Licensing Music – Who’s Who
When it comes to licensing music, there are two groups of rights holders who are usually involved:
Record companies (or the makers of sound recordings) who are represented by
AVLA (representing most English Canada record companies),
SOPROQ (representing most Quebec companies) and
Re:Sound
Songwriters/Publishers who are represented by
CMRRA,
SODRAC, CSI and
SOCAN
Depending on the use, you may need to contact one or more of these rights holders.
Below is a chart to identify the common licensing uses and the appropriate contacts.
| Reproduction of Sound Recordings (master rights) |
AVLA, SOPROQ
|
| Performance/transmission of Sound Recordings (neighbouring rights) |
Re:Sound |
| Reproduction of Musical Works (mechanical rights) |
CSI, CMRRA
|
| Performance of Musical Works |
SOCAN |
| Reproduction/performance of music video |
AVLA, SOPROQ
|
| Film or Television usage (synchronization rights) |
Individual rights holder (often the record label)
|
Common Examples:
1. Company wishes to provide background music services to retail establishments
AVLA and SOPROQ licensing required to reproduce the sound recordings for provision to the retail establishment. AVLA’s licence fees are available at
http://avla.ca/licensing/music-supply-services.aspx.
CMRRA licensing may be required for the reproduction of the musical work (composition).
SOCAN and Re:Sound licensing required to compensate authors and composers (SOCAN Tariff 16 -
https://www.socan.ca/pdf/GovCaRevisedTariffs/Tariff16.pdf) for performance of musical works and producers and performers (Re:Sound Tariff 3
http://www.cb-cda.gc.ca/tariffs-tarifs/certified-homologues/2006/20061021-m-b.pdf) for performance/transmission of sound recordings.
2. Television Station Wishes to Broadcast Music Videos
AVLA has the mandate to license music videos on behalf of SOPROQs members. An AVLA licence permits a broadcaster/producer to copy music videos for the purpose of broadcast, and to broadcast them. Licence fees are available at
http://avla.ca/licensing/television.aspx
CMRRA can issue a licence for the reproduction of the musical work (composition).
As producers of music videos have exclusive performance rights, no SOCAN or Re:Sound tariff is applicable.