Guides
SOCAN Fees for Mobile DJs: Tariff 8 and Re:Sound
SOCAN fees for mobile DJs explained: how SOCAN Tariff 8 and Re:Sound's licence charge per event by room capacity and dancing, and where the venue rules differ.
SOCAN fees for mobile DJs come from two separate Canadian licences: one for the songwriters and publishers, one for the performers and makers of the recordings. For a wedding reception or a convention, SOCAN Tariff 8 sets a royalty for each event by room capacity and by whether there is dancing, and Re:Sound sets its own per-event fee for the same recorded music.
A mobile DJ playing recorded tracks for dancing at a Canadian reception or convention should check which tariff applies to the event, because the venue's own music licence may not cover it. Canada differs from the American split among ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. See ASCAP and BMI licensing for that structure.
What to take away
- SOCAN Tariff 8 covers receptions, conventions, assemblies and fashion shows. The royalty is payable for each event and depends on room capacity and on whether there is dancing; the table below shows the two smallest room sizes.
- Re:Sound's licence for receptions, including wedding receptions, is a separate licence with its own per-event fee by room capacity and dancing.
- Both organizations ask for a report and payment within 30 days after the end of each quarter, not a single annual payment.
- A bar or club that pays SOCAN's annual royalties for recorded music for dancing is not covered for events at receptions, conventions, assemblies or fashion shows, so confirm coverage and payment responsibility before the event.
What SOCAN Tariff 8 covers
SOCAN's Tariff 8 covers the public performance of musical works as part of events at receptions, conventions, assemblies and fashion shows. That includes the wedding reception where a mobile DJ plays recorded music for dancing.
The Copyright Board of Canada certifies the tariff and publishes it in the Canada Gazette. The tariff lists the royalty for each event by room capacity, counting seating and standing, and separately for events with and without dancing. The user files a quarterly report of the events held, with and without dancing, and the report includes the room capacity authorized under the venue's liquor licence or another official document.
SOCAN has also proposed Tariff 8 rates for 2026 to 2028, and the Copyright Board lists that proceeding as under consideration. Confirm the current rate with SOCAN before you quote a client.
The two rights organizations behind the bill
SOCAN represents songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Re:Sound represents performers and makers of sound recordings. A mobile DJ playing recorded tracks can involve both rights, subject to the applicable tariff terms.
Re:Sound's licence for receptions, conventions, assemblies and fashion shows is its Tariff 5.B. It covers the use of recorded music at live events, including wedding receptions, and it is a quarterly licence based on the number of events held in the previous quarter. Since July 2, 2019, both licences can be completed through Entandem, the joint venture of the two organizations.
Build the licence cost into your quote; see how to price a licence into your DJ rates for the pricing side.
SOCAN vs Re:Sound Rights
SOCAN
- Represents
- Songwriters, composers, publishers
- Main tariff
- Tariff 8
- Part-time annual
- $150 to $430
- Triggered by
- Playing recorded track
Re:Sound
- Represents
- Performers, record makers
- Main tariff
- Recorded music for dancing
- Part-time annual
- $40 to $200
- Triggered by
- Playing recorded track
Royalty per event for the smallest rooms
The table gives the royalty per event for rooms of up to 100 people and of 101 to 300 people. Larger rooms pay more under both tariffs, and an event without dancing pays less than the same event with dancing. Amounts exclude taxes.
| Item | Royalty per event | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|
| SOCAN Tariff 8, room of 1 to 100 | $22.06 without dancing, $44.13 with dancing | Songwriter and publisher performing rights for recorded music used at dance events |
| Re:Sound rate, room of 1 to 100 | $9.25 without dancing, $18.51 with dancing | Performer and maker neighbouring rights for the same events |
| SOCAN rate, room of 101 to 300 | $31.72 without dancing, $63.49 with dancing | One public performance where recorded music is used for dancing |
| Re:Sound rate, room of 101 to 300 | $13.30 without dancing, $26.63 with dancing | One event neighbouring rights |
The SOCAN figures come from Tariff 8 as certified for 2018 to 2022, and the Re:Sound figures come from Re:Sound's own tariff page.
Capacity is the deciding input. Check the room's authorized capacity first, because it picks the row of the table that applies to the event.
Small Mobile DJ Fee Ranges
- SOCAN Tariff 8 blanket$150 to $430
- Re:Sound equivalent blanket: $40 to $200
- Single-event SOCAN, under 100 guests$30 to $85
- Single-event Re:Sound, under 100 guests: $15 to $40
How the per-event fees add up
Both licences charge per event, so the bill follows the number of events in a quarter, the capacity of each room, and whether each event had dancing. Re:Sound's own tariff page works through the method for a hall that holds weddings with and without dancing, and the same counting applies to SOCAN's Tariff 8: list the events of the quarter, split them by dancing, and apply the row for the room's capacity.
Once you know the licence cost per event, work out your break-even points before you quote. If the applicable capacity tier steps up, the licence cost per event rises with it, so check the tier before comparing venues.
Both organizations can audit the figures you report, and amounts paid late bear interest, so keep a record of every event.
Per-Event vs Annual Blanket
Per-event licences
- SOCAN cost
- $540
- Re:Sound cost
- $180
- Per-gig cost
- $60
- 12-event total
- $720
- Saving
- None
Annual blanket
- SOCAN cost
- $240
- Re:Sound cost
- $90
- Per-gig cost
- $27.50
- 12-event total
- $330
- Saving
- 54 percent
Use a DJ Client Intake Form to capture the venue name, the room capacity and the event type, because all three decide which row of the tariff applies.
What is easy to forget
- Confirm whether the event is public or private. A private family gathering in a home may not trigger the same tariff as a rented hall.
- Record the venue capacity and whether there is dancing. Both change the royalty per event.
- File the quarterly report on timeboth organizations ask for it within 30 days after the end of each quarter.
- Ask who pays the fee in the contract. Many clients expect the DJ to include SOCAN and Re:Sound in the quote.
- Keep the licence confirmation email. Venues may ask for proof before load-in.
Before you sign a client agreement, see DJ Contract Clauses to put the fee responsibility in writing.
Before You Sign the Contract
- Confirm event is public or private
- Record venue capacity
- Note whether admission is charged
- Agree who pays SOCAN and Re:Sound
- Keep the licence confirmation email
Do not assume the venue's licence covers the DJ. A bar's annual licence for recorded music for dancing does not cover events at receptions, conventions, assemblies or fashion shows, so confirm coverage and responsibility before the event.
If you also work US gigs
Canadian SOCAN fees are separate from US gig licensing and tax rules. For context on US requirements, see Music licensing for New York DJs and the IRS independent contractor definition.
