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MEDIA ADVISORY: Six music cities to share best practices for music development at Music Cities Exchange during NXNE

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Toronto, June 12, 2014: Representatives from six cities who have taken a pro-active approach to developing their music scenes will take part in a Music Cities Exchange during NXNE on Friday, June 20, 2014. Panelists from Toronto, Austin, Hamilton, London, Chicago, Kitchener, and Montreal have been invited to participate in a moderated forum where panelists discuss the steps their city has taken to leverage their respective music scenes and grow opportunities for music development.

The Music Cities Exchange will share best practices, discuss challenges and opportunities facing their respective music communities, and explore the relationship between music and tourism agencies, municipal governments and other sectors.

When: Friday, June 20 @ 2:30 – 4 pm

Where: The Portland Room, The Spoke Club, 600 King St W, Toronto

To arrange interviews with panelists, please contact Quentin Burgess at qburgess@musiccanada.com or 647-981-8410.

This event is proudly sponsored by NXNE, 4479, and Music Canada.

– 30 –

For more information:

Music Canada Media Contact: Quentin Burgess, 647.981.8410, qburgess@musiccanada.com

NXNE Media Contact: FLIP PUBLICITY Damien Nelson, 416.533.7710 X221, damien@flip-publicity.com

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Artists & Music Companies Support Re:Sound Application for Judicial Review of Copyright Board Tariff 8 Decision

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ARTISTS & MUSIC COMPANIES SUPPORT RE:SOUND APPLICATION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW OF COPYRIGHT BOARD TARIFF 8 DECISION


Monday, June 16, 2014 (Toronto, ON) – We, the undersigned, firmly support Re:Sound’s Application for Judicial Review of the Copyright Board’s Tariff 8 decision setting royalty rates for webcasting services in Canada.

The Tariff 8 decision is a serious setback for the music community in Canada, for artists and the music companies who invest in their careers. The decision discards years of agreements freely negotiated between digital music service providers and the music industry and sets rates for music webstreaming services in Canada that are less than 10% of the rates that the same services pay in the United States and many other countries. The Board set the rates based on what it considered to be “fair and equitable”, but in doing so, discarded existing market rates at which digital music service providers had been operating in Canada.

The Board’s decision comes as the result of an inherently flawed system that lacks clear criteria for rate-setting and allows the Board to reject market rates. The Board had no statutory or regulatory obligation to take into account existing agreements on webcasting royalties that have been successfully negotiated between the music industry and its business partners for these services. The resulting rates ignore international standards that support the growth and development of the industry in the world marketplace. Canada, in fact, stands alone among its major trading partners – including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands – in its adherence to a mandatory tribunal process that determines royalties without regard for what currently works in the marketplace.

It is clear that a legislative framework that ignores the reality of the marketplace is one that will continue to harm the business climate and create market uncertainty, delaying the entry of new services into the Canadian marketplace. Indeed, many of the Copyright Board’s decisions on major new tariffs have been the subject of Judicial Review by the Federal Court of Appeal, creating years of delay and uncertainty.

From 1999-2012, Canadian recorded music sales decreased by more than 50%. Establishing rates in Canada that are reflective of both market and international rates is critical for Canadian artists whose livelihood depends on earning a decent living wage from their profession, for music companies who actively develop and nurture Canadian talent throughout the world, and for all Canadians who value a healthy and prosperous music industry.

Adagio Music
Alberta Music
Analekta
Aporia Records
Aqua Sound Entertainment
Association québécoise de l’industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la video (ADISQ)
Audiogram
Awesome Music
Boompa Records
Boonsdale Records
Borealis Records
Canadian Council of Music Industry Associations (CCMIA)
Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM)
Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA)
C-Weed Band
Coalition Music
La Compagnie Larivée Cabot Champagne
Cordova Bay Entertainment Group
Crystal Math Music Group
Curve Music
Dare To Care
Dine Alone Records
Disques Artic
Equator Music
File Under:Music
Greg Kavanagh Music
Groundswell Music
Independent Digital Licensing Agency
Instinct Musique
Justin Time Records
Linus Entertainment
Manitoba Music
Maple Music Recordings
Marquis
MDM Recordings
Mr. Label
Music and Film in Motion
Music BC Industry Association
Music Canada
Music/Musique NB (MNB)
Music Newfoundland & Labrador (Music NL)
Music Nova Scotia
Music Ontario
Music Prince Edward Island
Music Yukon
Nettwerk Music Group
Opak Media
Paper Bag Records
Passeport
Play Records/Play Digital
Productions Benannah
Royalty Records
Remedy Music
SaskMusic (The Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association)
Secret City Records
Six Shooter Records
Sonic Envy
Sonic Records
Sonic Unyon
Sony Music Entertainment Canada
Sparks Music
SRO-Anthem
Stomp Records
Stony Plain Records
The Children’s Group
Tonic Records
True North Records
Universal Music Canada
URBNET Records
Warner Music Canada
Wax Records

MEDIA CONTACTS:

 

Lisa Fiorilli
CIMA
(416) 274-2666		 Valérie Roy
ADISQ
(514) 842-5147 ext. 290		 Kate Ward
Music Canada
(647) 825-5260
Bob D’Eith
CCMIA
(604) 873-1914		 Victoria Lord
CFM (VLPR Inc.)
(416) 484-9047

Release PDF

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Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage releases Review of the Canadian Music Industry report

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Yesterday, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage released its Review of the Canadian Music Industry report, available at http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/Committee/412/CHPC/Reports/RP6661036/412_CHPC_Rpt05_PDF/412_CHPC_Rpt05-e.pdf.

Music Canada applauds the Committee for its comprehensive study of Canada’s music industry, and thanks the Committee members for their care in considering testimony from witnesses across many different facets of Canada’s music industry. The Committee held 14 meetings on the study, hearing from 82 witnesses and receiving 15 briefs. This process allowed the Committee to hear from stakeholders from areas that they may normally have less opportunity to interact with, such as music education and music tourism.The Committee report focuses on five themes:

  • Digital distribution and streaming
  • Music education
  • Music tourism
  • Current funding – future investment
  • FACTOR/Musicaction

The report gives an overview of the current state of the Canadian music industry, summarizes witness testimony on the five themes, and considers outcomes proposed by witnesses on each theme.

The report provides the government with ten recommendations for strengthening its support for the Canadian music industry:

  1. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada examine the time that it takes for decisions to be rendered by the Copyright Board of Canada ahead of the upcoming review of the Copyright Act so that any changes could be considered by the Copyright Board of Canada as soon as possible.
  2. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada work with provincial authorities and other stakeholders to improve the musical knowledge and skills of Canadians.
  3. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada work with stakeholders in order to launch an information campaign on the actual cost of creating music, the negative impacts of illegal downloading and the importance of respecting the intellectual property of music creators, with an outcome of assisting the music industry in terms of improved measures and initiatives related to these issues, including preventing piracy.
  4. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada work with stakeholders from the Canadian music industry and the Canadian tourism industry to make music tourism in Canada a focus of marketing campaigns.
  5. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada study the economic impact of introducing a tax credit to support the Canadian music industry, taking inspiration, if needed, from those granted to the film and television industries.
  6. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada undertake a study of the impact of digital technology on the Canadian music industry and on government funding programs.
  7. The Committee recommends that the Department of Canadian Heritage ensure that the various components of the Canada Music Fund reflect the changes in Canada’s music industry, including potential new sources of funding from the private sector, with special attention given to creators, entrepreneurs and independent producers.
  8. The Committee recommends that the administration of the Music Entrepreneur Component of the Canada Music Fund be transferred from the Department of Canadian Heritage to a new third-party organization(s) based on the model of FACTOR and Musicaction.
  9. The Committee recommends that the Department of Canadian Heritage ensure that the general public and recipients are aware that FACTOR and Musicaction funding is made on behalf of the Government of Canada.
  10. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada give the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission the capacity to enforce the requirement for the private broadcasters to pay, in a timely manner, the required annual contribution for Canadian content development

It is positive that the Committee recommends the government examine the time it takes for decisions to be rendered by the Copyright Board of Canada ahead of the upcoming review of the Copyright Act. Numerous witnesses, including Music Canada, identified the length of time for decisions to be rendered by the Board as a cause of uncertainty in the legal landscape and a deterrent to progress. As the report notes, a dozen witnesses identified insufficient resources as a reason the rate-setting process is so lengthy. We support providing the Copyright Board with the proper tools, personnel and financing to function more as a business development office, as well as Parliament allowing rights holders and digital services to do deals directly at fair market value.

We are very pleased to see the Committee recognize the importance of music education to all Canadians. As the report notes, the positive effects of music education came up repeatedly during the Committee’s study, with several witnesses urging support for music education as it fosters critical thinking, imagination, self-esteem, and self-discipline, assets which are useful in an economy based on information technology and communications. It is gratifying to see our Next Big Bang report cited on this point in the report.

We are supportive of the Committee’s recommendation that the government work with stakeholders to develop information campaigns on the value of music, the negative impacts of illegal downloading, and the importance of respecting the intellectual property rights of creators. We would be very happy to work with the government in developing these campaigns.

The Committee’s recommendation that the government work with stakeholders from Canada’s music and tourism industries to make music tourism in Canada a focus of marketing campaigns is a very positive step. This study allowed the Committee to hear of the opportunities in music tourism from stakeholders such as North by Northeast, Live Nation Canada, and Ticketmaster Canada, all of who identified the enormous potential for in Canada’s live music sector. As well, the Committee heard from the Canadian Tourism Commission, who identified music as an important part of its marketing and tourism offerings, and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, who remarked that music and culture are “leading drivers for American visitation.”

We are very pleased to see the Committee recommend the study of introducing a tax credit to support the music industry, taking inspiration, if needed from the existing tax credit system for film and television industries. The development of artists is a form of R&D and is deserving of public support, similar to the tax credits available in other R&D-intensive industries.

The Committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the Report.

The report has the support of the three main parties, with some additional recommendations made by the New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party. In particular, the Liberal complementary report suggests more comprehensive changes to Copyright Board based on testimony from witnesses.

Music Canada urges the government to support the findings of the report and looks forward to working with the government on implementing its recommendations.

Categories: Industry News, Music Education, Music Tourism
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The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage – Review of the Canadian Music Industry

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The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has undertaken a Review of the Canadian Music Industry, following an approved motion at the Committee on December 5, 2013, where “it was agreed, — That, pursuant to S.O. 108(2) the Committee undertake a review of the Canadian music industry… in order to:

a) inform Committee members of the details and impacts of the government support on Canadian music, as well as the creators and entrepreneurs who create and distribute music in Canada;

b) determine how funding is allocated;

c) to establish whether the government support is meeting the objectives laid out for it, and to make recommendations to the government on how it might strengthen support for Canadian music, and report its findings to the House.”

 

 

Music Canada is looking forward for an opportunity to address the committee on themes as explored in The Next Big Bang, A New Direction for Music in Canada.

For reference, links to witness appearances and transcripts are below, and we will update this page following future appearances.

Past Meetings:

March 4, 2014:
 Witnesses:
Department of Canadian Heritage: Jean-François Bernier, Director General, Cultural Industries; Sophie Couture, Director, Music Policy and Programs.
Minutes
Transcript
Audio streams

March 25, 2014:
 Witnesses:
Society for Reproduction Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers in Canada: Alain Lauzon, General Manager.
Connect Music Licensing: Victoria Shepherd, Executive Director.
Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists: Brad Keenan, Director, Recording Artists’ Collecting Society; David Faber, Canadian Musician, Faber Drive .
Association québécoise de l’industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la vidéo (ADISQ) : Solange Drouin, Vice-President of Public Affairs and Executive Director.
Canadian Independent Music Association: Stuart Johnston, President; Shauna de Cartier, Chair.
Music BC Industry Association: Robert D’Eith, Executive Director.
Minutes
Transcript
Audio streams

March 27, 2014:
Witnesses:
Canadian Music Publishers Association: Elisabeth Bihl, Executive Director; Jodie Ferneyhough, President.
Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada: Gilles Daigle, General Counsel and Head of Legal Services.
Professional Music Publishers’ Association: David Murphy, President.
Library and Archives of Canada: Hervé Déry, Acting Librarian and Archivist of Canada, Office of the Librarian and Archivist of Canada; Cecilia Muir, Chief Operating Officer, Office of the Chief Operating Officer.
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission: Scott Hutton, Executive Director, Broadcasting; Annie Laflamme, Director, Radio Policy and Applications.
Minutes
Transcript
Audio Streams

April 1, 2014
Witnesses:
Alliance nationale de l’industrie musicale : Natalie Bernardin, President; Benoit Henry, Chief Executive Officer.
Songwriters Association of Canada: Greg Johnston, Vice-President; Jean-Robert Bisaillon, Vice-President.
Gospel Music Association of Canada: Martin Smith, President.
Volu.me: Shawn Cooper, President and Co-Founder.
SiriusXM Canada: Andréanne Sasseville, Director, Canadian Content Development and Industry Relations; Paul Cunningham, Vice-President.
Songza: Vanessa Thomas, Managing Director, Canada.
Minutes
Transcript
Audio streams

April 8, 2014
Witnesses:
Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences: Allan Reid, Director, MusiCounts
As individuals: Brett Kissel; Louis O’Reilly, Manager, O’Reilly International Inc.
Re:Sound Music Licensing Company: Ian MacKay, President
Avalanche Productions and Sound Publishing: Sébastien Nasra, President-Founder, M for Montreal – Mundial Montreal
Artisti and Union des artistes: Richard Petit; Annie Morin, Director
Minutes
Transcript
Audio streams

April 10, 2014
Witnesses:
Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec: Pierre-Daniel Rheault, Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Federation of Musicians: Mark Tetreault, Director of Symphonic Services
Guilde des musiciens et musiciennes du Québec: Luc Fortin, President
North by Northeast (NXNE): Mike Tanner, Director of Operations
Live Nation Canada: Riley O’Connor, Chairman; Ken Craig, Promoter
Ticketmaster Canada: Patti-Anne Tarlton, Chief Operating Officer
Minutes
Transcript
Audio streams

April 29, 2014
Witnesses:
Cerberus Management and Consulting: Brian Hetherman, President
Quebecor Media Inc.: J. Serge Sasseville, Vice-President, Corporate and Institutional Affairs; Christian Breton, Vice-President, Music sector, Groupe Archambault
Polaris Music Prize: Steve Jordan, Founder and Executive Director
RBC Ottawa Bluesfest: Mark Monahan, Executive Director
Canadian Tourism Commission: Greg Klassen, President and Chief Executive Officer
Tourism Industry Association of Canada: David F. Goldstein, President and Chief Executive Officer
Minutes
Transcript
Audio stream

May 1, 2014
Witnesses:
Institut de la statistique du Québec: Dominique Jutras, Director, Observatoire de la culture et des communications; Claude Fortier, Project Manager, Observatoire de la culture et des communications
Warner Music Canada: Steven Kane, President
Nettwerk Music Group: Simon Mortimer-Lamb, President and Chief Operating Officer
L’Équipe Spectra: François Bissoondoyal, Director, Label; Roseline Rico, Vice-President, Governmental Affairs
Coup de coeur francophone: Alain Chartrand, Executive and Artistic Director
Lula Lounge: Jose Ortega, Co-Artistic Director, Lula Music and Arts Centre; Tracy Jenkins, Executive and Co-Artistic Director, Lula Music and Arts Centre
Notice of meeting
Transcript
Audio stream

May 6, 2014
Witnesses:
Canadian Independent Recording Artists’ Association: Zachary Leighton, Executive Director; Gregg Terrence, President
National Music Centre: Andrew Mosker, President and Chief Executive Officer
Stingray Digital: Eric Albert, Executive Vice-President; Mathieu Peloquin, Senior Vice-President Marketing and Communications
Google Canada: Jason Kee, Counsel, Public Policy and Government Relations
Deezer: Justin Erdman, Managing Director, Canada
Notice of meeting
Audio stream

May 8, 2014
Witnesses:
Quinlan Road Limited: Loreena McKennitt, President; As individuals, Jim Vallance, Paul Hoffert
Mo’fat Management: Stéphanie Moffatt, President; Mylène Fortier, Director, Marketing
Music NB : Jean Surette, Executive Director; Richard Hornsby, Director of Music, University of New Brunswick
Manitoba Music: Stephen Carroll, Board Member
Notice of meeting
Audio stream

May 13, 2014
Witnesses:
Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR): Susan Wheeler, Chair; Duncan McKie, President; Allison Outhit, Vice-President, Operation
Fondation Musicaction: Pierre Rodrigue, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Louise Chenail, Chief Executive Officer
Fonds RadioStar: François Bissoondoyal, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Louise Chenail, Chief Executive Officer
Music Canada: Graham Henderson, President
Radio Starmaker Fund: Sylvie Courtemanche, Chair of the Board; Chip Sutherland, Executive Director; Alan Doyle, Member of the Board
Canadian Music Week: Neill Dixon, President
Notice of meeting
Video stream

May 15, 2014

Drafting Instructions for a Report
Notice of meeting
Video stream

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A Tribe Called Red & Lisa LeBlanc deliver incredible performances at Minister of Canadian Heritage Shelly Glover’s Canadian Music Night

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A Tribe Called Red & Lisa LeBlanc delivered incredible performances this week at Minister of Canadian Heritage Shelly Glover’s Canadian Music Night, an event series celebrating Canadian music and its contribution to Canada’s economy. The event, organized by Music Canada and Quebecor, with the support of TD Bank, Stingray Digital Group, CIMA, and ADISQ, was held at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and was well attended by a non-partisan crowd including Members of Parliament from various parties, Senators, members of the media, and representatives from Canada’s music industry.

LisaLeblanc1
Photo: Lisa Leblanc performs at the National Arts Centre
Photo by John Major Photography

ATCR1
Photo: A Tribe Called Red perform at the National Arts Centre
Photo by John Major Photography

The Minister’s Music Night series is an opportunity to expose Members of Parliament to some of Canada’s top musical talents, and the fifth iteration of the event highlighted Canada’s diverse and eclectic music styles. This was the first time the event featured Aboriginal and Acadian artists, with the distinct mix of A Tribe Called Red’s blend of traditional pow wow vocals and drumming with cutting-edge electronic music, and Lisa LeBlanc’s unique style of francophone Acadian ‘folk-trash’ songs. In an interview with QMI, Lisa LeBlanc said it was a great opportunity to share the stage with A Tribe Called Red, “which doesn’t happen often, because we have such different music styles.”

This was the second Canadian Music Night hosted by Minister Glover, following an event held at Museum of Civilization (History) in Gatineau, QC last December, which featured performances by Kaïn & Brett Kissel. After the event, Minister Glover highlighted the vitality of Canada’s music industry, noting the cultural and economic importance of the sector.

“I was thrilled to once again host the popular Music Night and showcase some of Canada’s best and brightest stars in the music industry. This unforgettable evening left me with a deeper sense of pride in our country’s dynamic, brilliant musicians and artists,” said Minister Glover. “Our guest artists, folk-rock singer-songwriter Lisa Leblanc and electronic music group A Tribe Called Red, have made waves and enriched the lives of many, both at home and abroad, with their unique styles.”

 

Prior to the show, A Tribe Called Red & Lisa LeBlanc toured Parliament Hill with MP Patrick Brown, which included a visit to the Senate, the Library of Parliament, and the Peace Tower.

LibraryParliament
Photo: A Tribe Called Red and Lisa Leblanc in the Library of Parliament
Photo by John Major Photography

PeaceTower
Photo: A Tribe Called Red and Lisa Leblanc in the Peace Tower
Photo by John Major Photography

MinisterArtists
Photo: A Tribe Called Red, Lisa Leblanc, and the Honourable Shelly Glover at Parliament
Photo by John Major Photography

 

SpeakerReception
Photo: A Tribe Called Red, Lisa Leblanc, and the Honourable Andrew Scheer at the Speaker’s Reception
Photo by John Major Photography

SergeSpeaking
Photo: Serge Sasseville, Senior Vice President, Corporate and Institutional Affairs, Quebecor, speaks at the National Arts Centre
Photo by John Major Photography

GHSpeaking2
Photo: Graham Henderson, President of Music Canada, speaks at the National Arts Centre
Photo by John Major Photography

GaryClement
Photo: Gary Clement, Senior Manager, Government Relations, TD Bank Group, speaks at the National Arts Centre
Photo by John Major Photography

MinisterSpeaking
Photo: the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, speaks at the National Arts Centre
Photo by John Major Photography

After a sound check and meet and greet at the National Arts Centre, Lisa LeBlanc kicked off the show, wowing the audience with her energetic performance on guitar and banjo, drawing comparisons to kd lang, Linda Ronstadt, and Janis Joplin. LeBlanc earned a standing ovation from the crowd, who were clapping and stomping their feet along with the music.

A Tribe Called Red’s set continued the high level of energy in the room, both with their mix of traditional pow wow drumming and dubstep and electronic music, and the incredible dancing from James Jones, the traditional hoop dancer who joined them on stage. By the end of their set, members of the audience were on stage as well, joining James in a circle dance.

After their performances, both bands joined members of the audience in a post-reception in the lobby, signing autographs and snapping photos with their new fans.
Several guests of the events shared highlighted from the concert on Twitter, embedded below:

 

For more photos from the event, see our album on our Facebook page.

Post by Music Canada.
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FitMix launched as one-stop music solution for fitness instructors

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Canadian fitness instructors have a new option for high-energy music to power their spin classes and bootcamp sessions: FitMix Inc. is a new digital service offering a one-stop music solution for fitness instructors.FitMixPlaylist

Licensed by all of Canada’s major labels and top independent labels through Connect Music Licensing, FitMix leases continuous mixes of ten to twelve songs, which are mixed especially for exercise classes. As Julie from Fitmix described, this means the mixes are continuous, which allows the exercise classes to maintain their pace as there are no breaks between the songs. Each mix is timed between 45 and 48 minutes, so classes keep a consistent time.

The tempo of Fitmix’s songs are also designed to fit with exercise class routines, with the songs’ beats per minutes matching the desired intensity of the class. As the chart shows, some of the latest FitMixes gradually gain intensity, while others end with a slower song for the cool-down portion of the class.

FitMix is a welcome addition for instructors, says Julie, because it allows them to have a one-stop shop for their music, which is pre-licensed and allows them to spend their time working with clients instead of preparing playlists, which is generally unpaid work for instructors. The Connect Music License covers the reproduction of sound recordings, while the gym operaters can cover the public performance of the music with a license from SOCAN & Re:Sound.

FitMix releases are in mp3 format, which allows instructors to bring them to class on their mp3 player or mobile phone. All of FitMix’s songs are performed by the original artist, and are clean versions to avoid offensive language during classes.

For more information, visit their website at https://fitmix.ca/.FitMixBPMs

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Teenage Head Presented With Gold Records In Hometown

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On Friday May 9, 2014, Music Canada was on hand at This Ain’t Hollywood in Hamilton, Ontario, for Teenage Head’s hometown show in celebration of George Pevere’s new book “Gods of the Hammer: The Teenage Head Story.” The much anticipated book release was not the only call for celebration at the special homecoming. In front of a sold-out crowd, the Hamilton natives were presented with Gold records for their 1982 album “Some Kinda Fun” confirming the sale of 50,000 albums since its release. The award plaques were presented on stage during their set by club owner and longtime friend Lou Molinaro.


Original Teenage Head members Stephen Mahon (bass) and Gord Lewis (guitar) happily accepted their awards mid-set. An additional award was presented in memory of Frankie “Venom” Kerr, who passed away in 2008 after a battle with throat cancer. Kerr’s sisters Christine Crawford and Dorothy Mark were on hand to accept the award and toasted to their late brother on stage with the rest of the band.

The special evening was filled with many guest vocalists including Max Kerman from Arkells and Chris Houston of Forgotten Rebels.


Following the emotional surprise, the band kicked right back into their set accompanied by St. Alvia frontman and local radio host Benjamin Rispin.


The momentous occasion was covered by The Hamilton Spectator following the night’s events.

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Global Forum 2014: Blake Morgan on #IRespectMusic and Online Advocacy

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Last week during Canadian Music Week, artist and entrepreneur Blake Morgan was the keynote speaker of the 2014 Global Forum, where he discussed the I Respect Music campaign and best practices for grassroots advocacy campaigns.Video of his presentation is now available at http://youtu.be/HHt0VTli23A, and is embedded below.

As Blake explained, the I Respect Music campaign was born out backlash against the Internet Radio Fairness Act debacle in the United States, as well as artist backlash against low royalty rates paid by Pandora, but has quickly grown into a movement centered around the idea that music should be respected.
Blake told the audience that the fundamental part of the I Respect Music Campaign was that “artists should be paid for their work – and that’s okay to say!”

At the Global Forum, Morgan told the audience about the early days of the I Respect Music campaign, referencing two articles he wrote, titled Pandora Needs to Do Right By Artists, which gained coverage in TIME, Reuters, and other media outlets, and Art and Music Are Professions Worth Fighting for, which went viral and became Huffington Post’s most-read article of 2013. The article closes with a simple message: “My New Year’s resolution is to stand up more, and speak more. I respect my profession. I respect artists. I respect music.”

Blake then referenced the below tweet from Joana Marie Lor, a young artist from the Philippines, which he calls the “tweet that started it all.”

Blake says Joana’s photo inspired I Respect Music’s ‘selfie’ campaign, in which musicians and music lovers to tweet a photo of themselves with a sign proclaiming #IRespectMusic. The campaign has since received support from high profile artists and fans like Patrick Stewart, David Byrne, Gloria Steinem, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Roseanne Cash, Jane Fonda, and more.

In just the first 30 days of the campaign, the campaign garnered more than 10,000 signatures to a petition urging the US Congress to extend public performance royalties on sound recordings. Blake credits the honesty and authenticity of I Respect Music as key to its success.

 

The video from the Global Forum is now available and embedded below; we encourage all to view it and add their support at http://irespectmusic.org/.

Global Forum attendess added their support for the I Respect Music campaign in a series of photos and tweets:

Post by Music Canada.

 

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Global Forum 2014: #IRespectMusic and online advocacy with Blake Morgan

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How to successfully engage artists in campaigns advocating for their rights and the value of music has been a topic of much debate at the Global Forum Networking Breakfast. Musician David Lowery and filmmaker Ellen Seidler, two previous speakers, both explored the issue at length.

Therefore the grassroots campaign started by artist and entrepreneur Blake Morgan is a terrific case study for the 2014 Global Forum. What stemmed from the Internet Radio Fairness Act debacle in the United States and artist backlash against Pandora has grown into a movement centered around the idea that music should be respected.

In just the first 30 days of the campaign, Blake Morgan’s I Respect Music campaign garnered more than 10,000 signatures to a petition urging the US Congress to extend public performance royalties on sound recordings. The campaign, which asks musicians and music lovers to tweet a photo of themselves with a sign proclaiming #IRespectMusic, has received a lot of support including high profile artists and fans like Patrick Stewart, David Byrne,Gloria Steinem, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Roseanne Cash, Jane Fonda, and more. For more information, visit IRespectMusic.org.

What has made the I Respect Music Campaign so successful? What’s next on Blake’s radar?

Keynote speaker Blake Morgan and host Chris Castle of the Music Technology Policy blog will discuss the campaign at Canadian Music Week’s Global Forum, on
Friday May 9th, at 9am.

The Global Forum Networking Breakfast is an invitation-only event. Music Canada is a proud sponsor.

Update: Video from the Global Forum is now available below:

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Chris Hadfield & Bramwell Tovey lead nationwide singalong for Music Monday 10th Anniversary

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On Monday May 5, 2014, students from coast to coast took part in the 10th Anniversary of Music Monday, an annual event that brings together thousands of children, musicians, parents and community members to celebrate the gift of music in our lives. Launched by the Coalition For Music Education in 2005, Music Monday unites communities and schools across Canada by singing one piece of music on the same day at the same time.

Beginning in Gander, NL with co-hosts Jessie Downey and Liam Dawson, the Music Monday webcast brought participants to various towns and schools across Canada to watch their unique individual performances.

During Toronto, ON’s festivities at the Ontario Science Centre, Music Canada’s Amy Terrill, VP Public Affairs, provided remarks calling for a commitment to a developing a national music education strategy, which can be viewed below:

In a statement in the House Of Commons on May 5, MP Andrew Cash (Davenport, NDP) emphasized that music education “helps young people to see the world in a broader way” and “access to a music education should not be left to just luck and chance.” Cash’s full statement can be viewed here.

MP Rick Dykstra (St. Catherines, CPC) also spoke, stating, “I invite everyone to tune in and enjoy this great day as we celebrate the impact of music on Canada and the impact Canadian music has on the world.” Dykstra’s full statement can be seen here.

At around 12:55 PM EST, participants sang along with Astronaut Chris Hadfield in Edmonton and Maestro Bramwell Tovey in Vancouver to “I.S.S (Is Somebody Singing)”, a song penned by Hadfield for last year’s event.

The song’s co-writer, Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies, appeared from Tuscany to announce next year’s event in Montreal, QC. Robertson also announced that next year, in partnership with the SOCAN, Music Monday is inviting any interested Canadians to submit their song ideas for 2015.

Using the hashtag #MM10, participants shared photos of their Music Monday experiences via Twitter and Facebook. A collection of tweets can be seen below:

Categories: Advocacy, Music Education
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