Dear Editor,

If I don’t use Canadian music, do I still have to get a SOCAN licence?

– SOCAN Licensee

Dear SOCAN Licensee,

Yes, a SOCAN licence gives you permission to use copyright-protected musical works from anywhere around the world. Through agreements with international performing rights organizations (PROs), SOCAN issues licences for all music used in public by businesses in Canada, no matter to which PRO the creators belong. SOCAN then transfers the corresponding monies to the appropriate society, and vice versa.

– Editor