariff 3.B (2016–2020, approved 2021) |
| Re:Sound 3.B — by capacity | 0.1836¢ (CAD 0.001836) × capacity × operating days | Re:Sound Tariff 3.B (2016–2020, approved 2021) |
| Re:Sound 3.B — by area | 0.3062¢ (CAD 0.003062) × m² × operating days | Re:Sound Tariff 3.B (2016–2020, approved 2021) |
| Re:Sound 3.B — flat rate | CAD 52.45 (minimum in all cases: CAD 35 a year) | Re:Sound Tariff 3.B (2016–2020, approved 2021) |
Both tariffs are billed together through Entandem — one invoice, split between the societies. The SOCAN figures are its proposed 2025–2027 rates, still pending before the Copyright Board of Canada (the last approved 15.A, for 2012–2019, is CAD 1.23/m² with a CAD 94.51 minimum). The Re:Sound figures are the 2020 rates of Tariff 3.B (2016–2020), approved in 2021, with a CAD 35 annual minimum per establishment; its 2021–2026 continuation is still before the Board.
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?
They are the societies' official figures, with their status stated honestly. The SOCAN rate is from Tariff 15.A as proposed for 2025–2027 — the proposal is still before the Copyright Board of Canada, and the last approved 15.A (2012–2019) is CAD 1.23/m² with a CAD 94.51 minimum. The Re:Sound rates are from Tariff 3.B (2016–2020), approved by the Board in 2021, at its 2020 rates; the 2021–2026 continuation is still pending. Both sources are linked under the calculator, and when the Board approves 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.