Indie labels quit Canadian music group
Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:20 am
http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2006/04/12/1532092-cp.html
Indie labels quit Canadian music group
By ANGELA PACIENZA
12 April 2006
TORONTO (CP) - Six leading independent record companies, including those representing Rush and Sarah McLachlan, have left the Canadian Recording Industry Association over a disagreement about radio content rules and grant programs for emerging artists.
"It has become increasingly clear over the past few months that CRIA's position on several important music industry issues are not aligned with our best interests as independent recording companies," the group wrote in a letter to the association's president Graham Henderson.
The six companies - Nettwerk Records, Aquarius Records, the Children's Group, Linus Entertainment, Anthem Records and True North Records - said they wanted to send a clear message about where they stand. In brief, they want greater support for up-coming artists.
"(CRIA is) looking out for their best interest, and their best interest is multinationals that are not Canadian," said Ric Arboit, president of Vancouver-based Nettwerk Records.
CRIA, a non-profit trade organization, calls itself "the voice and guardian of the record industry in Canada." Its membership, which includes big international players such as Universal and Sony-BMG, represents about 95 per cent of all recordings that are made and sold in Canada, CRIA says.
The conflict came to a boil last month when proposals to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission concerning Canadian content rules for commercial radio were made public.
The CRTC is currently reviewing its Cancon policy. The last review occurred in 1998 when the quota of required Canadian music on the airwaves jumped to 35 per cent from 30 per cent.
CRIA wants the percentage to remain at 35 per cent, but has proposed a new calculating method where emerging artists would count more in the quota system than classic songs by superstar artists like Bryan Adams.
As well, CRIA's proposal recommends changes to long-standing grant programs which help fund touring by artists, producing and marketing of albums. It has also suggested the designation system for artists who record and co-write outside Canada be tweaked.
"If implemented (the proposals) would have a material negative effect on the future growth of Canadian independent music," the labels wrote in their letter.
Henderson said he understands the labels' decision to leave.
"Life in Canada for the music industry used to be a lot simpler, and it was possible for CRIA to have both major and indie members," he said.
While the indie labels agree with other work being done by CRIA, including advocating for copyright reform, they felt they could no longer be a part of the organization, said Bernie Finkelstein, who runs the country's oldest independent label, True North Records.
"We were dramatically opposed to (CRIA's) submission. We felt that there was no room for anything other than clarity," said Finkelstein, whose artist roster includes Bruce Cockburn, Colin Linden and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
The six labels will instead look to the Canadian Independent Record Production Association to lobby the government on their behalf.
That trade organization put forth a proposal to the CRTC asking that Cancon be increased to 45 per cent.
Commercial radio quotas have always been a contentious issue for the music industry, with groups having varying opinions on what percentage would best benefit artists. The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, for instance, is recommending the Cancon quota be increased to 51 per cent.
Indie labels quit Canadian music group
By ANGELA PACIENZA
12 April 2006
TORONTO (CP) - Six leading independent record companies, including those representing Rush and Sarah McLachlan, have left the Canadian Recording Industry Association over a disagreement about radio content rules and grant programs for emerging artists.
"It has become increasingly clear over the past few months that CRIA's position on several important music industry issues are not aligned with our best interests as independent recording companies," the group wrote in a letter to the association's president Graham Henderson.
The six companies - Nettwerk Records, Aquarius Records, the Children's Group, Linus Entertainment, Anthem Records and True North Records - said they wanted to send a clear message about where they stand. In brief, they want greater support for up-coming artists.
"(CRIA is) looking out for their best interest, and their best interest is multinationals that are not Canadian," said Ric Arboit, president of Vancouver-based Nettwerk Records.
CRIA, a non-profit trade organization, calls itself "the voice and guardian of the record industry in Canada." Its membership, which includes big international players such as Universal and Sony-BMG, represents about 95 per cent of all recordings that are made and sold in Canada, CRIA says.
The conflict came to a boil last month when proposals to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission concerning Canadian content rules for commercial radio were made public.
The CRTC is currently reviewing its Cancon policy. The last review occurred in 1998 when the quota of required Canadian music on the airwaves jumped to 35 per cent from 30 per cent.
CRIA wants the percentage to remain at 35 per cent, but has proposed a new calculating method where emerging artists would count more in the quota system than classic songs by superstar artists like Bryan Adams.
As well, CRIA's proposal recommends changes to long-standing grant programs which help fund touring by artists, producing and marketing of albums. It has also suggested the designation system for artists who record and co-write outside Canada be tweaked.
"If implemented (the proposals) would have a material negative effect on the future growth of Canadian independent music," the labels wrote in their letter.
Henderson said he understands the labels' decision to leave.
"Life in Canada for the music industry used to be a lot simpler, and it was possible for CRIA to have both major and indie members," he said.
While the indie labels agree with other work being done by CRIA, including advocating for copyright reform, they felt they could no longer be a part of the organization, said Bernie Finkelstein, who runs the country's oldest independent label, True North Records.
"We were dramatically opposed to (CRIA's) submission. We felt that there was no room for anything other than clarity," said Finkelstein, whose artist roster includes Bruce Cockburn, Colin Linden and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
The six labels will instead look to the Canadian Independent Record Production Association to lobby the government on their behalf.
That trade organization put forth a proposal to the CRTC asking that Cancon be increased to 45 per cent.
Commercial radio quotas have always been a contentious issue for the music industry, with groups having varying opinions on what percentage would best benefit artists. The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, for instance, is recommending the Cancon quota be increased to 51 per cent.
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