SOCAN
Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada
Canada's sole performance rights organization, collecting royalties across the world's 7th-largest music market.
About SOCAN
SOCAN is the sole Performance Rights Organization in Canada, formed in 1990 from the merger of CAPAC and PROCAN. It represents over 180,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers.
Canada is the world's 7th-largest music market with close cultural and commercial ties to the United States. SOCAN collects performance royalties from Canadian broadcasters, streaming services, live venues, and businesses that use music publicly.
For mechanical royalties, SOCAN works alongside CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency). Together they cover the full spectrum of publishing royalties in Canada.
What SOCAN collects
Broadcast performance
Royalties from Canadian radio, television, and satellite broadcasters for on-air music use.
Digital performance
Streaming royalties from Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other digital services operating in Canada.
Public performance
Licensing fees from venues, restaurants, retail stores, and live events that play music publicly.
How SOCAN works
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01
Canadian performance licensing
SOCAN is the sole organization authorized to license public performances of music in Canada — broadcast, digital, live, and business use.
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02
Monitoring
SOCAN uses broadcast monitoring, digital platform data, and venue reporting to track music performances across Canada.
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03
Quarterly distribution
SOCAN distributes performance royalties quarterly to members and to international rights holders through reciprocal agreements.
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04
CMRRA partnership
For mechanical royalties in Canada, SOCAN works alongside CMRRA, which handles mechanical licensing and collection.
Why SOCAN matters for songwriters
- Canadian songwriters: register directly at socan.com.
- US and international songwriters: your PRO's reciprocal agreement covers Canadian royalties, but payments can take 12–24 months.
- For faster collection, a publishing administrator can register directly with SOCAN on your behalf.
- CMRRA handles mechanical royalties separately — don't forget to register there too.
Frequently asked questions about SOCAN
Do I need SOCAN if I'm an American songwriter?
No — your US PRO has a reciprocal agreement with SOCAN. Canadian performance royalties for your songs will route to you through ASCAP or BMI. A publishing admin can expedite this with direct registration, typically shaving 12–18 months off the payment timeline.
What about Canadian mechanical royalties?
SOCAN handles performance royalties. CMRRA handles mechanical royalties in Canada. Your publishing administrator should register with both for complete Canadian collection.
How long does it take to receive SOCAN royalties?
SOCAN distributes quarterly. Direct members typically see payments 3–6 months after usage. For international songwriters collecting through reciprocals, it's usually 12–18 months unless your admin has a direct relationship with SOCAN.
Does SOCAN cover streaming?
Yes — SOCAN collects the performance component of streaming royalties in Canada from services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. The mechanical component is collected separately by CMRRA.
Collect your Canada royalties automatically.
JukeHouse registers your songs directly with SOCAN and 60+ other collection societies worldwide — ensuring you collect every royalty you're owed from Canada and beyond.