Canadian Salons and SOCAN - tanTALK

Neon Beach · 09-28-2004, 04:36 PM

Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada.

Did you know that if you are playing CD's or tapes in your salon (or other business), or when you re-broadcast (I'll have to look that one up) a radio signal through a sound system throughout the business, a SOCAN licence is required? Watch for them cause they are on the prowl to get you to buy the licence, and they're pushy!

Neon Beach · 09-28-2004, 07:00 PM

Do you U.S. salons have this same garbage to contend with, ......... that you are aware of?

engfant · 09-28-2004, 07:43 PM

We also need this but it's NEVER enforced. The whole town would be fined if they started putting pressure on us.

tanu01 · 09-28-2004, 07:46 PM

UH never say never I have had to deal with it a couple of times. they just have not discovered salons yet.
Bob

DWhite6872 · 09-28-2004, 07:52 PM

The Ascape police (expression) use to come hot in heavy in Ohio...the firs salon we went with Musac because of this and are chancing it with the second.

_________________
[ This Message was edited by: DWhite6872 on 2004-09-28 20:25 ]

Neon Beach · 09-28-2004, 07:53 PM

I refused to pay it until last week. I made such a fuss, they were calling me every other week ans suggesting that they would send an inspector to check me out. I think it's freakin' rediculous that I have to pay a fee to play a radio when the radio stations pay a hefty price to broadcast it. CD's and tapes I can almost understand.............

DWhite6872 · 09-28-2004, 08:04 PM

How much did you have to pay?

tanu01 · 09-28-2004, 08:07 PM

Ascape,I use to own movie theatre's You got to love those people.
Bob

Neon Beach · 09-29-2004, 07:39 AM

The Socan fee is not huge and is based on the size of your business, around 11.5 cents a square foot, with a minimum fee of $101.13. It's not so much the money as the principle. As I mentioned earlier I can almost understand it when playing pre-recorded CD's and tapes, but the radio? It's broadcasted publicly! But because SOCAN figures part of a businesses revenue can be attributed to background music (?) you need to pay those music people a fee. I kind of reminds me of what our Electric company started a few years ago. The ran into debt, so to help reduce their debt, they not charge a Debt Reduction Fee along with our monthly charges. I wish I could charge that one too! These people are all going to nickel and dime us to death!

playa · 09-29-2004, 04:16 PM

I am also an Ontario Salon who has gotten a phone call from SOCAN about these fees. I thought it was scam, but they are serious. The way I look at it, until it can be proven in a court of law that my business has substantially improved due to the music playing in my salon, then I will not pay any fees. I don't think any judge will agree that the music playing in the background of my salon convinced any clients to enter my salon and then spend "x" number of dollars based on that particular music playing as opposed to the products and services that I am offering. Also, I cannot actullay see them sending out the "music police" in the first place. They are just harassing and guilting small business owners out of their well earned money.

09-28-2004, 04:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Neon Beach Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 61 Posts: 38,594 Rep Power: 107	Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada. Did you know that if you are playing CD's or tapes in your salon (or other business), or when you re-broadcast (I'll have to look that one up) a radio signal through a sound system throughout the business, a SOCAN licence is required? Watch for them cause they are on the prowl to get you to buy the licence, and they're pushy!

09-28-2004, 07:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Neon Beach Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 61 Posts: 38,594 Rep Power: 107	Do you U.S. salons have this same garbage to contend with, ......... that you are aware of?

09-28-2004, 07:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
engfant Join Date: May 20 2003 Posts: 9,301 Rep Power: 29	We also need this but it's NEVER enforced. The whole town would be fined if they started putting pressure on us.

09-28-2004, 07:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
tanu01 "The Man" Join Date: Mar 4 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 4,015 Rep Power: 23	UH never say never I have had to deal with it a couple of times. they just have not discovered salons yet. Bob

09-28-2004, 07:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
DWhite6872 Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Apr 22 2004 Posts: 3,646 Rep Power: 0	The Ascape police (expression) use to come hot in heavy in Ohio...the firs salon we went with Musac because of this and are chancing it with the second. _________________ [ This Message was edited by: DWhite6872 on 2004-09-28 20:25 ]

09-28-2004, 07:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Neon Beach Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 61 Posts: 38,594 Rep Power: 107	I refused to pay it until last week. I made such a fuss, they were calling me every other week ans suggesting that they would send an inspector to check me out. I think it's freakin' rediculous that I have to pay a fee to play a radio when the radio stations pay a hefty price to broadcast it. CD's and tapes I can almost understand.............

09-28-2004, 08:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
DWhite6872 Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Apr 22 2004 Posts: 3,646 Rep Power: 0	How much did you have to pay?

09-28-2004, 08:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
tanu01 "The Man" Join Date: Mar 4 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 4,015 Rep Power: 23	Ascape,I use to own movie theatre's You got to love those people. Bob

09-29-2004, 07:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
Neon Beach Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 61 Posts: 38,594 Rep Power: 107	The Socan fee is not huge and is based on the size of your business, around 11.5 cents a square foot, with a minimum fee of $101.13. It's not so much the money as the principle. As I mentioned earlier I can almost understand it when playing pre-recorded CD's and tapes, but the radio? It's broadcasted publicly! But because SOCAN figures part of a businesses revenue can be attributed to background music (?) you need to pay those music people a fee. I kind of reminds me of what our Electric company started a few years ago. The ran into debt, so to help reduce their debt, they not charge a Debt Reduction Fee along with our monthly charges. I wish I could charge that one too! These people are all going to nickel and dime us to death!

09-29-2004, 04:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
playa Join Date: Sep 13 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	I am also an Ontario Salon who has gotten a phone call from SOCAN about these fees. I thought it was scam, but they are serious. The way I look at it, until it can be proven in a court of law that my business has substantially improved due to the music playing in my salon, then I will not pay any fees. I don't think any judge will agree that the music playing in the background of my salon convinced any clients to enter my salon and then spend "x" number of dollars based on that particular music playing as opposed to the products and services that I am offering. Also, I cannot actullay see them sending out the "music police" in the first place. They are just harassing and guilting small business owners out of their well earned money.

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