ACTRA RACS has started the process of closing out past years of Canadian neighbouring rights royalties. Once a royalty year is closed, performances on sound recordings broadcast in that usage year can no longer be claimed.
Performers must register with ACTRA RACS or another performer collective in Canada and submit complete repertoire information by the deadlines set out below.
To ensure that you receive royalties you are entitled to, please follow the instructions below:
REGISTERING AND/OR SUBMITTING REPERTOIRE
UNREGISTERED PERFORMERS
- REGISTER WITH ACTRA RACS
Sign up online or by completing a pdf version of our registration form. - SUBMIT REPERTOIRE INFORMATION
Complete the Repertoire Submission Form and return it to ACTRA RACS.
EXISTING MEMBERS
- REVIEW EXISTING REPERTOIRE
Contact ACTRA RACS or log into your member account to review existing repertoire linked to your name. - UPDATE YOUR REPERTOIRE
Update your Repertoire Information by completing the Repertoire Submission Form and returning it to ACTRA RACS.
ADDITIONAL TIP: To help ensure that you receive payment for recording titles may be missing from your repertoire detail, you can Search the Canadian Airplay and Usage Database to determine which recordings may be receiving airplay and usage in Canada.
UPCOMING DEADLINES
Deadlines to register and submit repertoire for all royalty years are outlined in the schedule below. In order to collect unclaimed royalties, performers need to be registered with ACTRA RACS and have submitted repertoire information about the recordings on which they’ve performed. You must have submitted your repertoire information no later than the applicable deadlines set out in the schedule, for recordings that received airplay in the relevant royalty years.
| Royalty Years | Deadline to Register & Deadline to submit repertoire | Expected Distribution Date |
| 1998-2000 | September 1, 2020 | February 2022 – completed |
| 2001-2003 | September 1, 2021 | February 2023 – completed |
| 2004-2006 | September 1, 2021 | February 2024 |
| 2007-2008 | September 1, 2021 | February 2025 |
| 2009-2013 | September 1, 2021 | February 2023 – completed |
| 2014-2016 | September 1, 2022 | February 2024 |
| 2017 | September 1, 2023 | February 2025 |
| 2018 and on | Q3 six years from Royalty Year | Q1 Eight years from Royalty Year |
Additional Notes and Examples:
Performers only need to register and submit repertoire information for each recording one time, prior to the deadline for the applicable royalty years. For example, if a performer played on “Song A” which was broadcast on radio starting in 2001:
- If the performer is not registered, they must register and submit repertoire information for “Song A” by August 1, 2021 to receive royalties for 2001-2013 (and all subsequent years).
- If the performer is registered, then they only need to submit the repertoire information for “Song A” by August 1, 2021 to receive royalties for 2001-2013 (and all subsequent years).
If the performer misses the deadline and registers or submits repertoire for “Song A” after August 1, 2021 but before the next deadline of September 1, 2022, then they will not receive royalties owed for “Song A” between 2001-2013, but will receive royalties for 2014-2016 and subsequent years.