Councillors in the northern part of Wellington County agree that SOCAN should change its tune regarding fees for municipal halls and arenas.
SOCAN is the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada.
MINTO
In Minto, councillors recently reviewed correspondence from the Southwestern Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (SWORFA), which represents 35 municipalities in southwestern Ontario.
The group asked for Minto’s support in addressing the cost of SOCAN fees that are being charged to municipalities whenever music is played at an event. Those fees apply in events ranging from wedding receptions to public skating.
“Recently SOCAN notified municipalities that future SOCAN charges will be based on hall capacities rather than attendance at the events,” the SWORFA notice stated. “Although many small municipalities have a multi-use facility with a capacity of 500 or more, most functions at these facilities do not reach full capacity.
“The new fee structure will make such fundraisers less profitable for local non-profit organizations.”
It added, “Some municipalities that have faithfully collected and remitted SOCAN fees are now questioning why the facility is responsible for the collection and remittance rather than the DJ. The facility is not playing the music – the DJ is.”
The group asked council to support it in the bid to have SOCAN adjust its fees to be based on attendance rather than the capacity of a venue.
The other option would be to support an annual fee for various sized municipalities.
Recreation Director Dave Stonley explained the fee system changed earlier this year.
Councillor David Turton asked if municipalities were given any warning this was coming.
“No,” Stonley said.
He added there have been municipalities in the area audited by SOCAN and they had to remit fees based on capacity rather than attendance.
WELLINGTON NORTH
In Wellington North Township, reactions are similar.
The new fees could more than double or triple the fees for using music in community centres.
A report from Wellington North’s Recreation Coordinator Linda Spahr noted the last two meetings of SWORFA discussed changes to the fee.
She said, “At present, the township charges $59.17 plus GST for events where dancing is held in the Arthur and Mount Forest community centres. If the new rule comes into effect, the cost would rise to $123.38 plus GST for a capacity of 301 to 500, or $174.70 plus GST for capacities over 500.”
She told council, “To support this resolution is very important to our township.”
Committee chairman Bob Mason said the issue has gone on for some time and it should be addressed.
Wellington North, like Minto passed a resolution asking SOCAN to reconsider its fee structure so it remains based on attendance.
