Canadian artists

[TransformX]

From the front page of: http://isohunt.com/

As reported here and here, Canadian artists such as Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Sum 41, Stars, Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace), Dave Bidini (Rheostatics), Billy Talent, John K. Samson (Weakerthans), Broken Social Scene, Sloan, Andrew Cash and Bob Wiseman, have formed a new Canadian Music Creators Coalition (CMCC). They are speaking out against the same entertainment industry associations such as the RIAA and CRIA, who claims to represent artist rights. Stop the piracy! Feed the artists! Apparently that's not the case according to the CRIA's own study. Talk about irony.

Canadian Music Creators Coalition wrote:

1. Suing Our Fans is Destructive and Hypocritical

Artists do not want to sue music fans. The labels have been suing our fans against our will, and laws enabling these suits cannot be justified in our names. We oppose any copyright reforms that would make it easier for record companies to do this. The government should repeal provisions of the Copyright Act that allow labels to unfairly punish fans who share music for non-commercial purposes with statutory damages of $500 to $20,000 per song.

2. Digital Locks are Risky and Counterproductive

Artists do not support using digital locks to increase the labels’ control over the distribution, use and enjoyment of music or laws that prohibit circumvention of such technological measures. The government should not blindly implement decade-old treaties designed to give control to major labels and take choices away from artists and consumers. Laws should protect artists and consumers, not restrictive technologies. Consumers should be able to transfer the music they buy to other formats under a right of fair use, without having to pay twice.

3. Cultural Policy Should Support Actual Canadian Artists

The vast majority of new Canadian music is not promoted by major labels, which focus mostly on foreign artists. The government should use other policy tools to support actual Canadian artists and a thriving musical and cultural scene. The government should make a long-term commitment to grow support mechanisms like the Canada Music Fund and FACTOR, invest in music training and education, create limited tax shelters for copyright royalties, protect artists from inequalities in bargaining power and make collecting societies more transparent.

[Claymonkey]

I'm all for movements like this. Checks and balances are around for a reason. This is why one sided arguements and movements by industry or government are a bad thing. Big business is necessary in this world but it shouldn't be given free reign. Just like neither the Republicans or the Democrats should have full control of the government. You give an extremist in any case free reign and it's usually a very bad idea. We all need grounding.

Anyway, I was tangenting. I hope more things like this happen so the RIAA, CRIA and the MPAA stop getting blank checks written for htem.

[schmosef]

I was reading about this before... Can't remember where... I hope some American artists run with this too.

[Jessterw]

Many have, just not in the same coordinated group effort. Part of the problem there is that many of the American artists who do, are ones who have fallen out of the public eye or were never there before. They may make the news, but the record companies and groups like the RIAA don't take notice because these artists aren't the ones bringing in the profits. Sadly.

Good to see a group of artists that do have some weight, Canadian or not, coming together to try and put some pressure on the CRIA and RIAA.

[Claymonkey]

That's actually an interesting point. A lot of the music being produced now aren't the old names or the non-conforming sort. THe music industry is focusing on a few uberstars to make maximum profit, and shooting themselves in the foot. What's stopping all these artists left on the wayside from combining forces as their contracts expire and making a new label together? One that carries its own weight and does things right?

You'd think a bunch of second tiers getting together would still make economic sense and make it possible to get funding for it.

[Jessterw]

It's entirely possible given a number of artists have started their own labels as of late. Of course, there have been others before that have done the same to no mutual benefit of the industry save for the artist that made the move.

[Claymonkey]

Sadly that's not terribly surprising. We're all altruistic until we are on the other side and see all the money to be had.

[Jessterw]

Well I think the general motive is to provide a better environment for the artist and question, and other (up and coming or unknown) artists that the former feels have some worth. That in itself is great, given that many of the artists will be ones that the major labels would never have considered as mainstream enough.

And like you said, once they are on the other side and are the ones making the money, there probably isn't much motivation to change the way things are.

[lowlifecat]

unfortunatly, because of the current conservative Harper goverment, this will all amount to nothing.

From what my friends in Ottawa are telling me; Harper is trying his best to turn Canada into a US clone/puppet.