• FR
  • EN

CMRRA

Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency

Menu
  • Home
    • About CMRRA
    • Meet the Team
    • Canadian Publishers Committee
    • Canadian Music Publishers Association
    • CMRRA-SODRAC Inc. (CSI)
  • Music Publishers
    • Our Services
    • Affiliation Agreement
    • Forms for Music Publisher Clients
    • CMRRA Direct for Music Publishers Explained
    • Common Works Registration (CWR)
    • Pending List Class Action Settlement
    • Update My Address
  • Music Users
    • Need a Licence?
    • Pay-As-You-Press
    • Mechanical Licensing Agreement
    • Tariffs
    • Forms for Licence Applicants
    • CMRRA Direct for Licensees Explained
  • Repertoire
    • Search Our Song Database
  • News
    • News
    • Newsletter
      • Sign-up to receive CMRRA news
  • CMRRA Direct
    • Register for CMRRA Direct
    • CMRRA Direct Login
    • Unclaimed Works Portal User Guide
    • CMRRA Direct for Music Publishers Explained
    • CMRRA Direct for Licensees Explained
  • FAQ
    • Music Copyright & Publishing
    • General Licensing
    • Cross-border Licensing
    • PAYP/Import Licensing
    • Online Licensing
    • Counterclaims
    • Synchronization Licensing
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Info
    • Work at CMRRA
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • FR
    • EN

March 2016 Broadcast Mechanical Distribution

IMPORTANT!

This letter contains important information and

a deadline related to CMRRA’s distribution of COMMERCIAL RADIO BROADCAST MECHANICAL royalties.

YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY FEBRUARY 26, 2016.

Toronto, February 9, 2016

Dear CMRRA Client,

Re: March 2016 Commercial Radio Broadcast Mechanical Distribution

This coming March, CMRRA will undertake its distribution of Commercial Radio Broadcast Mechanical royalties for the period of January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. For the reasons explained below, CMRRA will only remit these royalties to you if you sign and return the enclosed Commercial Radio Broadcast Mechanical Repayment Undertaking Agreement by February 26, 2016.

On November 7, 2012, certain amendments to Canada’s Copyright Act came into force, introducing a number of new copyright exemptions which the radio broadcasters have claimed eliminate any legal basis for their payment of a reproduction tariff to music copyright owners. CMRRA strongly disagrees with these assertions and vehemently opposed the broadcasters’ argument at a hearing held before the Copyright Board of Canada (the “Copyright Board”) in October 2013, where the Copyright Board heard evidence from the participants on the applicability of the exemptions to radio broadcasters.

Until a decision is rendered by the Copyright Board, radio stations are required and have continued to pay the existing tariff. However, any decision ultimately made by the Copyright Board will have retroactive effect for the period of November 7, 2012 through until the end of 2013. Moreover, a further hearing before the Copyright Board and subsequent decision will be required before CMRRA can be certain of the legal basis for radio stations’ payment of royalties in 2014 and beyond. While we are confident that there is no basis for radio broadcasters to claim exemptions in relation to their reproduction activities, there is always an inherent risk in any legal proceeding. Furthermore, we cannot predict when a decision will be rendered.

Under the circumstances, CMRRA’s Board of Directors has agreed to distribute a portion of the royalties collected for the 2014 period on the condition that the music publisher who is entitled to receive such royalties provides a signed undertaking to repay those royalties to CMRRA if the tariff ultimately certified by the Copyright Board requires CMRRA to refund some portion of the royalties to the radio stations, and that amount is greater than the undistributed portion of the royalties collected. The undertaking applies to all royalties paid to the music publisher, including any royalties associated with musical works no longer owned or administered by the music publisher at the time the refund is required to be paid.

Accordingly, we ask that you provide us with your instructions by completing and signing the form below and, if applicable, the Repayment Undertaking Agreement. Before you provide us with your instructions, we recommend that you consult with a Certified Public Accountant regarding the extent to which you can recognize any royalties paid to you pursuant to the Commercial Radio Broadcast Mechanical Repayment Undertaking Agreement as earned income on your financial statement of operations. You may also choose to have CMRRA hold any Commercial Radio Broadcast Mechanical Royalties payable to you for 2014 until a decision is rendered by the Copyright Board.

Please note that we must receive your signed Commercial Radio Broadcast Mechanical Repayment Undertaking Agreement (either by email at membershipservices@cmrra.ca or by regular mail) by February 26, 2016 in order for CMRRA to process your royalty payment as part of our upcoming March 2016 distribution. Should you return your signed Commercial Radio Broadcast Mechanical Repayment Undertaking Agreement after that date, we will process your payment as part of our next distribution.

I thank you for your attention to this important matter. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at membershipservices@cmrra.ca. To expedite your inquiry, please use the subject line “Commercial Radio RUA Instructions” in the subject of your email. Telephone inquiries can be directed to Marianne Anderson, Manager of Client Relations, at 416-926-1966 ext. 261.

Yours truly,

Caroline Rioux, CMRRA President

Click here to download and print the Letter, Instructions Form and RUA.

Search

Recent Posts

  • PROFILE: Jennifer Mitchell’s wonderful world begins with songs and looks to the future
  • In House: Shari Segal
  • PROFILE : Anthem Entertainment Group’s Helen Murphy’s creative-first publishing philosophy
  • In House: Sagelee Dinnall Archer
  • In House: Sandra Nettleton

Categories

  • News
  • Newsletter
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Home
    • About CMRRA
    • Meet the Team
    • Canadian Publishers Committee
    • Canadian Music Publishers Association
    • CMRRA-SODRAC Inc. (CSI)
  • Music Publishers
    • Our Services
    • Affiliation Agreement
    • Forms for Music Publisher Clients
    • CMRRA Direct for Music Publishers Explained
    • Common Works Registration (CWR)
    • Pending List Class Action Settlement
    • Update My Address
  • Music Users
    • Need a Licence?
    • Pay-As-You-Press
    • Mechanical Licensing Agreement
    • Tariffs
    • Forms for Licence Applicants
    • CMRRA Direct for Licensees Explained
  • Repertoire
    • Search Our Song Database
  • News
    • News
    • Newsletter
  • FAQ
    • Music Copyright & Publishing
    • General Licensing
    • Cross-border Licensing
    • Pay-As-You-Press/Import Licensing
    • Mechanical Licensing
    • Online Licensing
    • Counterclaims
    • Synchronization Licensing
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Info
    • Work at CMRRA
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
  • Facebook icon Like on Facebook
  • Twitter icon Follow on Twitter
  • LinkedIn icon Connect on LinkedIn
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

copyright © 2021 CMRRA | Website by Madfatter Inc. Return to top of page