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Music Canada and DIMA issue joint letter to CRTC following Canadian content audio workshops

Today, Music Canada and the Digital Media Association (DIMA) have jointly filed the below letter to the CRTC following their recent engagement sessions on Canadian content for audio services. 

Re: Engagement sessions on Canadian content 

We are writing to you today as part of the recent engagement sessions on Canadian content held by the CRTC from Sept 11-18. Collectively, our organizations and their members took part in the meetings held on September 11, 12, and 17. 

At the end of each session we were encouraged to write to the CRTC with further thoughts or clarifications on the sessions. With this in mind, we write to you today to reinforce an important message shared throughout the consultations: radio and audio streaming are not the same

Out of context, it might seem odd for the largest streaming services and major music labels in Canada to write to a regulator asserting a truism, but we believe that the recent workshops have made this necessary. From the discussion guide to the moderated questions, there was a clear attempt to place the continuation of radio regulations on audio streaming services as an obvious next step. 

We do not agree. 

Today’s radio regulations were carefully crafted for Canada’s radio environment. One that is shaped by our vast geography, linguistic duality, and a willingness in an analogue system to make decisions about what is available to Canadian listeners. They also reflect the limitations of the medium: a finite number of hours, increasingly centralized programming, and a live broadcast format, and relatively small number of recordings that radio broadcasts. 

Streaming is none of these things. Being driven in terms of each consumer’s individual interest and activity, it represents nearly infinite hours of listening, a vast catalogue of recordings, a plethora of languages, and has broken down not just physical geography but international borders as well. Three of the top 10 songs streamed in India in 2022 were by Canadian artists –  a fact that would be inconceivable to the founders of our terrestrial broadcasting system. 

Not only has streaming allowed Canadians to reach the world in ways previously unimaginable, streaming has allowed Canadian artists with no home in the traditional radio system to be found by their Canadian and international fans. This has led to higher levels of play on streaming for women and racially diverse artists compared to Canadian radio. 

We ask that as you move forward implementing the Online Streaming Act, you think of the streaming services and their interactions with Canadians for what they are today and not as a proxy to the broadcasting system of the 1900s. 

About Music Canada
Music Canada is the trade association representing Canada’s major record labels: Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada. Like its members, Music Canada is a partner to the industry, working with artists, independent labels, publishers, platforms, associations and others, in advancing forward-looking policies to ensure a dynamic and successful Canadian music ecosystem which returns value to music creators.

For further information: Regan Reid, Music Canada, rreid@musiccanada.com, (416) 462-1485

About DIMA

DIMA represents the world’s leading audio streaming companies and streaming innovators. Our mission is to promote and protect the ability of music fans to legally engage with creative content whenever and wherever they want it, and for artists to more easily reach longtime fans and make new ones.

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Music Canada to present key panels at Canadian Music Week 2023

Join Music Canada next week at Canadian Music Week (CMW), live and in-person in Toronto at the Westin Harbour Castle on June 8. 

We’ve prepared a full morning of programming, with experts from across the industry discussing the biggest topics of the day – Artificial Intelligence and Streaming Manipulation. 

Music Canada’s panels kick off June 8 at 10am with a State of the Industry address from our CEO, Patrick Rogers, who will share Music Canada’s vision and work in the shifting digital marketplace. 

Those opening remarks will be immediately followed by our panel, “Artificial Intelligence and Safeguarding Human Artistry” at 10:15am. In a wide-ranging and informative discussion moderated by Music Canada’s Creative Culture Advisor Miranda Mulholland, you’ll hear from Dr. Jeff Lupker, CEO and co-Founder of AI startup Staccato; Erin Reilly, Founding Director of the Texas Immersive Institute, Moody College of Communication; and Kiki Jaspal, Chief Revenue Officer of Renaissance.

Next up, at 11am, Music Canada will host streaming manipulation experts Morgan Hayduk, co-CEO and co-Founder of Beatdapp, and Will Page, former Chief Economist at Spotify, for a discussion titled, “Streaming Manipulation 101.” Moderated by Music Canada’s Associate Counsel, Annesta Duodu, this important discussion will explain the ins and outs of streaming fraud, its impacts on artists and the industry and what can be done going forward.   

You can register to attend CMW here

We hope to see you there!

 

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IFPI releases Global Music Report 2022, capturing the innovation-driven music market trends in Canada and around the globe

Today, the IFPI released their Global Music Report 2022, the definitive annual review of the global recorded music market. The report provides the official data on recorded music revenues worldwide, as well as insight and analysis on industry trends and developments. Truly a global industry, the report makes clear that music is everywhere today and people are not only enjoying more music than ever before, they’re also connecting with artists in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. 

Globally, the recorded music market grew by 18.5% in 2021, driven by a 21.9% increase in paid subscription streaming, and supported by a 16.1% gain in physical formats and a 4% gain in performance rights revenue. Total global revenues for 2021 were US$25.9 billion. Recorded music revenues grew in every region around the world in 2021.

Canada’s music market grew by 12.6% in 2021, to a total of US$583.6 Million, making it the 8th largest market in the world. Canada’s growth was driven by an 18% increase in streaming, which includes a 15.6% increase in paid subscription streaming, and 29.1% and 28.2% gains in ad-supported audio streaming and ad-supported video streaming, respectively. Physical format revenue increased by 11.4% in 2021, to a total of US$66.3 Million, the 7th highest ranking in the world. 

The report illustrates how today’s global music industry continues to evolve and expand in new and exciting ways. That includes examples of the ways that record companies are expanding into new territories, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa, and putting down deeper roots in local music communities. 

The report also shows the dynamic nature of today’s music industry, where artists have enormous choice in how to bring their music to fans around the world. The report shows that there were 523 million users of paid subscription accounts at the end of 2021, and approximately 60,000 songs uploaded every single day to one leading platform alone. 

“Today’s music market is the most competitive in memory,” said IFPI Chief Executive Frances Moore. “Fans are enjoying more music than ever and in so many different and new ways.  This creates enormous opportunities for artists. Those who choose to partner with a record company, do so to benefit from the support of agile, highly responsive global teams of experts dedicated to helping them achieve creative and commercial success and build their long-term careers.”

“Canada’s music market is a microcosm of this global music economy,” said Patrick Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Music Canada. “Canada’s major record labels have invested in both resources and people – developing new state of the art infrastructure in Toronto and Montreal, and bolstering their growing teams with talented staff across Canada to help their artists create and record their music. Record labels play a critical role in partnering with Canadian artists and helping them achieve creative and commercial success in today’s incredibly competitive marketplace.”

The report illustrates the new immersive and interactive ways that artists are connecting with fans online. Areas such as gaming, fitness, the metaverse and short-form video platforms have unlocked new tools for artists as well as new revenue streams, as these are licensed platforms which means that creators are being paid when their music is being played. The report also outlines policy recommendations to support a competitive marketplace to enable music to thrive in these new environments.

The report is now available on the IFPI’s website.

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IFPI releases ‘Engaging with Music 2021’, a comprehensive report that explores the ways that people listen to, discover and engage with music around the world

Today, IFPI, the organization representing recorded music worldwide, released Engaging with Music 2021, a comprehensive report that explores the ways that people listen to, discover and engage with music around the world. Based on research conducted by IFPI across 21 of the world’s leading music markets, including Canada, the report is a global snapshot of music engagement in 2021. 

Engagement with streaming – particularly subscription audio streaming – continues to grow and is the most popular form of music consumption around the world. More than three-quarters of people (78%) said they listen to music through licensed audio streaming services (subscription and ad-supported). Globally, there was strong growth (51%) in time spent listening to music on subscription audio streaming services, reinforcing the strong attraction of streaming to music fans. Audio streaming services (paid and free models) made up the largest share of music listening for consumers in Canada and around the globe.

This rapid growth in streaming engagement is evident in Canada’s music marketplace. Last week, Music Canada was proud to present a panel on Canadian Music Data in 2021, as part of Canadian Music Week’s Virtual Voices Series. The panel highlighted that Canada’s music market is reaching a new major milestone. Canadians will soon stream 2 billion songs in a single week – a benchmark that reflects how much we all love and value music. The fact that these streams all come from licensed services reaffirms that there is a strong market for recorded music in Canada where creators are paid when their music is played. This rapid growth in the streaming marketplace is a Canadian success story. Record companies’ ongoing work and investments in artists, technology, infrastructure and staff have laid the foundations for the success in the digital marketplace today. 

IFPI’s Engaging With Music study paints a rich and diverse picture of the music engagement landscape today. Music plays an important role on short form video platforms like TikTok, where 68% of the time respondents spent on these apps involved music-dependent videos such as lip syncing and dance challenges.  The report also highlights music’s long standing relationship with gaming. 31% of gamers have attended a virtual concert on platforms like Fortnite, Roblox, or Minecraft.

The full Engaging with Music 2021 report is now available on IFPI’s website. An accompanying infographic illustrating key takeaways from the report is also available here.

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Video: Canadian Music Data in 2021 at CMW’s Virtual Voices Series

Last week, Music Canada was proud to present a panel on Canadian Music Data in 2021, as part of Canadian Music Week’s Virtual Voices series. Canadians love music and data on streaming confirms it. MRC Canada’s data shows that Canada is reaching a new major milestone in streaming. Sometime soon, it’s expected that Canada will hit 2 billion songs streamed per week. The size and rapid growth of the streaming marketplace in Canada is an incredible achievement.

Brought to you by the RBC Emerging Artist Project, this panel featured insights from industry professionals on Canada’s strong, dynamic – but highly competitive – marketplace. Hosted by Rudy Blair, the panel featured a conversation with Erik Sowden, Head of Commercial Development at MRC Data; Alex Bellissimo, Director of Commercial Revenue at Warner Music Canada; and our moderator Miranda Mulholland, Artist and Music Canada’s Creative Culture Advisor.

Video of the panel is now available on Canadian Music Week’s YouTube channel, and is embedded below. 

Canadian Music Week has also announced that their 40th Anniversary event will take place April 19-23, 2022, from a variety of Toronto venues, with the in-person conference at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle from April 20-22.

For more information on upcoming panels in Canadian Music Week’s Virtual Voices series, as well as archived episodes, visit https://cmw.net/virtual-voices-series-presented-by-rbc-emerging-artists-project/.

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Join Music Canada at Canadian Music Week’s Virtual Voices series on Canadian Music Data in 2021

Join Music Canada at Canadian Music Week’s (CMW) Virtual Voices series next week on Tuesday, October 12th at 2pm ET as we, and our celebrated guests, break down ‘Canadian Music Data in 2021’. This panel will feature a conversation with Erik Sowden, Head of Commercial Development at MRC Data; Alex Bellissimo, Director of Commercial Revenue at Warner Music Canada; and our Moderator Miranda Mulholland, Artist and Music Canada’s Creative Culture Advisor.

The panel will focus on Canadians’ love of music, and the data on streaming that confirms it. MRC Canada’s data shows that Canada is close to hitting a new major milestone in streaming. Sometime soon, it’s expected that Canada will hit 2 billion songs streamed per week. The size and rapid growth of the streaming marketplace in Canada is an incredible achievement. At this panel, hear from industry professionals for their take on this strong, dynamic – but highly competitive – marketplace.

This is a free virtual event. To register, please click here.

You can view this panel when available, and previous panels within the Virtual Voices series from CMW, here.

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Music Canada Election 44 Recommendations

Monday, September 20, 2021, is election day in Canada, and the opportunity for Canadians to help shape our democracy. To learn more about how to cast your vote, riding boundaries, where to vote, and a list of candidates, visit the Elections Canada website. 

We know that Canadians value music. Music uplifted us during the pandemic and will be the soundtrack to recovery. When newly elected Parliamentarians return to Ottawa, we hope to see implementation of these three recommendations — which support not only those working in the live sector who continue to be impacted by the pandemic, but the broader Canadian music economy. 

Recommendation 1: Continued financial support for those who are prevented from working due to restrictions
Canadians believe that the live music sector, and those working in it, will need continued support from governments to help recover from the pandemic; 

Recommendation 2:      Ensure a functioning marketplace for the works of creators
Two simple amendments to the Copyright Act that are ready to be implemented – and have support across parties — would immediately improve the lives of artists and create a functioning marketplace for the businesses who invest in them. Eliminating the $1.25M Radio Royalty Exemption and the TV / Film Soundtrack exemption in the Copyright Act would help ensure that artists are paid when their music is played (more information can be found here).

Recommendation 3: Support for Unison Benevolent Fund
Unison Benevolent Fund is a non-profit, registered charity, serving as a critical life line in Canada’s music community. They provide emergency financial relief and mental health counselling, 24/7 in English and French, to artists, crews, technicians and other individuals working in the music sector who are facing immediate crises. Very often these are individuals who are not supported in traditional funding structures and are therefore more vulnerable.

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CONNECT Music Licensing and Music Canada launch Understanding Royalties In the Digital Age video series, supported by Ontario Creates

CONNECT Music Licensing and Music Canada have released a new video series, titled Understanding Royalties In the Digital Age, which clearly and succinctly explains key concepts and fundamentals about music royalties in Canada. The series expands on information from CONNECT’s often-cited Music Royalties Explained infographic, and aims to help Canadian artist entrepreneurs collect all the royalties they are entitled to. 

Made possible by the support of Ontario Creates, the four part series of short, shareable videos explores the process of licensing, distribution, and generating income from the broadcast and public performance of music. The videos are: 

“These videos are designed to provide Canadian artist entrepreneurs with key information about music rights, licensing, and how to collect royalties from the use of their music,” said Catherine Jones, Vice President of CONNECT Music Licensing. “By clearly outlining the royalties that artists are entitled to when their music is used, these videos will help more artists collect revenue and earn a living from their music.”

“All creators should have a working understanding of the royalties they are entitled to when their music is streamed online, played on the radio or broadcast in a restaurant, club, bar, fitness club or live event venue,” said Sarah Hashem, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives at Music Canada. “These videos outline how artist entrepreneurs can register their works with the applicable Canadians rights organizations, so that they can get paid when their music is played.” 

“Empowering artists to understand the intricacies of copyright and the mechanics in place for them to be compensated for their work is essential,” said Miranda Mulholland, artist, and Creative Culture Advisor at Music Canada. “Ensuring artists have access to this knowledge makes the entire music ecosystem more robust.” 

The videos are now available on-demand via the CONNECT Artist Entrepreneur Virtual Resource Centre, and can be viewed in any order.

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Canadian Live Music Association and Music Canada announce the launch of OntarioMusicCities.ca

June 22nd, 2021, Toronto: The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) and Music Canada have launched the new www.OntarioMusicCities.ca site, a resource for the broader music community to stimulate economic recovery across Ontario, with funding (administered by the CLMA) to build out and enhance Music Cities work. The support was announced by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries earlier this year.

“The last 18 months have deeply impacted our live music community, and the sector has seen a devastating 92% average decrease in revenue,” said Erin Benjamin, President & CEO of the CLMA. “We thank the Minister for recognizing the integral role live music plays in our quality of life, as well as its significant economic, social, and cultural benefits. While we still face a long road ahead, this critical Music Cities work will pave a way forward and help ensure a more vibrant future – for artists, communities, tourism, and the industry as a whole.”

As part of the initiative, a survey has been launched to help guide communities as they transform toward a thriving music community, and anyone involved in the music scene at a local level is encouraged to participate. The input gathered is the next step in the development of a province-wide music cities framework that aims to help the industry return stronger than ever. 

“I am thrilled that thanks to the Minister’s support of CLMA, Music Canada’s internationally recognized Music Cities framework will support the viability of more music communities across the province,” said Patrick Rogers, CEO of Music Canada. “Live music is a crucial revenue stream for Canada’s professional musicians, which creates jobs and drives local tourism. Supporting the business of live music is essential so our industry can get back to doing what they do best: creating exponential economic, social and cultural impact for artists and the communities they call home.”

The provincial Music Cities framework is grounded in Music Canada’s world-renowned ‘Music Cities’ framework, a proven model that offers support to communities across the province so they can better leverage their own local live music assets. The framework includes tools and resources that can be implemented to guide the development of local policy and bylaws, and community supports that focus on artists, venues and festivals, the wider supply chain and tourism, so that communities can grow their music economies.

The framework will deliver municipally-focused support and resources to local economies by exploring and recommending initiatives for towns and cities across the province along several categories. These include:

  • Advancing policies that support music and musicians,
  • Expanding music offices and music Advisory Boards across the province,
  • Developing initiatives that engage a broader community,
  • Furthering programs that provide access to music spaces,
  • Developing audience retention strategies for when it is safe to return to venues, festivals and music spaces,
  • Nurturing and leveraging strategic relationships with the tourism, business and other key sectors to align and advance rebuild and recovery efforts.

The CLMA and Music Canada remain committed to core values of equity, diversity and inclusion and by working with a range of organizations within the music community, they will work together to meaningfully gain ground to create a more inclusive music industry. 

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About The Canadian Live Music Association
The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) is the voice of Canada’s live music industry. Established in response to an identified need in the live music industry, the CLMA represents venues, clubs, concert promoters, festivals, talent agencies, arenas, performing arts centres, industry associations and networks, as well as suppliers to the sector. Its mission is to entrench the economic, social and cultural value of live music – creating the conditions for concerts to thrive, from coast to coast to coast.

About Music Canada
Music Canada represents Canada’s major record labels: Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada. We advocate for a healthy and vibrant Canadian music ecosystem, which includes labels, performing artists, publishers, songwriters, managers, live venues and others.

 

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The Unison Fund, the Canadian Live Music Association and Music Canada Welcome Direct Funding from the Province of Ontario

March 12th, 2021, Ottawa: The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA), and Music Canada welcome support received from Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries with today’s announcement of funding for the Unison Fund, Canada’s music industry charity and the CLMA, in support of the broader music community. 

$2M to the Unison Fund
Funding to Unison will provide much-needed emergency assistance to artists, creators, and industry from local communities across Ontario. Artists and the broader live music ecology have been deeply impacted, and this vital support to Unison comes at a time when it is desperately needed. 

“We sincerely thank Minister MacLeod and the Government of Ontario for their support and acknowledgement of the Unison Fund and the crucial and very necessary role the organization plays in providing critical assistance to vulnerable members of our music community in times of crisis. In March 2020, Unison, began the largest relief effort in our history and while we are no stranger to helping people during difficult times, truly nothing has reached the scope of the last twelve months. The investment will go a long way toward directly supporting those in the Ontario music community with the greatest need, as the urgency for assistance remains high,”  said Amanda Power, Executive Director, Unison Fund.

“As a provider of both emergency support and 24/7 free mental health counselling for the entire music industry, Unison has had and will continue to have a crucial role in making sure no one in our community falls through the cracks,” said Miranda Mulholland, artist and chair of Music Canada’s Advisory Council.

$500k to the CLMA for Province-Wide Music Cities Framework Development
The CLMA has been working tirelessly since the beginning of the crisis to save cultural infrastructure and protect jobs, seeking ways for the industry at large to not only recover from the devastating blow COVID has dealt, but to ultimately return, bigger and stronger than ever.  Many continue to face a staggering 92% average revenue loss within the industry, and 64% say they are at risk of permanent closure. Today’s announcement creates the opportunity for the association to take additional action for, and on behalf of, live music’s collective future: 

“It has been a year, and it isn’t over, something our Minister recognizes. Minister MacLeod also understands that supporting the business of live music is essential so our industry can get back to doing what they do best: creating exponential economic, social and cultural impact for artists, communities and tourism. We were just beginning to harness the true power of live music when COVID struck,” said Erin Benjamin, President & CEO of the CLMA. “With this support we will be able to take all that we have learned and continue to entrench the value our members bring to cities, towns and neighbourhoods across the province through the Music Cities lens.” 

Music Canada’s ‘Music Cities’ framework will provide a proven model to help support communities across the province better leverage their own local live music assets. Designed with world-renowned research that identifies key strategies large and small cities have used to grow their music economies, plans will be implemented to guide the development of local policy and bylaws, and community support that focuses on artists, venues and festivals, the wider supply chain and tourism. 

“A strong, healthy music industry can generate diverse benefits for a community including economic growth, job creation, increased spending, greater tax revenues, and cultural health. Our Music Cities framework has helped communities achieve this success,” said Patrick Rogers, CEO of Music Canada. “Recent research conducted by Music Canada shows that Canadians view live music venues as economic and cultural lifelines within their communities, and they understand that the pandemic will have severe impacts on the long-term viability of the live music sector which affects Canadian culture in the long run. This announcement of support from the provincial government is timely, and necessary support.”

Aimed at bridging the gap to bring the live music sector out of the pandemic, CLMA and Music Canada will seek to explore and recommend initiatives for towns and cities across the province along several categories. These include:

  • Advancing policies that support music and musicians, 
  • Expanding music offices and music Advisory Boards across the province, 
  • Developing initiatives that engage a broader community, 
  • Furthering programs that provide access to music spaces, 
  • Developing audience retention strategies for when it is safe to return to venues, festivals and music spaces, 
  • Nurturing and leveraging strategic relationships with the tourism, business and other key sectors to align and advance rebuild and recovery efforts.

“As our experience in London has demonstrated, music can bring enormous value to the economic and social fabric of a community. The Ontario Government’s financial commitment to live music will create opportunities for artists, reinvigorate venues, delight audiences and will allow us all to revive live,” said Cory Crossman, Music Industry Development Officer, London Music Office.

Additionally, the CLMA and Music Canada will work with a range of organizations within the music community to ensure that our shared commitments to equity, diversity and inclusion remain at the forefront.

For more information on the announcement from Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries please click here.

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About Unison Benevolent Fund
Unison Fund, Canada’s music industry charity, provides counselling and emergency relief services to the Canadian music community in times of hardship or difficulties. For over a decade, Unison has been committed to helping producers, engineers, singers/songwriters, musicians, production crews, and thousands more through our financial assistance and counselling and health solutions programs. For more information, please visit: www.unisonfund.ca. If you can, PLEASE make a donation by visiting www.unisonfund.ca or text the word ‘UNISON’ to 45678 and follow the prompts to donate $10, $20, or $25.  Every donation counts.  Every donation helps.  Let’s keep Canadian music and entertainment ALIVE.

About The Canadian Live Music Association
The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) is the voice of Canada’s live music industry. Established in response to an identified need in the live music industry, the CLMA represents venues, clubs, concert promoters, festivals, talent agencies, arenas, performing arts centres, industry associations and networks, as well as suppliers to the sector. Its mission is to entrench the economic, social and cultural value of live music – creating the conditions for concerts to thrive, from coast to coast to coast.

About Music Canada
Music Canada is a non-profit trade organization that represents the major record companies in Canada:  Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada. Music Canada also works with some of the leading independent record labels and distributors, recording studios, live music venues, concert promoters, managers and artists in the promotion and development of the music cluster.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Charlotte Thompson, Red Umbrella P.R.
Unison Fund
charlotte@redumbrellapr.com

Erin Benjamin
Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA)
ebenjamin@canadianlivemusic.ca
(613) 769-5559

Erica Meekes, Music Canada
emeekes@musiccanada.com / (416) 462-1485

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