Music licences for restaurants and bars in Canada: SOCAN, Re:Sound and what you pay for

Music sets the mood in a restaurant, and in Canada it comes with a licence requirement that surprises many owners. Playing music for customers is a public performance under copyright law, and the people who made the music are entitled to be paid for it. In practice that means paying licence fees to the organizations that collect on their behalf. Know who they are and how the system works, and you can set up your licences once and play music with a clear conscience. Tariffs change, so confirm the current terms with the organizations and the Copyright Board of Canada.

Which organizations license music in a Canadian restaurant?

There are two main collectives:

• SOCAN represents the composers, lyricists and music publishers. Its licence covers the rights in the songs themselves.
• Re:Sound represents the performers and record labels. Its licence covers the rights in the recorded performances and sound recordings.

For recorded music played in a restaurant or bar, you generally need both. They are separate bills for separate rights. Other collectives may be involved for particular uses, such as live music, so ask when you are setting up.

Why is your own streaming account not enough?

Consumer subscriptions to music services are generally for personal, private listening. Their terms commonly say the service cannot be used to play music to the public in a business. Check the terms of your account. Businesses can use services designed for commercial use, which include the licensing for public performance in some form, or they can use their own playlists and pay the collectives. Do not assume that paying for a subscription covers your dining room.

How are the fees set?

Fees come from tariffs. A collective files a proposed tariff with the Copyright Board of Canada, which reviews it, hears from the industry, and certifies the final tariff. Restaurants Canada and other industry bodies take part in those hearings and have objected to proposed tariffs. The fee for your business depends on the kind of use: background music, live music, recorded music for dancing, karaoke and so on, and on factors such as the size of your premises or your number of seats.

Tariffs run for set periods, and several are pending or under review, including proposed Re:Sound and SOCAN tariffs for 2026 onward. The Board's website lists the current and proposed tariffs. Because a tariff can be certified after its period begins, fees for earlier years can be adjusted later. Ask the collectives how they handle this.

What kinds of use are covered by different tariffs?

• Background music in a restaurant, café or bar.
• Live music, where a performer plays songs by other writers.
• Recorded music for dancing, at a business where customers dance.
• Karaoke.
• Television and radio played in the dining room, which have their own rules.

If you change how you use music, for example by adding a live night or a dance floor, tell the collectives and check which tariff applies.

What does it cost?

Fees vary by tariff and by the size of your business. They are usually modest for a small café with background music, and higher for a late-night bar with dancing. Ask each organization for a quote based on your seats, hours and type of use, and compare it with what you expect to pay each year. Budget for it like a utility.

How do you get licensed?

1. List how you use music: background, live, dancing, TV.
2. Contact SOCAN and Re:Sound, or use the application forms on their websites.
3. Provide your details: address, seats, hours and use.
4. Keep your licence documents with your other business paperwork.
5. Renew each period, and update them if your business changes.

If you are unlicensed, the organizations may contact you. Respond, as unpaid fees can lead to legal action and higher costs.

Are there alternatives?

• Music made for commercial use, from services that include licensing, with a clear statement on what they cover.
• Royalty-free or public domain music, which needs careful checking, since the rights in a recording can differ from the rights in a song.
• Silence, or ambient sound, which some owners choose.
• Live performers who perform their own songs, where the rights may sit with them. Ask them about their arrangements.

What if you only play music at an event?

A one-off event may be covered by the tariff for that kind of use or by a short-term licence. Ask the collectives before the event.

What should you tell your staff?

Staff should know not to play personal playlists from a phone on the dining room speakers unless you have confirmed the licensing. Put the rule in your staff guide. One person should own the music setup, so that it does not drift.

More guides for your business:

• Writing a restaurant cancellation and no-show policy: wording that holds up in BC and Ontario
• Selling food at farmers markets in Ontario and BC: vendor rules, health approval and common mistakes
• Starting a catering business in Ontario or BC: kitchen approval, permits and insurance

More in the Canadian guides for food businesses.