CCA Bulletin 25/09

October 28, 2009

The CCA urges the government to keep investing in musical development and diversity

Just the facts

Last week, the CCA appeared in front of the Standing Committee on Heritage which is currently studying the impacts of losing two programs abolished by the federal government: investing in the recording and marketing of “specialized” Canadian music. These programs gave grants to musicians producing works which, while not currently commercially viable, are deemed artistically innovative and capable of building an audience through the new digital economy.

Though we applaud the government for recognizing the need to increase targeted budgets at FACTOR and MusicAction, the CCA asked the government, to find the $1.3m required to maintain these strategically important programs abolished to fund the increases. The CCA sent both a letter to Minister Moore and gave a presentation to the Parliamentary Committee.

The CCA expresses particular concern about the disappearance of a very low-cost service giving 200 small independent Canadian labels access to 300 on-line distribution services and to 2000+ public libraries subscription services around the world.

Tell me more

Given the breadth of its mandate and the wide perspective it must adopt to be inclusive of its membership, the CCA does not normally intervene in such specific issues. However, the CCA intervenes whenever fundamental principles are at risk with respect to the health of the Canadian cultural sector and the welfare of the artists, creators, and arts professionals who work within it.

The CCA voiced its encouragement that the Minister of Heritage recognized the need to increase federal investments for digital and international market development for Canadian music. Those two sectors of activity will be effected positively through the implementation of increased funds by FACTOR and MusicAction.

This said, the CCA deplores the fact that this welcome injection of funds was done at the expense of an important strategic investment in Canadian cultural diversity. The programs abolished fostered the development of new forms of music which, while not necessarily commercially viable now, could eventually become so.

Why does the CCA invite the government to seek new funding to maintain those programs?

First, because investing in what is deemed specialized today may well shape our culture tomorrow.
Secondly, because it is important for the federal government to help develop one of Canada’s most promising natural resource, namely the diverse cultural communities which weave the fabric of Canadian society.
Thirdly, because we value the role the federal government plays in investing in experimentation, leading to the development of new forms of music by Canadian artists. This is similar to risk capital or investing in fundamental research in other sectors of activity.
Finally, because the government has committed internationally to support and promote cultural diversity. Cultural diversity starts here, through the support of creativity rooted in the rich diversity of our own population.

Why is the CCA specifically concerned about the demise of the Distribution Services?

Funded by an annual grant of $150K, the Distribution Services run by the Canadian Music Centre support the development of markets for those Canadian niche formats which would not otherwise be able to reach their audiences.

The not-for-profit service makes it possible for over 1300 titles produced by some 200 small independent Canadian labels to achieve international distribution. By grouping together catalogues too small to be considered individually by distributors, the CMC-DS has been able to negotiate on the labels’ behalf with the likes of NAXOS or the Independent On Line Distribution Alliance (IODA), which gives those Canadian artists access to 300 on-line distribution services and to 2000+ public libraries subscription services.

The CMC will have no choice but to close the Distribution Services of these recordings if the funding is not available on April 1, 2010.

What can I do?

Raise these issues locally with your MP and ask him/her to make his support known to the government.