CMRRA

Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency

I am reproducing music for the purpose of online music distribution, e.g. permanent downloads, streaming, webcasting

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If you plan to distribute recordings to Canadian consumers via a licensed third-party online music service, such as iTunes, Spotify, Meta (Facebook & Instagram), TikTok, or YouTube, you are not required to obtain a reproduction rights licence for the musical works embedded in those recordings. In Canada, CMRRA licences these services directly, and they will […]

I am a radio broadcaster

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CMRRA has tariffs filed with the Copyright Board of Canada for the reproduction of musical works in its repertoire that broadcasters make in the course of their operations. Separate tariffs apply to commercial broadcasters and ‘non-commercial’ radio broadcasters (i.e. community and campus radio stations run on a not-for-profit basis). See more information about CMRRA’s Tariffs […]

I am a satellite radio broadcaster

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CMRRA issues licenses to multi-channel subscription satellite radio services licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for the reproduction right related to musical works in CMRRA’s repertoire. For more information, see CMRRA’s Tariffs page.

I offer a background music service in Canada

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CMRRA issues licences for the reproduction right related to musical works in its repertoire to background music services available in Canada. Such services are defined as services that integrate music, voice and sound to broadcast background music in an establishment for its customers’ continuous listening. These licences are only available by direct agreement with CMRRA. […]

I am reproducing music in an audio-visual production

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If you plan to use music in an audiovisual production, such as a film or television program, a commercial or a DVD product, you’ll need to obtain a synchronization licence. CMRRA no longer offers synchronization licensing services and as such, you will need to directly contact the rightsholder(s) of the musical work in question to […]

What is a “pay-as-you-press/import” licence?

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A “Pay-As-You-Press/Import” licence is a type of mechanical licence issued by CMRRA for licensees who only occasionally manufacture or import products in Canada or who do so in small quantities. Royalties for this type of licence must be paid in advance, along with the submission of the licence application, and is limited to the number […]

What is a mechanical licence?

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A mechanical licence is the agreement by which permission to reproduce a musical work on a sound carrier is granted by the copyright owner or its representative. “Mechanical” refers to the reproduction of copyrighted music in a “contrivance” for the “mechanical reproduction of music.” If this makes you think of music boxes, it’s because it […]

Do I need a mechanical licence to import products in Canada?

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Note that each country has its own mechanical licensing collective. The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) carries on business in the United Kingdom and issues licences for its territory, just as CMRRA does for Canada. Similarly, The Harry Fox Agency licenses for the territory of the United States. This is repeated throughout the world. If […]

What happens if I don’t apply for a mechanical licence?

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If you manufacture or import sound carriers which reproduce copyrighted songs without obtaining a mechanical licence for each song (either directly from the publisher or through CMRRA) then you have infringed the copyrights in question. Canada’s copyright legislation provides for civil penalties and criminal prosecution for copyright infringement. If a product contains unlicensed music, it […]

How do I apply for a mechanical licence?

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You must apply for a mechanical licence(s) for your product before you manufacture or import it. CMRRA issues mechanical licences through two basic plans: either “pay-as-you-press/ import”, or pursuant to the terms of the standard Mechanical Licensing Agreement. You’ll find information on both of these plans in the Need a License? section of our website.