What is SOCAN?

SOCAN, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, licenses rights in musical works for songwriters, composers and music publishers.

Its licences can cover public performance and reproduction of live or recorded music, depending on the use. For ordinary business playback in Canada, the common route is often a SOCAN licence administered through Entandem.

See the official SOCAN music licensing page for the current business routes.

You do not need a separate SOCAN licence if you only use MelloJam

If your business plays only MelloJam music through the MelloJam player, you are not using music from the repertoire covered by SOCAN's licensing route. MelloJam's original catalogue and the commercial playback rights it controls are included in your MelloJam plan, so you do not need a separate licence from SOCAN for the MelloJam playback itself.

A separate non-waivable venue charge can still apply where local law imposes one. Radio, television, Spotify, other recordings, live music, DJs, events, copying and online use are outside the MelloJam plan.

Back to all SOCAN licensing questions.