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FAQ - Reproduction Rights
Reproduction Rights - General
A Reproduction Right occurs when a material copy of a musical work is made—in whole or in part—through the process of recording, manufacturing, broadcasting, or distributing a work. For example, When your work is pressed on a CD or vinyl, you are making a physical copy of it, and if this product is released by a label or distributor, you are entitled to royalties for it. You are also entitled to royalties when your musical work is distributed online or broadcast on the radio or on TV and digital or server copies are made.
SOCAN Reproduction Rights gives authorization to reproduce musical works on your behalfs by issuing reproduction licenses to businesses and digital platforms. SOCAN Reproduction Rights then collects and distributes those Reproduction Rights royalties according to the rights and territories the rightsholders authorized SOCAN to administer. To have SOCAN administer your Reproduction Rights, sign up here.
By joining SOCAN for Reproduction Rights, you can collect all the reproduction royalties you are owed from the use of your music, in Canada and abroad. Choosing SOCAN Reproduction Rights to administer both your Performing Rights and Reproduction Rights includes:
- Low and competitive fixed commission rate.
- A-la-carte administration: pick and choose the rights, the musical works, and the territory you want us to administer.
- Users (traditional, digital, and entirely new services) generally come to us first to get a license or discuss their new services.
- All major platforms are duly licensed for Reproduction Rights, alongside Performing Rights, most often as a distinct deal.
- Exclusive revenue streams in North America, especially in Audio-Visual (AV).
- International royalties via reciprocal agreements with music rights organizations around the world covering over 100 countries.
- Very high matching rate and transparency.
- SOCAN Reproduction Rights has its own portal where you can check your works and statements.
- A dedicated team with Reproduction Rights skill sets managing your rights.
- Increased value for clients as one-stop shop for your Performing Rights and Reproduction Rights.
No, not without your expressed consent. If you choose to have SOCAN Reproduction Rights administer your Reproduction Rights alongside your Performing Rights, you need to grant us permission by completing the Reproduction Rights Representation and License Agreement.
SOCAN Reproduction Rights will always follow the chain of title for all rightsholders of a work. If all your works are published, there is no need to register with SOCAN Reproduction Rights. Since SOCAN Reproduction Rights always takes direction from your publisher, all reproduction royalties will flow through that entity first, before being distributed to you. However, if you have at least one unpublished work, then you can register directly with SOCAN Reproduction Rights to collect reproduction royalties related to that work.
Yes! If the distributor is acting only as your distributor, and not as a publisher, then you can still register for reproduction rights representation. SOCAN Reproduction Rights collects royalties related to the composition, while distributors collect royalties related to the sound recording, so there will be no conflict in registering with both.
SOCAN offers flexible solutions for Reproduction Rights. You can specify which works, territories, and rights you would like us to collect. Below is the list of rights that SOCAN Reproduction Rights can administer on your behalf. They can be found in the Reproduction Rights Representation and License Agreement.
- Online Music, Including Digital Streaming, Webcasting and Limited Downloads
- Radio Broadcast Mechanical, Satellite Radio, Background Music and Pay Audio Services
- Audio-Visual (Av) Post-Synchronization
- Traditional: Specifically covers reproductions occurring in Commercial TV and Cable, satellite, and fibre TV. SOCAN has agreements in place with most Canadian French language TV stations and agreements are currently being negotiated with broadcasters across Canada.
- Digital: Specifically covers reproductions occurring in VOD (Video-on-demand) like Netflix, Crave, Illico, Apple TV+, and Amazon Video.
- Social: Includes reproductions occurring specifically on Social Networks.
- YouTube: Includes reproductions occurring on YouTube, for either their on-demand services or user generated content services.
- Private Copy
- Ministry Of Education
- Permanent Audio Downloads
- Physical Mechanicals Licensing
- Sync Administration
- Online Lyrics
- Karaoke
The commissions for new clients are as follows:
| Licensed Use | Commission |
| Online Music, Radio, Audio-Visual Post-Sync of all types and Private Copying | 7% |
| Physical Licensing, Sync Administration and all other offerings not described herein | 10% |
| Foreign Royalties | 5% |
Sync admin is a non-exclusive mandate where SOCAN Reproduction Rights issues sync licenses on your behalf after having secured your prior approval. Royalties collected are remitted twice a month. For publishers and self-published writers who are interested, SOCAN Reproduction Rights will notify you when a sync license has been requested for one of your works and help negotiate your rates as well as manage the licensing and distribution of it with your prior approval. Our sync license, fully vetted by you, will also include a reserve clause allowing the licensing and collection of Post-Sync AV mechanical licenses that SOCAN already collects with certain broadcasters and digital platforms.
Every time an audiovisual work is copied, so are the musical works embedded in it. AV Post-Sync is in addition to your sync royalties and existing Performing Rights already managed by SOCAN. It is a Reproduction Right which occurs when an Audio-Visual (AV) product is either broadcast (Commercial TV) or streamed (SVOD). Post-synchronization happens after the sync has occurred and applies to activities such as creating server copies and allowing offline streaming. SOCAN is one of the leading Canadian collectives collecting AV Post-Sync in Canada and abroad. SOCAN Reproduction Rights can help you collect post-sync royalties for your works when used in motion pictures, TV programs, and other AV entertainment content on three types of platforms:
- Traditional (commercial TV, cable)
- Digital (digital download, streaming and webcasting)
- Social (including social media)
Reproduction Rights - Membership
If you would like SOCAN Reproduction Rights to administer your Reproduction Rights for music, simply complete the Reproduction Rights Representation and Licensing Agreement. If you have any questions, contact reproduction@socan.com.
SOCAN Reproduction Rights is available to anyone that is the rightsholder of at least one musical work. If you are a publisher or self-published writer or composer, then you can have SOCAN Reproduction Rights administer your Reproduction Rights alongside your Performing Rights and benefit from having both rights under one umbrella. If you are published and have already assigned your Reproduction Rights to a publisher, SOCAN Reproduction Rights will take direction from your publisher. If you are a writer or composer and have assigned only some of your works to a publisher, you can still have SOCAN administer those works which have not been assigned.
Update or add your banking and personal information through your SOCAN online account. This information is applied to both your performing and Reproduction Rights. If you are not a SOCAN member, you must complete the Direct Deposit form and return it to reproduction@socan.com. If you do not have a Canadian bank account, please complete the Wire Transfer form and return it to reproduction@socan.com.
No. As long as you fully control your Reproduction Rights and have not assigned them to any third party, you are able to join SOCAN Reproduction Rights. That said, you may wish to create your own publishing company for fiscal or strategic reasons, and then join SOCAN Reproduction Rights under your publishing company.
You can search our represented copyright holders in our Client Repertoire Search at the following link: https://www.socanreproductionrights.com/clients/
Reproduction Rights - Repertoire
Good news! As a SOCAN member for performing rights, your catalogue is already available, and SOCAN will use that information to manage your Reproduction Rights. No need to register works twice. However, we recommend that you provide us directly with the ISRC codes associated with your works to help with matching. You can do so by filling out this simple Excel template and sending it to reproduction@socan.com.
If you do not have an online account because you are not a SOCAN member, you must provide us with a copy of your catalogue from the performing rights organization where you are represented in excel format and send to reproduction@socan.com.
ISRC codes are not required for the management of your Performance Rights but helps facilitate the identification of your audio products in Reproduction Rights. It is essential to complete this template and return it to reproduction@socan.com for any new digital products.
Be sure to update your catalogue via your SOCAN online account to include the publishing company. It is important that SOCAN Reproduction Rights is aware of any new publishing agreements by contacting reproduction@socan.com.
No. With your direction on which works you would like SOCAN to administer for Reproduction Rights, SOCAN will use data previously provided. As always, works will need to be kept up to date, new works registered and include any specific direction on Reproduction Rights. It is important that you advise SOCAN of any new or existing publishing agreements.
If, for any reason, you as the Rightsholder, no longer control certain or all musical works within your Repertoire, it is understood that the current SOCAN Reproduction Rights administration for these specific musical works will conclude OR will shift to the new rightsholder if administered by SOCAN. We invite you to discuss with your publisher the possibility of continuing to manage your reproduction rights with SOCAN - Reproduction Rights.
You can search our represented works in the Reproduction Rights repertoire Musical Works Database at following link: https://www.socanreproductionrights.com/works/
If you do not see your work reflected in your Reproduction Rights catalogue, please reach out to reproduction@socan.com and our team will ensure the missing work gets added. It is highly recommended that you let us know of any new works added to your Performing Right catalogue by providing us with the ISRC code for these works. You can do so by filling out this Excel template and sending it to reproduction@socan.com.
Reproduction Rights - Distribution
Clients can download their statement in a CSV format as well as a PDF statement summary from their client portal: https://extranet.socandroitsdereproduction.com/public/login/
SOCAN distributes reproduction royalties 4 times per year—March 15th, June 15th, September 15th, and December 15th—with the exception of synchronisation rights, which are distributed biweekly.
When reproduction royalties have been received by SOCAN you can expect to be paid according to the schedule below.
| Royalty Type | Distribution |
| Online Music | 1Q by June 15th 2Q by September 15th 3Q by December 15th 4Q by March 15th, if the license fee is received before the first of the month prior to the distribution (e.g., June 1, Sept 1, Dec 1 and March 1); if not, in the next quarter |
| Physical products | Quarterly distribution (March, June, September, and December) |
| Broadcast TV | Quarterly (different channels each quarter) |
| Broadcast Radio | Once per year |
| Sync Administration (if over $250) | Every two weeks. |
Has the work been registered? If it has, have we paid out the performance period for that usage yet? Do we have the cue sheet (if applicable) and details of the usage? Once we have these details, we can investigate any non-payment. Please contact us with all available information at reproduction@socan.com.
No. The SOCAN 50/50 Distribution Rule where a minimum of 50 percent of the total share, or shares, of any registered composition must be allocated to the writer(s) of that composition only applies to the Performing Right. For Reproduction Rights, SOCAN will always follow what the publishing agreement states.
Reproduction Rights - US & International
SOCAN has reciprocal agreements with more than 100 music rights organizations (MROs) around the world to ensure that our members and clients receive performance and reproduction royalties for the use of their work in other countries.
Yes. SOCAN administers digital Reproduction Rights through the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) and both digital and non-digital (physical) Reproduction Rights through Harry Fox Agency (HFA).
These organizations work for rightsholders to administer their digital Reproduction Rights. They negotiate Reproduction Rights deals with digital service providers and based on those deals pays royalties for the works in their catalogues. SOCAN has a working relationship with MLC and HFA on behalf of its members and clients.
Mechanical Licensing Collective is a nonprofit organization created to ensure songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers receive mechanical (reproduction) by issuing licenses to eligible streaming and download services in the United States and to distribute those royalties to stakeholders, like SOCAN, on behalf of their Reproduction Rights clients.
Harry Fox Agency is a provider of physical and digital Reproduction Rights administration, licensing, and royalty services to publishers and rights owners of musical works in the U.S. They administer the largest number of physical product licenses in the U.S.
The MLC is a US digital royalties collective. If SOCAN administers your Reproduction Rights for the United-States or for the World, you are automatically represented for the management of your US digital rights. You do not need to join MLC or any other societies. If SOCAN is not representing your Reproduction Rights for the US, contact us, to discuss how we can ensure you’re receiving all the royalties you’ve earned.
Reproduction Rights - Licensing
SOCAN administers music licenses for two types of music usage rights: Performing Rights, the public performance of recorded or live music, and Reproduction Rights, any digital or analog copies made of music. Most uses of music – usually require licensing of both rights, for which music licenses need to be legally obtained.
You’re in the right place. Visit SOCAN's licensing options or contact RRLicensing@socan.com with your questions.
It depends on the final use: our licensing agents apply different market rates in cue with the type of reproduction. Learn more about licensing
It is an authorization to reproduce or make a copy of music in digital and physical form.
Reproduction Rights - AV Post-Sync
AV Post-sync is in addition to your sync royalties and existing Performing Rights already managed by SOCAN. It is a Reproduction Right which occurs when an audio-visual product is either broadcast (Commercial TV) or streamed (SVOD). Post-synchronization happens after the sync has occurred and applies to activities such as creating server copies and allowing offline streaming. SOCAN is one of the leading Canadian collectives collecting AV Post-Sync in Canada and abroad.
AV Post-Sync is paid directly by the broadcaster or digital platform who shows the audio-visual program, unlike sync licenses which are paid by producers or music supervisors for permission to sync music to visuals for specific projects. So, you may already be receiving sync royalties, but SOCAN is best equipped to collect the AV Post-Sync and bring additional value to you.
Because you might be leaving money on the table! Whether you write music for TV or place your existing songs in TV shows – you should be collecting royalties for your Reproduction Rights in addition to your sync royalties and existing Performing Rights that are already managed by SOCAN. We were instrumental in having AV Post-Sync rights recognized in Canadian law and, more importantly, to establish a fair and significant value to it. SOCAN Reproduction Rights already has numerous deals in place and our team has more than 20 years of experience distributing audio-visual royalties for Reproduction Rights and a proven system that leverages SOCAN’s acquisition of cue sheets.
No, it is not new. It may be that you have not heard of it until now. SOCAN has been collecting AV Post-Sync domestically and abroad. We were instrumental in getting this right recognized under Canadian law, providing this AV Post -Sync royalty stream, in addition to sync revenue streams, to all our clients who have chosen us to manage this right.
All major digital video on-demand platforms and private and public broadcasters need to clear AV Post-Sync rights through SOCAN.
No. AV Post-Sync is in addition to your sync business. Sync and AV Post-Sync are two distinct revenue streams paid by different licensees. Sync occurs when a Producer or Music Supervisor requires your permission to reproduce one of your songs in a movie or TV series. AV Post-Sync occurs when such movie or TV series is streamed or broadcast, and the reproductions that are created to facilitate that broadcast, like when a server copy is created or when a memory cache copy exists to allow, for example, offline streaming. This AV Post-Sync is then paid for to SOCAN, alongside the sync right (if administered by SOCAN) and the Performing Right.
No. This is a right collected by many foreign societies with whom SOCAN already has agreements with. This does not exist in the US, though. But US rightsowners can join SOCAN to benefit from this revenue stream for uses in Canada. SOCAN is collecting this right in Canada but also all over the world where this right exists. If your work goes international and that country collects on such right, we’ve got you covered.
We have negotiated a top line rate inclusive of both Performing and Reproduction Rights in line with industry rates. The amount you will receive is based on a variety of factors with distribution based on the usage of your works by licensees.
SOCAN charges a fixed seven percent (7%) commission taken from the Domestic Gross Revenue collected. The rest goes to you, with detailed reporting. No other fee will be deducted. For international royalties, a five percent (5%) commission is applied.
AV Post-Sync is a distinct right that is different from your Performing Rights. Being a member of SOCAN for Performing Rights will not automatically allow us to administer your Reproduction Rights. You must affiliate with SOCAN Reproduction Rights specifically for AV Post-Sync by signing up with us. To sign up, complete this form.
No. AV Post-Sync is paid for directly by the broadcaster or digital platform who shows the audio-visual program, unlike sync licenses which are paid by producers or music supervisors for permission to sync music to visuals for specific projects. SOCAN is then providing AV Post-Sync royalty streams, in addition to sync revenue streams, to all its clients who have chosen us to manage these rights.
AV Post-Sync is distributed at the same time as our other distributions - on a quarterly basis. We then report on details such as production, episode, usage count, usage type and duration in your distribution statements.
SOCAN’s extensive experience with acquiring and managing cue sheets ensures that the usage reports we receive are matched to your songs and paid accordingly for each use. We also report on details such as production, episode, usage count, usage type and duration.
It all depends on your agreement, but it should not since AV Post-Sync is in addition to your sync business. These are two distinct revenue streams paid by different licensees. Our goal is to acknowledge that when audio-visual work is streamed or broadcast, reproductions are made to make that happen. These reproductions can be licensed for AV Post-Sync revenue, in addition to traditional sync revenue streams. The fact that SOCAN has concluded AV Post-Sync agreements with major streaming platforms and TV channels is recognition that this is an additional revenue stream.
It’s best to check your agreement. Every agreement is different. Therefore, it is possible that the commissioned works you create assigns all rights to the company you are working for. It’s best to have a lawyer review the terms of your agreement and provide you with advice specific to your situation. If you are under a SPACQ Agreement, SOCAN Reproduction Rights has specifically inserted a clause which allows us to collect AV Post-Sync for commissioned works on your behalf if you mandate us such right.
There should never be a buyout for a pre-existing work: you are fully entitled to provide a sync license while reserving your right to AV Post-Sync which will be paid for by the end user and not the producer.
You can affiliate with SOCAN Reproduction Rights by filling out this form. Please keep in mind that you can only affiliate if you are a member of SOCAN for Performing Rights or another performing rights organization and the rightsholder of at least one musical work. If you are a published writer, we will take direction from your Publisher. However, if you are a writer with your own self-published music, you can have SOCAN Reproduction Rights administer AV Post-Sync rights on your behalf.
Yes, absolutely! Our a la carte offer provides clients the opportunity to affiliate only for the rights they choose. The agreement can be terminated at any time with written notice and is effective at the end of the second calendar quarter following receipt of written notice.
Yes, you can still sign up with SOCAN Reproduction Rights for AV Post-Sync traditional which covers traditional television and motion pictures and AV Post-Sync digital which covers online digital platforms. Currently, SOCAN is one of the only music rights organizations in Canada that collects these rights and the only one which already matches cue sheets to usage reports. This would also bring the benefit of having this AV Post-Sync paid out alongside the performing right.
If you are a published writer/composer, SOCAN Reproduction Rights will always follow the chain of title and take direction from your publisher. We encourage you to reach out to your publisher to ask if they are collecting these rights on your behalf.
No, signing up with SOCAN for AV Post-Sync rights should not impact your current Canadian affiliation, subject to the terms of your affiliation agreement, and producers/music supervisors will not have to pay extra fees. We have direct agreements with major commercial networks, social platforms, and online streaming services who pay us directly for AV Post-Sync. AV Post -Sync is paid for directly by the broadcaster or digital platform who shows the audio-visual program, unlike sync licenses which are paid by producers/music supervisors for permission to sync music to visuals for specific projects. We provide AV Post-Sync royalty streams, in addition to sync revenue streams, to all our clients who have chosen us to manage this right. It’s an opportunity for you to earn more money for your music in film and tv.
You get paid AV Post-Sync royalties when your music is played or reproduced offline or on-demand. SOCAN distributes Performing Rights royalties and Reproduction Rights royalties four times a year.
SOCAN is one of the leading organizations in Canada that collects AV Post-Sync rights. This is a right collected by many foreign societies with whom SOCAN already has agreements with. This does not exist in the US, though. But US rightsowners can join SOCAN to benefit from this revenue stream for Canada’s uses. SOCAN is collecting this right in Canada but also all over the world. If your work goes international and that country collects on such right, we’ve got you covered.