CMRRA

Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency

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What about the master recording?

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Every recording of a copyrighted composition actually represents a blend of two copyrights: first, the copyright in the musical work itself, which is represented by the music publisher, and second, the recording of the musical work, which is usually owned by the record producer or record company involved. If you are the producer of the […]

How do I get permission to use a master recording?

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CMRRA does not represent the owners of master recordings and cannot obtain licences for you in this regard. For further information on master recordings please contact the following organizations: http://www.musiccanada.com/ http://www.connectmusic.ca/ http://www.cimamusic.ca/ http://www.adisq.com/

I want to sample a recording and use it in my song. Do I have to pay?

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Yes. In order to legally make use of songs and recordings you do not own or control, and which have been sampled in your recording, you must obtain the consent of the owners of the copyright in each of those songs, as well as the consent of the owners of each of the recordings you […]

Can I pay royalties quarterly based on my sales?

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Record labels who are licensed under CMRRA’s Mechanical Licensing Agreement (MLA) can report royalties to CMRRA on a quarterly basis as products are sold. However, parties to an MLA are required to keep track of, and process, any change in the ownership of the musical works they have used, in order to produce accurate royalty […]

Can I change the lyrics to a song, or use the music alone and add my own words?

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While CMRRA can grant mechanical licences for the reproduction of musical works controlled by its publishers, the words and the melody used for your recording must correspond to those of the original musical work. In other words, a licence can only be granted for a new arrangement of a work if no changes are brought […]

What if I apply for licence, but the song is not represented by CMRRA?

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If you have submitted a licence application and royalty payment for a work that CMRRA does not represent, we will issue a refund cheque to you once we have processed your application. Please note that CMRRA will only refund the royalties you have paid, and not the handling fee charged to process your application.

What is a pressing order? Why is it required?

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A pressing order is a document sent by you to the manufacturer that confirms the number of units of your product that will be pressed. CMRRA requires this documentation to ensure you are paying royalties on all copies manufactured. In the alternative, you can also submit your pressing invoice, which would serve the same purpose. […]

The manufacturer tells me that it cannot press my product until I have my licences, and CMRRA tells me that it cannot issue licences without a pressing order. How does this work?

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The pressing order is a document you must submit to the manufacturer to place your order for a certain number of units. The manufacturer can (and should) put your order on hold until such time as your licence has been issued. We require that you submit a copy of this pressing order along with your […]

How long can the licensing process take?

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Where the ownership of the work you have applied for has already been confirmed and registered in our database, you can expect to receive your licences typically within three weeks, although processing times may take as long as six weeks during peak periods.  Both spring and the period leading up to Christmas are generally very […]