NOTICE OF GROUNDS FOR PROPOSED TARIFF Filed with the Copyright Board by CMRRA, SOCAN, CONNECT/Panorama, and Artisti (the “Collectives”) on 2025-10-21 pursuant to Rule 15 of Copyright Board Rules of Practice and Procedure
COMMERCIAL RADIO REPRODUCTION TARIFF (CMRRA, SOCAN, CONNECT/PANORAMA, AND ARTISTI: 2027-2029)
1. Description and examples of the activities covered by the proposed tariff. The Tariff applies to commercial radio stations. It covers the reproduction by a station, in connection with its over-the-air broadcasting operations, of musical works in the repertoire of CMRRA or SOCAN, sound recordings in the repertoire of CONNECT or Panorama (formerly doing business as SOPROQ), and performers’ performances in the repertoire of Artisti. It also covers reproduction of musical works in the repertoires of CMRRA or SOCAN via simulcasting, and the authorization of a person to reproduce a musical work or performer’s performance for the purpose of delivering it to the station for the foregoing permitted purposes. The Tariff does not authorize the use of any such reproductions in association with a product, service, cause or institution.
2. Description of the group of users that are intended to be covered by the proposed tariff.
The Tariff applies only to commercial radio stations. Similar to the Commercial Radio Reproduction Tariffs for 2020-2023 and 2024-2026, the Tariff distinguishes between French-language stations and non-French-language stations. That distinction does not affect the total combined royalty obligations of any station. It is relevant only to the allocation of the royalties payable by a station as among certain Collectives. Schedule A to the Tariff contains a list of the French-language stations based on information currently available to the Collectives. The Collectives will request that the Board confirm that the list remains accurate, and provide them with an opportunity to make any necessary alterations, prior to the approval of the Tariff.
3. Explanation of how the royalty rates or levies were determined. The royalty rates are based on an agreement between the Collectives and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (the “CAB”), as amended (the “Settlement Agreement”), 1 The Settlement Agreement is described in the decision of the Copyright
1 Commercial Radio Reproduction Royalties Settlement Agreement (2012-2018) (24 August 2017); Amendment to the Commercial Radio Reproduction Royalties Settlement Agreement (2012-2018) (29 March 2018); Amendment to the Commercial Radio Reproduction Royalties Settlement Agreement (2012-2018) (1 October 2019).
Published by the Copyright Board of Canada, in accordance with subsection 17(2) of the Copyright Board Rules of Practice and Procedure, on November 17, 2025.
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Board certifying the current Commercial Radio Reproduction Tariff (2020-2023), 2020 CB 018.
4. Explanation of how the information that would be collected by the Collectives pursuant to the Tariff would be used.
Under the Tariff, commercial radio stations must provide basic information relating to the stations’ income and use of the Collectives’ repertoires. The information collected under the Tariff is needed and would be used to calculate and verify the royalties paid by the stations and to distribute those royalties to the appropriate rights holders.
5. In the case of a proposed tariff based on a previously-approved tariff, identification and explanation of all changes not explained in any of the points above.
The Tariff is identical in substance to the current Commercial Radio Reproduction Tariff (2024-2026).
In September 2025, the Société de Gestion Collective des Droits des Producteurs de Phonogrammes et de Vidéogrammes du Québec changed its business name from SOPROQ to Panorama.
6. Additional Information The Terms of the Settlement Agreement require that, within five business days of the objection period contemplated by subsection 68.3(2) of the Copyright Act expiring in relation to the Tariff, the Collectives shall file a joint request, on behalf of the Collectives and CAB, that the Tariff be approved as filed.
The Tariff and this Notice of Grounds have been reviewed by the CAB, which has not identified any concerns.
Published by the Copyright Board of Canada, in accordance with subsection 17(2) of the Copyright Board Rules of Practice and Procedure, on November 17, 2025.
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