A Licence for Music Performance in BC Schools

ERAC has established an agreement with the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN). This agreement means schools will not be required to purchase annual “public performance of music” licences or acquire single-event licences for most individual events that are not covered under the Copyright Act “educational purposes” exemption.

In the following documents, you’ll find some background on the public performance licensing issue and the Copyright Act exemption, some school-specific questions and answers related to music performance under the ERAC/SOCAN licence agreement, some helpful hints for schools regarding that agreement as well as a checklist that identifies many common performances of music that occur in BC schools. Some, but not all, music performances require copyright permission. The checklist identifies, at a glance, whether copyright permission is required.

You are encouraged to share these materials with others who are involved with the public performance of live or recorded music at your school.

To obtain further information about other uses of music in schools, ERAC refers you to Copyright Matters!, the Council of Ministers of Education – Canada booklet on Canadian copyright issues that affect schools.

ERAC has prepared a print package of materials about the agreement that will be sent to the principal of every public and every Group 1 or 2 independent school in BC.

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support for this initiative from the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Education.

Performing Music in BC Schools
A Licence for Music Performance in BC Schools – Background
The Copyright Act Exemption
Helpful Hints