CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency)

CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency) is a non-profit music licensing organization based in Toronto that administers mechanical (reproduction) rights on behalf of music publishers in Canada. It issues licenses to record labels, digital distributors, and other users for the reproduction of copyrighted musical works, collects the resulting royalties, and distributes them to publisher clients.

How CMRRA Works

CMRRA operates differently from a performing rights organization like SOCAN. While SOCAN collects performance royalties (when music is played on radio, TV, or in public venues), CMRRA collects mechanical royalties (when music is reproduced on physical formats or downloaded).

The process works as follows:

1. Publisher representation: Music publishers sign with CMRRA to represent their catalog in Canada. CMRRA represents the vast majority of music publishers doing business in the Canadian market.
2. Licensing: CMRRA issues licenses to record labels, digital music services, and other entities that reproduce musical works. The primary licensing vehicle is the Mechanical Licensing Agreement (MLA), a standard contract between CMRRA and record labels selling physical products in Canada.
3. Royalty collection: Licensees report sales quarterly and pay royalties based on actual units sold. CMRRA processes these reports, matches them to the correct publisher catalogs, and distributes the funds.
4. Online and broadcast mechanicals: CMRRA handles online licensing and broadcast mechanical royalties through a joint venture with SOCAN. This partnership covers streaming services, downloads, and broadcast mechanical rights.

The current statutory mechanical rate in Canada is 8.3 cents per work per copy manufactured for musical works up to five minutes in length. For works longer than five minutes, an additional 1.66 cents per minute (or part thereof) is added. A small number of publishers may charge higher-than-standard rates.

Real-World Example: Mechanical Royalty Calculation

A Canadian record label presses 10,000 CDs containing a 12-song album. One of those songs is a cover written by a songwriter represented by a CMRRA-affiliated publisher. The song runs 3 minutes and 40 seconds.

The mechanical royalty for that one song is calculated as:

10,000 copies x 8.3 cents = $830.00 CAD

The label reports this to CMRRA quarterly. CMRRA identifies the publisher, deducts its administrative fee, and sends the remaining amount to the publisher. The publisher then pays the songwriter their share according to their publishing agreement.

If the song had been 7 minutes long, the rate would be 8.3 cents + (2 x 1.66 cents) = 11.62 cents per copy, yielding $1,162.00 for 10,000 units.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you write songs and someone else records them (a cover, a sample, or a compilation inclusion), you are owed a mechanical royalty in Canada. CMRRA is the primary mechanism for collecting that money.

For independent artists and songwriters:

• If you self-publish: You can affiliate with CMRRA directly as a publisher to collect mechanical royalties on your own catalog. This is separate from your SOCAN membership, which covers performance royalties.
• If you release cover songs: You need a mechanical license from CMRRA (or the publisher directly) before pressing CDs or distributing downloads in Canada. Without it, you risk copyright infringement.
• Register your works: Ensure your songs are registered with both CMRRA (for mechanicals) and SOCAN (for performance royalties). Missing registrations mean missing payments.
• Understand the rate: The 8.3 cents per copy rate applies to audio-only sound recordings. Licenses for other uses (toys, games, ringtones) are negotiated individually.

Use our Publishing Royalty Split Calculator to calculate how mechanical royalties divide between co-writers and publishers. Read our guide on mechanical royalties explained for a deeper breakdown of how these payments work.

Related Terms

• Mechanical Royalties - The royalty type CMRRA collects, generated when music is reproduced
• Mechanical License - The legal permission CMRRA grants to record labels and distributors
• Statutory Rate - The government-set rate that forms the basis for CMRRA's pricing
• PRO (Performance Rights Organization) - SOCAN is Canada's PRO, complementary to CMRRA's mechanical role
• Publishing Administration - How publishers manage their catalogs through agencies like CMRRA

Learn more about all the royalties you should be collecting and how to register your music with a PRO.

Visit the CMRRA website for licensing details, rate schedules, and publisher affiliation information.