TikTok FAQ

TikTok and CMRRA have signed a multi-year licensing agreement to ensure that music publishers and self-published songwriters are compensated for the use of their songs on TikTok.

The partnership agreement accounts for music usage on a go forward basis from May 1, 2019. There is also a settlement agreement for past music usage prior to May 1, 2019 on the TikTok platform which includes when the platform was previously known as Musical.ly.

CMRRA’s licence covers the reproductions made by TikTok of user videos on the service, as well as the provision of a music library for users to add sound recordings (embodying represented musical works) into user-generated video creations.

The CMRRA and TikTok partnership agreement covers reproductions made within the territory of Canada.

You do not need to be Canadian to sign up for this service. Music Publishers and self-published songwriters who own song copyrights for the territory of Canada for songs that are being used by platforms operating in Canada would be eligible to sign up for CMRRA’s TikTok collections service.

While there is no cost to join CMRRA as a client, there is a 8% administration fee that is applied when royalties are paid out to clients for TikTok.

Clients must opt-in to receive royalties. We expect the first payments to clients for TikTok in the first or second quarter of 2022. Thereafter, TikTok payments will be distributed in our regular quarterly distributions which occur on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. Clients can expect share-level reporting on their statements in line with what they already enjoy for all other digital licensing services offered by CMRRA.

We can certainly arrange that for you, please write us at inquiries[at]cmrra[dot]ca and we will begin the process.