For online concerts and/or livestreamed events on social media and other online platforms, you may need to obtain a music license. Simply contact SOCAN at onlineconcert@socan.com, and they’ll make sure you have the right licenses for a successful show!

Due to high volume of emails, responses to your query may be delayed.

Learn more about online concerts and licenses.

MusicLicensing
What we do

Entandem simplifies licensing for Canadian businesses that use recorded and/or live music to make their business better.

Our experienced team of music and licensing professionals administer music licenses for the use of recorded and live music in public settings. These licenses are common to both RE:SOUND and SOCAN.

These licenses allow you to use music in public for your customers legally, ethically and responsibly. Songwriters, composers, record companies, music publishers and performing artists have rights under the Copyright Act to be compensated for the use of their music, which is covered by your license.

These rights holders earn royalties to make a living from their valuable work – the music that your business uses to benefit your customers and improve your bottom line.

Not only does music add great value to businesses like yours, an Entandem music license ensures music makers can keep on making great music.

Learn more
Type of
Licensing
By working with us, you can use any type of music to help build your business legally and ethically.
Moving to Entandem

Entandem is music licensing simplified.

We know you're busy. Entandem saves you time. Through Entandem, you'll receive both RE:SOUND and SOCAN licenses, with a single payment, with one organization.

By working with us, you can use any type of music to help build your business legally and ethically, while helping us to make sure that music makers receive the royalties that they have earned for their work.

Register Now
A Simplified Portal
WHAT IS ENTANDEM?

Entandem is a not-for-profit organization created by RE:SOUND and SOCAN in 2019. Our organization simplifies the licensing process for Canadian businesses that use recorded and/or live music. We deliver greater value to music users by providing a single point of contact for music licenses common to both RE:SOUND and SOCAN.

HOW DOES HAVING A MUSIC LICENSE BENEFIT MY BUSINESS, EVENT, OR ORGANIZATION?

Music is a powerful tool that can enhance your business, event, or organization in many ways. It has the power to evoke emotions, set a mood, and create an ambiance that your customers, guests, and patrons will value and return for. Studies even show that playing music can improve customer experiences and increase sales. By obtaining the necessary music licenses through Entandem, not only will you be legally compliant with copyright law, but you can also play all the music you want, while making sure those who created it are compensated for their work – the music that makes your business better.

WHO DO I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MUSIC LICENSING?

Our experienced team of music licensing professionals are here to help. You can connect with us at license@entandemdev.wpenginepowered.com or by calling 1.866.944.6223 during business hours.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE LICENSE FEES FOR MY BUSINESS, EVENT, OR ORGANIZATION?

Entandem administers various RE:SOUND and SOCAN tariffs and music licenses. The fee payable is based on how music is used in public settings. Fees for using music are approved through the Copyright Board of Canada’s tariff-setting process. (See tariffs approved by the Copyright Board of Canada here: https://cb-cda.gc.ca/en/about-us/mandate-jurisdiction-role.)  Each tariff has clearly defined parameters and criteria to ensure fair and equitable licensing administration and compensation for music creators. Some music licenses are administered annually or quarterly, while others are on a per-event basis.

I SUBSCRIBE TO A DIGITAL STREAMING SERVICE AND USE THAT MUSIC IN MY BUSINESS. DO I STILL NEED RE:SOUND AND SOCAN MUSIC LICENSES THROUGH ENTANDEM ?

Yes, in most cases.  An individual subscription to a streaming service is for personal use only. If the music from the streaming service is used in a public or commercial setting, then public performance licenses are needed. We can help you determine the right RE:SOUND and SOCAN music licenses for your business, event, or organization based on how you use music.

HOW DO I OBTAIN A MUSIC LICENSE?

Simply register with Entandem by creating an account online. Once your account is created, you can indicate how music is used in your business, event, or organization and provide additional necessary information to obtain your music licenses. To get started, click here. You can also connect by calling 1.866.944.6223 or email license@entandemdev.wpenginepowered.com.

WHAT MUSIC LICENSES DOES ENTANDEM ADMINISTER?

Entandem administers RE:SOUND and SOCAN tariffs and music licenses. These licenses provide businesses and organizations the legal permission to use copyright-protected music in a public setting. There are two types of music rights administered by Entandem on behalf of RE:SOUND and SOCAN. 

SOCAN Performing Rights Music Licenses: These licenses are granted with respect to musical works and the fees compensate composers, authors, songwriters, and publishers for live and recorded public performances of their works.

RE:SOUND Public Performance Music Tariffs: These tariffs apply to public performances of sound recordings of musical works and the fees compensate performing artists, musicians and record labels that perform on and own those recordings.

DOES ENTANDEM ADMINISTER LICENSING FOR MUSIC USED ONLINE?

Entandem administers RE:SOUND and SOCAN tariffs and music licenses for uses in public settings such as restaurants, bars, hotels, fitness studios, retail stores, event and recreational spaces, etc. We also administer licensing for in-person and online live music events such as concerts and festivals. All other licenses such as those for music used in TV broadcasts, streaming services, traditional and online radio broadcasts, podcasts, etc. are administered directly by RE:SOUND and SOCAN.

WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVENTS REQUIRE A MUSIC LICENSE?

When recorded and/or live music is used in any public setting, a music license is required. Whether that’s background music playing or being performed by live performers in a retail space, restaurant or bar, DJs playing in a nightclub, music at a fitness studio, or music at a function, live concert/festival, or at a sports event, a music license is legally required, and we make it simple for you to obtain it.

IF I DON’T USE CANADIAN-MADE MUSIC, DO I STILL HAVE TO GET A MUSIC LICENSE?

Yes. Entandem administers public performance licenses on behalf of RE:SOUND and SOCAN, each of which represents the public performance rights in virtually all copyright-protected music used in Canada, not just Canadian-made music. Royalties collected by each organization for performances in Canada of music made by non-Canadians are distributed to their creators through reciprocal agreements each organization (or in RE:SOUND’S case, its member organizations) has with affiliated societies around the world.

WHAT IF I SUSPECT A BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION IS USING MUSIC WITHOUT A LICENSE?

Entandem welcomes any information about music usage by a business or organization. Feel free to contact Entandem at info@entandemdev.wpenginepowered.com.

DO I NEED BOTH RE:SOUND AND SOCAN MUSIC LICENSES FOR CONCERTS AND LIVE PERFORMANCES?

Entandem administers licenses for music performed at live concerts, shows and festivals on behalf of SOCAN. If recorded music is also used as ambiance, in the background or to complement the live show, then a RE:SOUND music license is also required. You can obtain both RE:SOUND and SOCAN music licenses through Entandem.

DO I NEED A MUSIC LICENSE TO STREAM A LIVE OR RECORDED CONCERT ONLINE??

Yes. A music license ensures that you’re streaming music legally and ethically while supporting music creators. The license fees paid to Entandem for the streaming of live and/or recorded performances compensate music creators. If you plan to host both in-person attendees and virtual attendees at your event, and/or make a recording of your event available for streaming afterward, you’ll require music licenses. But don’t worry, we’ve made it easy for you. Simply connect with us at onlineconcert@socan.com, and we’ll make sure you have the licenses required to pull off a successful show!

HOW ARE PERFORMANCE ROYALTIES DISTRIBUTED FOR CONCERTS?

License fees collected for live concert performances are distributed to the rights holders of the music performed at the show.  Music programs and setlists are submitted to SOCAN by artists and their representatives, which are then used by SOCAN to distribute the royalties to the applicable rights holders (whether domestic or international creators). If you’d like to submit a setlist for a performance at your show, please email it to concertsetlist@entandemdev.wpenginepowered.com.

FAQ
The Entandem music licensing website is NOW LIVE!

We’re excited to show you how Entandem music licensing can make things easier for your organization. For questions or comments, send us a message and we’ll get back to you shortly.

Ready to get started? Register now.

Get in Touch