Playing music or showing films in public spaces on NSCC campuses requires a licence.
Education exceptions do not apply to public spaces or public events.
Ensuring the appropriate licences are in place is a campus responsibility. The NSCC Copyright Office and Campus Libraries provide information and support in understanding when licences are required.
A licence is required when
Exceptions: Background music from live FM radio broadcasts do not require a licence.
A student music performance on a NSCC campus does not require a licence.
Entandem: Covers both RE:SOUND and SOCAN licenses, with a single payment and one organization.There are annual licence or event licence options.
Streaming Music Business Accounts: Licence requirement built into the streaming service. Options include SiriusXM, SoundMachine, Cloudmusic etc.
Licenses are available from two vendors. Criterion Pictures and Audio Cine Films.
Criterion – Subscription access through NSCC Libraries Streaming Video collection.
Audio Cine – not included in NSCC library collection. Video with public performance rights (PPR) must be purchased
When music is played on campus in public spaces including salons, restaurants, cafés, gyms, or at special events, the appropriate licenses must be purchased. Recorded music licence coverage can also be met by purchasing a business streaming music account (licences are included).
Using Entandem, you'll receive both RE:SOUND and SOCAN licenses, with a single payment, with one organization.
Please consult the Entandem website for license details.
Educational institutions are not exempt from the tariffs imposed by SOCAN or Re:Sound.
Some limited exceptions may apply to educational institutions. See below.
Type of Music Played / License Fee
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SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) requires users of music to obtain a SOCAN licence to perform, or authorize others to perform, copyright music in public. Depending on the category a music user falls under, a license fee may be payable on a per-event or annual basis.
A licence must be obtained from SOCAN if you want to use recorded or live music for non-educational purposes like:
Tariff 15A – Background Music: http://www.socan.ca/tariff/Infocard_15A_EN.pdf
Tariff 21 – Recreational Facilities Operated by a Municipality, School, College, University, Agricultural Society or Similar Community Organizations: http://www.socan.ca/tariff/Infocard_21_EN.pdf
Other licenses may apply depending on your use, for example, playing live or recorded music at an event. A current list of all approved tariffs is available on the SOCAN website:
NSCC is required to pay SOCAN tariffs when it rents out its facilities for events that play music. If recorded music is played at these events, the organizations are also required to pay Re:Sound tariffs. The cost of SOCAN and/or Re:Sound fees can be passed onto the renter of the premises.
When music is played on campus in salons, restaurants, cafés, sport facilities, or events that fall under non-educational purposes the appropriate licenses must be purchased.
See the Entandem tab/ One Submission, Two Licences, One Payment
Re:Sound (Re:Sound Music Licensing Company, formerly known as the Neighbouring Rights Collective of Canada) is a Canadian not-for-profit music licensing company dedicated to obtaining fair compensation for artists and record companies for their performance rights.
If only live music (no recorded music) is played at an event, Re:Sound tariffs are not applicable.
The typical Re:Sound Tariffs that are most applicable to NSCC facilities and establishments include:
Tariff No. 3 – Background Music: http://www.resound.ca/en/docs/tariff-3.pdf
Tariff 6.B – Use of Recorded Music to Accompany Physical Activities: http://www.resound.ca/en/docs/tariff-6b.pdf
(e.g. fitness, skating)
A list of all currently approved (and proposed) tariffs is available on the Re:Sound website:
NSCC is required to pay Re:Sound tariffs when it rents out its facilities for events that play recorded music. The cost of the Re:Sound and SOCAN fees can be passed onto the renter of the premises.
When music is played on campus in salons, restaurants, cafés, sport facilities, or events that fall under non-educational purposes the appropriate licenses must be purchased.
You do not need to pay a license fee for:
Playing the radio [Radio performances in places other than theatres]
72.1 (1) In respect of public performances by means of any radio receiving set in any place other than a theatre that is ordinarily and regularly used for entertainments to which an admission charge is made, no royalties shall be collectable from the owner or user of the radio receiving set, but the Board shall, in so far as possible, provide for the collection in advance from radio broadcasting stations of royalties appropriate to the conditions produced by the provisions of this subsection and shall fix the amount of the same.”
