Internet Radio Regulations in Canada.

May 12, 2005 6:07 PM

We're starting up a wee web radio station. We are Canadians. What, realistically, are we meant to do in the way of royalties and whatnot?

It'll be quite a small setup, produced in Canada by Canadians. Are we legally supposed to pay royalties on any music we play? Is this actually done? If so, to whom and how much?

posted by Count Ziggurat to Media & Arts (3 answers total)

Response by poster: Oh, and the station is to be wholly non-commerical, if it matters. A student-run adless webcast.
posted by Count Ziggurat at 6:09 PM on May 12, 2005

this tells how ASCAP works (here in the US). I guess you need to contact the Canadian version--or not play any copyrighted music? : >
posted by amberglow at 8:32 PM on May 12, 2005

If you want to be on the level, contact CRIA. They will certainly tell you everyone else you need to contact (there's two groups if I remember correctly from my college radio station days). AFAIK, the CRTC is playing hands-off on the internet for now -- expect that to change for sure if internet TV becomes available easily in the future. However, contacting the CRTC may be in your best interest, since unlike CRIA they're the government (ie: More than just simple copyright infringement crimes when you violate their laws.)

If you *do* contact the CRTC, try to play down that you want to do this. If you contact them and they decide that internet radio is something they want to deal with, you will be required to play 10% - 35% MAPL Canadian music [The 10% is unlikely unless you are setting up a jazz station]. There are exceptions listed under the Bryan Adams exceptions (well, they're probably just referenced by number, he was the one that caused their existance).

Enjoy! Good luck!
posted by shepd at 8:54 PM on May 12, 2005