Disc Jockeys

Disc Jockeys

All annual DJ Licences are valid from January 1st through to December 31st of each calendar year.

2013 DJ LICENCE APPLICATION FORM


You need an AVLA DJ licence if:

  • You are creating reproductions of sound recordings (on a computer hard drive, CD-Rs, cassettes or mini-discs).

You do not need an AVLA DJ licence if:

  • You are only using the original LP's/cassettes/CD's you purchased in a record store.
  • You are only using cassettes/CD's/CD-R's you have leased from an AVLA licensed music supply service such as ERG, Multi Music, Promo Only, or RSM/Innovative Entertainment.

If you belong to a DJ Association, your AVLA licence may be included in your association fees.

 

There are two types of licences:

  1. Standard "All-in-one" (annual) DJ Licence
    • Permits you to compress sound recordings into an MP3 format and store them on one (1) computer hard drive source and unlimited physical carriers for $331.55 + GST/HST per calendar year. You may reproduce as many sound recordings as you can fit on your hard drive or CD-R's - no limit. A back up copy is also permitted, provided that the sound recordings are not performed in public.
    • Storing and performing sound recordings on more than one (1) computer hard drive requires an additional licence for each additional hard drive.
    • Click here for the Annual DJ Application form
  2. Single Event DJ Licence

 

When applying for the Single Event DJ licence online, please apply at least 10 business days prior to your event (if possible) to ensure that you receive your display licence in time for your event.

Licensing through a DJ Association

If you are a member of an AVLA licensed DJ Association, you may obtain the Standard "All-in-one" licence through your association at a preferred rate. AVLA licensed DJ associations are:

 

Music Supply Services

Music Supply Services (MSS) use their programming expertise to provide DJ's and commercial users with compilations of popular sound recordings at industry standard quality. The MSS have AVLA agreements that permit them to reproduce sound recordings on compilation cassettes, CD's or CD-R's. If you use ONLY leased music from an AVLA licensed MSS, you don't require any additional licensing from AVLA.

Important information on AVLA licensed Music Supply Service products

  • Any product that is produced by an AVLA licensed music supply service will indicate on the cassette/CD/CD-R that the sound recordings are licensed by the AVLA. If this warning is not present, please contact the AVLA immediately - info@avla.ca
  • You may not copy this product for any purpose whatsoever. Prohibition against copying Music Supply Service product is clearly visible on the face of the product and is also stated in the lease agreement, regardless of whether they are personal copies or copies for your employees.
  • It is clearly stated in the lease agreement and it is important to understand that you do not own the product you are receiving, you are leasing it.
  • For a list of AVLA licensed music supply services, please click here

It's important to know

  • All reproductions must be licensed, even if you are not charging money for your services (e.g. doing a favour for a friend).
  • Once you have purchased a DJ licence, you will receive a display licence from AVLA that will confirm that your reproductions are licensed and of good quality. The quality of the reproductions you make must be up to industry standards.
  • All reproductions must be made from commercially produced product made by record companies.
  • You may not download sound recordings from the Internet except from specific AVLA licensed sources (iTunes downloads are fine to use as long as you have an AVLA DJ Licence in place).
  • AVLA licensing fees are passed on to the music rights owners.

AVLA cannot authorize:

  • Synchronization (embedding of sound recordings into visual presentations).
  • Compiling sound recordings on CD-Rs to use as "give-aways" or to sell.
  • Karaoke tracks (please contact the production companies of the karaoke discs for more information on licensing).

What Does AVLA Do?

Buying an LP/CD/cassette doesn't give you the right to reproduce it for the purpose of entertaining the public. The liner notes of every LP/CD/cassette indicate who produced the album, and warn that unauthorized copying of sound recordings is strictly prohibited.

The Canadian Copyright Act is a federal law that protects creative endeavours by ensuring that the rights owner has the sole right to authorize the publication, performance or reproduction of the work. Section 18(1) of the Copyright Act provides that only the copyright owner can reproduce a sound recording or authorize the act of reproduction.

The AVLA is a copyright collective that administers licensing in Canada on behalf of the makers of sound recordings and music videos (record companies). AVLA has over 950 members, including all of the multi-national record companies and all of the major independent record companies. AVLA's members hold the exclusive copyright interest in the vast majority of the sound recordings and music videos produced and/or distributed in Canada.

We appreciate that music plays a vital role in your business. AVLA and its member record companies are pleased to be able to offer you the convenience of blanket licensing of sound recordings for use in your business at a reasonable rate.

Can't find the information you're looking for?

Contact AVLA and we will provide you with the information you need.