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Canada music licensing for business

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Why your business needs special music licensing

Playing music in your business, whether it’s a shop, café, salon, or office, requires more than just a personal music streaming account. In Canada, using music in a commercial setting mandates specific licences to ensure legal compliance. These licences protect the creators, performers, and rights holders whose work contributes to your business ambiance.

For a complete overview, visit our guide to commercial music licensing for business.

Music licensing requirements for businesses in Canada

Why you can't use personal streaming services

There’s an important legal distinction between personal and business music use. Consumer streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music are only licensed for individual, private enjoyment. Playing music from these platforms in public or commercial environments is considered a public performance and requires separate licensing.

Using a personal streaming service in your business could expose you to legal action, including fines and copyright infringement lawsuits. Canadian performance rights organizations (PROs) actively monitor compliance to ensure that music creators are compensated.

Understanding music licensing in Canada

Types of music rights

Business owners must account for these key music rights:

✔ Recording rights: The right to use a particular artist's recorded performance.

✔ Publishing rights: The right to use the underlying composition, lyrics, and melody.

✔ Public performance rights: The right to play music in public or commercial spaces. This is managed by Canadian PROs.

Canadian Performance Rights Organizations

In Canada, two main PROs manage music licensing for businesses:

✔ SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada)

Covers the rights of composers, songwriters, and music publishers for public performance and communication of musical works.

✔ Re:Sound

Represents performers and record labels, focusing on the rights to recorded music played in public settings.

Feature SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) Re:Sound
Rights Covered Songwriters, composers, publishers (compositions) Performers, labels (sound recordings)
Members 175,000+ music creators and publishers Thousands of artists and record companies
Licence Needed SOCAN licence Re:Sound licence
Notable Role Music compositions in public (live and recorded) Recorded music in public

Businesses typically need to secure licences from both organizations to ensure legal coverage no matter the source or use of the music.

Why businesses need multiple rights

No single organization covers every work or right. Having licences from both SOCAN and Re:Sound means your business is covered for virtually all commercially available music. Additional licences may be required for live events, karaoke, or playing music outside standard catalogs.

Canadian copyright law for music licensing

Under the Canadian Copyright Act, playing music in a public setting without the correct licence is copyright infringement. Purchasing or streaming music for personal use doesn’t cover business use. Public performance licences are mandatory unless you only play royalty-free music or works that are out of copyright.

How to licence music for commercial use in Canada

Option 1: obtain licences from SOCAN and Re:Sound

A combined approach covers both composition and recording rights for commercial music use. The cost depends on your business type, square footage, number of locations, and intended use of music (background, live, etc.).

Understanding PRO licensing costs in Canada

Licensing music for commercial use can be expensive and confusing when dealing directly with SOCAN and Re:Sound.

✔ SOCAN: licences for background music in small retail stores or restaurants generally start in the range of CAD $150–$200/year per location, depending on factors like square footage and music use. SOCAN fees can increase significantly for larger venues or businesses with live music, performances, or dance floors.

✔ Re:Sound: In Canada, Re:Sound costs are typically paid alongside SOCAN to cover rights to recorded music. Annual licensing fees depend on the size and use of your business space. Most small businesses pay between CAD $140 and $300 per year, though costs may rise for larger venues or those playing music more prominently. Re:Sound’s background music tariffs scale with your business type, square footage, and how music is used.

Even before purchasing a music platform or hardware, managing compliance with these licences can be a significant yearly expense.

Option 2: use a licenced commercial music service like SoundMachine

SoundMachine removes complexity by offering fully licensed background music for business through a single subscription. All public performance rights from SOCAN and Re:Sound are included, so you can confidently focus on your business, while benefiting from substantial cost savings compared to managing separate licences.

Key benefits

✔ All-in-one licensing - Coverage includes both SOCAN and Re:Sound requirements for commercial music use.

✔ Substantial cost savings - Our annual licence, which includes all required Canadian public performance rights, is available for around CAD $400 per year. This offers a significant reduction in cost compared to managing separate licences directly through SOCAN and Re:Sound.

✔ Curated stations and custom playlists - Choose expertly programmed stations or design personalized playlists to match your brand.

✔ Playlist importing - Program music to change with the time of day or occasion.

✔ Scheduling tools - Seamlessly import playlists from major services like Spotify or Apple Music to maintain consistency with your brand’s existing sound.

✔ Multi-location control - Manage music for all locations from a single dashboard.

✔ Integration with professional audio systems - Seamless compatibility with Sonos, Crestron, and leading systems.

✔ Ad-free streaming - Uninterrupted music for your business environment.

✔ Customizable branding - Add custom messages or announcements within your music stream.

How to get licensed music for your business in Canada

Start a free trial

Try SoundMachine free for 14 days with no upfront commitment. Experience how easy it is to stream fully licensed music in your business, no credit card required to get started.

Choose the right plan

SoundMachine offers flexible plans to suit businesses of all sizes:

✔ Business - Perfect for single-location businesses in need of a dependable and professional background music solution. This plan offers access to curated stations and essential scheduling tools, making it easy to set the right atmosphere with minimal effort.

✔ Business Premium - Tailored for businesses seeking greater control over their music. This plan gives access to the entire music library, over 500 curated stations, and advanced features like playlist importing from Spotify and Apple Music. Customers can upgrade to Business Premium HD for high-definition audio streaming if superior sound quality is a priority.

✔ Enterprise - Designed for large or multi-location businesses, the Enterprise plan offers all the features of Business Premium, including complete control, scalability, and centralised management tools. The standout feature is the ability to create fully customised playlists that reflect your brand’s identity, alongside enhanced support for more complex requirements. This includes priority assistance and dedicated account management, making it the perfect solution for businesses that require a tailored music strategy and expert service across multiple locations.

Pricing is based on factors such as your business size, number of locations, licensing requirements, and feature preferences.

Set up your playback system

You can access SoundMachine via desktop or mobile apps, through dedicated hardware, or using compatible third-party devices. Integration is straightforward whether you’re playing music from a tablet behind the counter, a Sonos speaker, or a full professional audio system. SoundMachine works seamlessly across a range of platforms to suit your setup and scale.

Customize and schedule your sound

Use built-in tools to create a schedule that matches your business hours, customer flow, and atmosphere. You can build different sound profiles for different times of day or customize the sound by zone within a single location.

How SoundMachine simplifies Canadian music licensing

SoundMachine streamlines the licensing process by bundling all required Canadian rights into one subscription, tailored for background music. This means:

✔ Single subscription: Handle all licensing needs through one service.

✔ Full legal coverage: Your business is fully compliant for background music in commercial spaces.

✔ Substantial cost savings By consolidating SOCAN and Re:Sound coverage into one plan, SoundMachine helps your business avoid the higher costs of managing separate licences.

✔ Comprehensive platform: Access curated stations, schedule playlists, and integrate with pro-audio systems like Sonos and Crestron.

✔ Multi-location management: Oversee licensing and music across your entire organization through one easy dashboard.

Why Canadian businesses choose SoundMachine

SoundMachine offers a practical alternative for business owners who want a fully compliant music solution without the complexity. By bundling all required licences into one subscription and pairing them with robust features, SoundMachine allows Canadian businesses to focus on what matters, creating the right ambiance and staying legally protected.

If you're using music to shape your customer experience, keep employees engaged, or reinforce your brand identity, SoundMachine provides the tools to do it legally and effortlessly.

Make music work for your business in Canada

Navigating Canadian music licensing doesn’t have to be difficult. SoundMachine provides a fully licensed, all-in-one solution that’s designed for commercial spaces and simple to manage.

With curated playlists, customizable scheduling, and centralized control across multiple locations, it’s built to match your atmosphere and support your brand identity.

Looking for a legal, streamlined way to play music in your business? Reach out to our team or start your 14-day free trial today. We’ll help you create the right sound, without the compliance headaches.