Neighbouring Rights - MNRR :: American Federation of Musicians

Neighbouring Rights - MNRR

Departments

Neighbouring Rights - MNRR

Neighbouring Rights & Private Copying

For many years composers and authors have received payments for works they have created through copyright from organizations such as SOCAN or ASCAP. In 1997 the Copyright Act of Canada was amended to acknowledge the involvement of performers and makers in the creation of sound recordings. This right to equitable remuneration became known as a “neighbouring right” because it is similar to the existing copyright.

Also in 1997, the Neighbouring Rights Collective of Canada (NRCC) was formed to file and defend tariffs with the Canadian Copyright Board and to collect neighbouring rights royalties in Canada. The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is represented on their Board of Directors and is one of the sub-collectives responsible for distributing these royalties. Neighbouring rights royalties are available to performers from all over the world provided the recordings that they have performed on meet our eligibility requirements.

In 1999 the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) was established to collect money arising from private copying levies on blank recording media. The AFM is represented on the CPCC Board of Directors under its affiliation with the NRCC and is also one of the sub-collectives responsible for distributing these royalties. At present, only Canadian citizens or permanent residents may collect private copying royalties

All of the above-mentioned royalties are distributed based on eligibility requirements and according to samples of commercial radio play and/or album sales. Neighbouring rights royalties are paid retroactively to 1998 whereas royalties derived from the private copying levy are paid retroactively to 2000.

To ensure that you receive any neighbouring rights and private copying royalties for performers that may be owed to you, please assign your collecting rights to the AFM or one of the other performer sub-collectives of the NRCC. To begin the process of collecting these royalties, please visit our Musicians’ Neighbouring Rights Royalties website and visit the “downloads” section: www.mnrr.ca

While neighbouring rights and private copying royalties are becoming increasingly popular both in Canada and around the world, there are still many unidentified but eligible musicians who could be benefiting from this revenue. Please make this known to your fellow musicians!