Independent Artist Rights in Canada
What Rights Do You Automatically Have?
You own the rights to your music. This means you get to decide who can use it, perform it, stream it, or remix it. You can license it, sell it, or keep it completely independent—it's up to you.
When you write a song or record music, you own it. No forms, no registration, no lawyer—your rights are built in under Canadian law.
COPYRIGHT
You also have rights that protect your reputation as an artist. These include:
The right to be credited (or stay anonymous)
The right to stop someone from changing your work in a way that affects your image or message
These rights can only be waived in writing—so read your contracts carefully.
MORAL RIGHTS
Contracts are part of the job—but they don’t have to be scary. Here’s what to keep an eye on:
Contracts: What to Watch Out For
Ownership: Who owns the song? The recording? Don’t assume—get it in writing.
Splits: If you wrote the song with someone else, what’s the percentage split?
Moral rights: Make sure you’re not waiving your right to be credited or to protect your work unless you really mean to.
Licensing: Are you giving someone permission to use your song once? Forever? For what kind of use?
If you’re not sure, ask. And never feel bad about taking time to read before signing.
OTHER STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Register with SOCAN, Re:Sound, and CMRRA so you get paid.
Trademark your artist name if you’re building a brand.
Consider setting up a business (like a sole proprietorship) for tax and legal protection.
Get insured—especially if you’re touring or have expensive gear.
As an independent artist, you could be earning money every time your music is played—on the radio, at a concert, in a store, or even on Spotify. But none of it reaches you unless you’re registered with the right organizations.
Here are the main royalty collection companies in Canada every artist should know:
How You Get Paid: Royalties 101
SOCAN — Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada
SOCAN collects performance royalties for the composition of a song—meaning the lyrics and melody—whenever it's played publicly, streamed online, or performed live.
If you write songs (even just the lyrics), SOCAN helps you get paid when those songs are played.
Re:Sound — Re:Sound Music Licensing Company
Re:Sound collects performance royalties for the sound recording—the actual track that was recorded—when it’s played in public (like in stores, on the radio, or at events).
If you perform on or own the recorded version of a song, Re:Sound ensures you get paid when it’s used.
CMRRA — Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency
CMRRA collects mechanical royalties—which are paid when your song is streamed, downloaded, or copied on a CD or vinyl.
If you write and release your own music, CMRRA makes sure you earn money from digital plays and downloads.
Entandem — SOCAN + Re:Sound licensing portal
https://www.entandemlicensing.com
Entandem is a platform businesses use to pay for music licenses. It sends those payments to SOCAN and Re:Sound, who then pay artists and rights holders.
You don’t need to register with Entandem, but it’s how public places pay the fees that eventually end up in your pocket.
Want to LEARN MORE?
If you’re ready to build a strong, sustainable career as an independent artist, we’ve created a course that goes way beyond the basics.
You’ll learn:
How to register to collect all your royalties
How to distribute music independently to streaming platforms
How to sustain confidence in your artist practice
How to build a strong brand foundation