TL;DR: SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) collects performance and communication royalties when music is used in Canada — on radio, TV, streaming, live, and in venues. International artists can collect Canadian royalties through SOCAN's reciprocal agreements with their home PRO, but only if their works are correctly registered.
What Is SOCAN?
SOCAN is Canada's performing rights organization. It licenses businesses and broadcasters that use music publicly, collects the fees, and distributes royalties to songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers.
SOCAN collects when your music is:
- Streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or other services in Canada
- Played on Canadian radio (CBC, commercial stations)
- Broadcast on Canadian television
- Performed live at a licensed Canadian venue
- Used as background music in Canadian bars, restaurants, or hotels
SOCAN also acquired Entandem (formerly CMRRA-SODRAC) to handle mechanical rights, expanding its scope beyond performing rights.
Who Collects Canadian Royalties for International Artists?
If you are based in the US or another country, your home PRO likely has a reciprocal agreement with SOCAN. Under these agreements:
- SOCAN collects the Canadian performing rights royalties for plays of your works in Canada
- SOCAN remits those royalties to your home PRO (ASCAP, BMI, PRS, GEMA, etc.)
- Your PRO distributes them to you, typically 12–24 months after the qualifying performance
This system works — but only when:
- Your works are fully registered at your home PRO with correct metadata
- The ISWCs in your registration match what SOCAN's data shows
- Your PRO has a current bilateral agreement with SOCAN
What SOCAN Collects
| Royalty Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Digital streaming | Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music (Canada) |
| Terrestrial radio | CBC Radio, commercial AM/FM |
| Television | CBC, CTV, Bell Media, streaming TV |
| Live performance | Licensed venues, concert halls, festivals |
| Background music | Shops, restaurants, hotels, gyms |
| Ringtones and downloads | Digital purchases and mobile uses |
The Metadata Problem in Canadian Collections
SOCAN, like all CMOs, depends on metadata to match usage data to rights holders. The most common failures:
- ISWC mismatches: If your work's ISWC in SOCAN's system doesn't match the ISWC in streaming metadata, Canadian streams are unmatched.
- Incomplete co-writer registration: If one co-writer is registered at ASCAP but another has not registered with their PRO, only the registered share will be collected from Canada.
- Artist name inconsistencies: Slight variations in how your name is spelled across different systems can cause matching failures in SOCAN's database.
How to Register with SOCAN
If you are Canadian:
- Visit socan.com
- Create a songwriter, composer, or publisher account
- Register each of your works with all co-writer details, IPI numbers, and ISWC if available
- SOCAN will assign ISWCs to unregistered works
If you are an international artist:
- Register your works with your home PRO (ASCAP, BMI, PRS, GEMA, etc.)
- Confirm your PRO has a bilateral agreement with SOCAN (most major PROs do)
- Ensure your ISWCs are consistent and your registration metadata is accurate
- Canadian royalties will flow through your home PRO
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my US PRO automatically collect my Canadian royalties? If you are an ASCAP or BMI member with works registered, yes — they have reciprocal agreements with SOCAN and will collect and distribute Canadian royalties on your behalf. However, the royalties will only be matched if your ISWC and metadata are correct.
How long does it take to receive Canadian royalties? Expect 12–24 months from the date of the performance or stream. Canadian royalties flow through SOCAN, then to your home PRO, then to you — each transfer adds processing time.
What if my work has co-writers in different countries? Each co-writer's share flows through their home PRO. SOCAN collects the total Canadian royalties and splits them by share, forwarding each portion to the relevant CMO.
Does SOCAN collect mechanical royalties? SOCAN now handles some mechanical rights through its Entandem subsidiary, but this is distinct from its performing rights collection. Mechanical licensing in Canada remains a complex and evolving area.
Sources
- SOCAN official website, distribution and licensing information (2024)
- CISAC Global Collections Report 2024: €12.59B collected globally by all CMOs
- IFPI Global Music Report 2024