Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., the operator of XM Canada, has come to terms with music royalty holders who had sued it for non-payment. XM Canada says it has agreed on a payment schedule for all of its retroactive royalty obligations.
XM Canada had been sued after it failed to meet a July 31st to make royalty payments ordered by the Copyright Board of Canada. XM now says the settlement with the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), the Neighbouring Rights Collective of Canada (NRCC) and CSI, a joint venture of the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA) and Montreal-based Society for Reproduction Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers in Canada (SODRAC) resolves the existing litigation.
“XM is pleased to have reached this agreement regarding our royalty obligations,” said Michael Moskowitz, President and Chief Executive Officer of XM Canada. “We recognize the important role these organizations play in supporting Canadian artists and this agreement allows us to balance the retroactive amount owed with the ongoing investment required to continue building on our own success,” he said.
Although XM and Sirius merged in the US, the Canadian companies who distribute the services (with some extra Canadian-focused channels) remain separate. There had been no litigation by the copyright organizations with Sirius Satellite Radio Canada.
