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Music Licensing for Concerts

Concerts bring music to life, creating unforgettable experiences for audiences. Live music events offer fans a chance to enjoy unique, real-time musical performances – experiences made possible by the songwriters and composers behind the music being performed at your show. To ensure that your festival, concert, or live show runs smoothly and legally, securing the right music licenses is essential. 

How to Obtain a Music License for Your Concert or Live Show 

If you plan to host an event with live music, we’ll make sure you have the right license(s) you need for a successful show. Here’s how licensing for live shows and concerts works: 

Who Needs a Music License? 

  • Businesses and organizations hosting live shows 
  • Festival organizers and promoters 
  • Concert organizers and promoters 

Which Licenses Do You Need? 

Depending on the type of live music show you are putting on, you will likely require one or more  of the following music licenses: 

  • Popular Music Concerts 
  • Classical Music Concerts 

How Much Does a Music License Cost? 

The fees for these licenses are set by the Copyright Board of Canada. We offer different types of RE:SOUND and SOCAN concert licenses, and you only pay for the music being performed. Generally, the cost is based on your ticket sales or the compensation you pay to the performers. 

Why music licensing matters:  

Getting the right music licenses like RE:SOUND and SOCAN through Entandem is essential. These licenses ensure that music creators are properly recognized and paid for their work. They let you use music legally and ethically, which helps support the music industry. Without them, business owners and operators could face legal trouble for copyright infringement.  

Get Licensed

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

I already pay the performers. Why do I have to pay Entandem?

When you pay the performers, you’re covering their performance. Performing music and creating music are two separate types of creative work, and each deserve fair compensation, even in cases where performers are also the creators of the music. More often than not a song involves multiple creators. Licensing through Entandem ensures that everyone who contributed to the songs performed gets their fair share.

Where does the money from music licenses go?

The money collected from music licenses for live concert performances is paid to the talented music creators behind the music being performed at your show or event. Performers or the event organizers submit music programs and setlists to Entandem. SOCAN then uses this information to distribute royalties to the rightful owners of the songs (whether they are from Canada or other countries).

Do I need a music license to stream a live or recorded concert online?

Yes. A music license ensures you’re streaming music legally and supporting the creators. The fees paid for streaming live or recorded concert performances go to the music creators. If you have both in-person and virtual attendees or make a recording available for streaming, you’ll need music licenses directly from SOCAN. No worries, we’ve made it easy. Just contact us at onlineconcert@socan.com, and we’ll get you covered!

The songs performed at my show are in the public domain. Do I still need to obtain a music license?

If the songs are played in their original form without any changes, you might not need to report them. Our team will check and credit events if the music is confirmed to be public domain.

Where should I send the setlist once I have the license?

Just email your setlists to us at concertsetlist@entandemlicensing.com.