Questions for the Canadians

noel · Post by **noel** » April 16, 2003, 1:19 pm

I know there is a Canadian law which states that a certain percentage, I believe 34%, of music played on the radio must be from Canadian artists.

The questions I have are...

1) Did you even know this?

2) Do you feel this is better than a, for lack of a better expression, 'free-market' for music?

3) Does it bother you, or do you think it's a good idea?

4) Do you find yourself listening to more music from Canadian artists, or from US/European artists? (obviously subjective depending on ones musical tastes)

Honest questions...

masteen · Post by **masteen** » April 16, 2003, 1:21 pm

The Canadian government has apologized for Bryan Adams time and again!

Post by **Xouqoa** » April 16, 2003, 1:21 pm

Canadian radio can't be any worse than the corporate garbage we're forced to listen to here in the states.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » April 16, 2003, 1:22 pm

masteen wrote:
The Canadian government has apologized for Bryan Adams time and again!

What about Avril Lavinge though?

noel · Post by **noel** » April 16, 2003, 1:24 pm

Xouqoa wrote:Canadian radio can't be any worse than the corporate garbage we're forced to listen to here in the states.

I was in no way implying that Canadian music is bad, I'm just asking for a Canadian perspective on the law, and how they feel it affects their musical taste, if at all.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » April 16, 2003, 1:25 pm

Lalanae wrote:
masteen wrote:
The Canadian government has apologized for Bryan Adams time and again!
What about Avril Lavinge though?

Even more banal than Celine Dion. At least Celine has good pipes.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » April 16, 2003, 1:30 pm

The way I figure it, the pop/rock radio stations down here play 34% Avril Lavinge right now anyway...

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » April 16, 2003, 1:31 pm

I would wonder if the same held true for college radio stations.

In line with Xou's comment, I don't really see the radio stations here in the states to be totally free markets either.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » April 16, 2003, 1:33 pm

Ogbar wrote:I would wonder if the same held true for college radio stations.

In line with Xou's comment, I don't really see the radio stations here in the states to be totally free markets either.

Considering that ClearChannel owns most stations in the US? You will bow down before your corporate overlords!

Kguku · Post by **Kguku** » April 16, 2003, 1:43 pm

Most Canadians are aware of the CRTC laws for Canadian content, as it also applies to Television. I don't much care either way for music, because they're still able to play all the top hits etc, and most of todays music is really complete shit, being from Canada or not.

Now the television issue is a huge bone of contention for a lot of people in Canada. No HBO, no Sci-Fi, no Cartoon Network, and the list goes on. This is because the CRTC/Gov't is so fucked in the head with their protection of Canadian culture and our local stations. Sometimes I wish they would all just die. Give me HBO damnit!

Aranuil wrote:I know there is a Canadian law which states that a certain percentage, I believe 34%, of music played on the radio must be from Canadian artists.

The questions I have are...

1) Did you even know this?

2) Do you feel this is better than a, for lack of a better expression, 'free-market' for music?

3) Does it bother you, or do you think it's a good idea?

4) Do you find yourself listening to more music from Canadian artists, or from US/European artists? (obviously subjective depending on ones musical tastes)

Honest questions...

miir · Post by **miir** » April 16, 2003, 1:46 pm

The CRTC is a dinosaur.
CanCon (Canadian Content) is horseshit.

It's a double edged sword.
While CanCon spawns shit like Avril Lavigne and Nickleback, it has also given exposure to some great Canadian talent like Sloan, Our Lady Peace, Maestro Fresh Wes and Barenaked Ladies.

Canadian Top 40 radio is pretty much the same as American Top 40 except much of the Urban R&B/HipHop is replaced with CanCon.

I don't listen to much radio at all and when I do, I usually tune in FLOW 93.5.. shitty Canadian R&B/HipHop is better than shitty Canadian pop.

Legenae · Post by **Legenae** » April 16, 2003, 1:48 pm

It's kinda like our Canadian tv channels. They are required to show Canadian content on those specific channels. But we also get your NBC, ABC, CBS etc too.

As for music, on our radio we do get OMGIAMRETARDEDCAUSEALOTISTWOWORDS of American music. But they also play Canadian music. We have some really good artists here. One of my fave bands is Canadian, Our Lady Peace.

To answer your questions:

1. Yes.

2. It's good for those artists to get airtime here in Canada. But, they aren't as well known in the States.

3. Doesn't bother me at all.

4. I listen to just as much (if not more) US/European music as Canadian.

Atokal · Post by **Atokal** » April 16, 2003, 1:49 pm

Yes Aranuil this is a fact. It was implemented some years ago to stem the avalanche of material coming up from the USA.
The governing body is called the CRTC or Canadian Radio and Television Corporation. (the Corporation part may be wrong - no time to look this one up) I am not aware of the exact percentage of Canadian Content required at the present time.

Cheers

and what Kguku said

miir · Post by **miir** » April 16, 2003, 1:52 pm

Corporation = Commission

miir · Post by **miir** » April 16, 2003, 1:54 pm

The horses mouth

Kguku · Post by **Kguku** » April 16, 2003, 1:55 pm

Actually it's:

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

Because they're also the pricks that regulate our phone / cable pricing, and always seem to like to allow 40+% increases in prices from time to time. (If I remember correctly, something like 10 years ago or so in the Vancouver area some phone bills jumped 130% for basic service, boy were people pissed about that)

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » April 16, 2003, 1:55 pm

I have no problems with radio promoting 34% canadian content simply because I like a lot of the acts coming from Canada.

Then again though when you have bands like Nickelback, Our Lady Peace, Barenaked Ladies, I Mother Earth(when Edwin was in the band) etc... It's all good.

Did you know that french radio stations have to run (I believe) 60/40 french content?

Ahmik · Post by **Ahmik** » April 16, 2003, 2:03 pm

RED GREEN Makes me smile...

masteen · Post by **masteen** » April 16, 2003, 2:08 pm

Keep your stick on the ice!

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » April 16, 2003, 2:09 pm

miir wrote:...it has also given exposure to some great Canadian talent like...Maestro Fresh Wes...

That's a name I have not heard in a long time.

noel · Post by **noel** » April 16, 2003, 2:19 pm

Thanks for the insight.

Having spent some time in Canada, the thing that struck me as strange was how similar our cultures are and yet there are many small differences.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » April 16, 2003, 2:31 pm

We have the Canadians to thank for hacked DirecTV Access cards. Since the Canadian goverment won't legally allow thier citizens to subscribe to DirecTV, the canadians are able to hack the Access cards and receive the signal illegally. It's a grey market up there.

DirecTV is too americanized for canadains. The government feels that their citizens aren't able to retain their culture without being moderated.

Funny thing is that I like to watch Much Music on DirecTV which is a canadian music channel and the best of the MTV type channels on DTV.

I'd be extremely pissed if I was a canadian. First, you have to deal with all the fish smells up there and then you can't watch what you choose to on television. lame!

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » April 16, 2003, 2:32 pm

1) Did you even know this?

2) Do you feel this is better than a, for lack of a better expression, 'free-market' for music?

3) Does it bother you, or do you think it's a good idea?

4) Do you find yourself listening to more music from Canadian artists, or from US/European artists? (obviously subjective depending on ones musical tastes)

1) yes

2) I really don't think it makes much difference in the larger context. The Canadian music market isn't as large as the US/European markets, thus while "localized Canadian" acts can make a decent living for themselves up here, truly sucessful artists still have to break into the US and/or European markets.

3) In some ways I don't really care. I listen to who I want, when I want. Its nice to hear about Canadian music breaking into the international scene and gaining acclaim (sorta like an Olympic medal) but just because Shania Twain and Celine Dionne sell millions of records world wide doesn't mean I will ever buy one of their CDs.

The people that it really bothers, musically, are DJs/programmers in radion stations (hada roomate who was a program director at a small country station a few years back): they do have to fit a certain % of Canadian content into every hr. They can deviate from this slightly but they can't go under the limit on content too many times or they face disciplinary action which can be fines or in severe cases, license suspensions.

4) See above answer. It may influence me in some ways (i.e. I hear a new song I absolutely love so I go buy the disc), but I generally don't listen to music on nationality: I judge by my definition of quality. I also think that radio stations all over give a bit of airplay to local artists, so while the CRTC's regs do require a specific %, in a way its just a formalization of existing practices.

As Kguku said though, when you get these guys on the TV side of things, its another story...

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » April 16, 2003, 2:45 pm

Canadian content laws are there for a reason. I don't necessarily agree with companies being forced to play certain things, but when you are sharing the world's longest undefended border with a country who's main export is culture, it's easy to see how you can get get overwhelmed. We are already exposed to American TV networks and stations, American movies, American corporate radio and American books all we want. And when you have a talent pool of 285 million people with the world's largest economy backing them up compared to 30 million people, Canadian artists need a bit of help sometimes.

Most radio stations are happy to play music by Canadian artists a lot of the time, because frankly Canadian music is by and large a lot better than the mass market brain trash the recording industry in the states forces down your throats. Canadian TV and movies are by and large fairly shitty though.. but we do have some good comedy shows.

Oh and Bryan Adams isn't considered Canadian content because the only thing Canadian about him is where he was born. Other than that he lives in the states and all his band is from the states as well as his producers and everything else. He's pretty much a complete sellout. I think the Canadian content "police" have relaxed their rules somewhat, but I remember some years ago there was a big stink about it because they weren't allowing Bryan Adams to be considered Canadian content. He wasn't even allowed to be nominated for a Juno (canadian grammies basically), other than "best foreign album." I think they've somewhat let up on being so strict though because artists like Avril Lavigne and Sum 41 are considered Canadian now even though they're basically 99% American.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » April 16, 2003, 3:57 pm

I think this law is why Canadians were forced to make stronger beer and make drinking it a national pastime.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » April 16, 2003, 4:40 pm

Aranuil wrote:I know there is a Canadian law which states that a certain percentage, I believe 34%, of music played on the radio must be from Canadian artists.

The questions I have are...

1) Did you even know this?

2) Do you feel this is better than a, for lack of a better expression, 'free-market' for music?

3) Does it bother you, or do you think it's a good idea?

4) Do you find yourself listening to more music from Canadian artists, or from US/European artists? (obviously subjective depending on ones musical tastes)

Honest questions...

1) Yes.

2) I'm sort of split on it. On the pro side, it promotes Canadian talent, which there is an abundance of, and in general gets some pretty good music being played. On the con side, trying to dictate what can and can't be played is a bit of a squelching of our freedoms.

3) Doesn't really bother me. I remember what was mentioned early, the big stink about Brian Adams and CanCon, and I remember thinking back then it was a ridiculous law. But now, I'm a little older, a little wiser, and a little more aware of the Canadian music culture, and honestly I think that even without the law what the radio stations played wouldn't be all that different to what we hear now.

4) I've definitely been taking some pride in Canadian music more than I did when I was younger. Sloan, one band already mentioned, is a perfect example. Honestly, I hated them when they first appeared, and I still hate their stuff from back then, but they've developed a style that I can really get into, and is also uniquely Canadian. We don't have a large amount of "Canadian culture" compared to most other major countries in the world, but I think what we lack for in quantity we make up for in quality.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » April 16, 2003, 4:51 pm

*hypnotized by Dregor's avatar*

I could watch that thing dance for...well too long

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » April 16, 2003, 4:54 pm

It's all about the booty shakin'.

(_*_) (-*_) (_*_) (_*-) (_*_) (-*_) (_*_) (_*-)

Lynxe · Post by **Lynxe** » April 16, 2003, 5:08 pm

1) Yes of course!

2) Do you feel this is better than a, for lack of a better expression, 'free-market' for music?
Any of you that have been in the music business can attest to how difficult it is to get your music played on the radio. Broadcasting networks shouldn't have to be told to support local entertainment, they should want to. Some people misconstrue that as the CRTC regulating what bands/songs they have to play. To me it says they have to support local entertainers 34% of the time. Canada is a big country with a lot of good entertainers.

3) Does it bother you, or do you think it's a good idea?
I actually agree with the ruling. I know a ton of local musicians that would have a harder time getting played if rules like this were not enforced. It was (not sure if it sill is) easier, and usually cheaper to buy music in bulk from the states. The US supports its own artist very well so unfortunately, content from the US had little, if any Canadian artists.

I do agree with kyoukan and wulfran that most radio stations don't have a problem playing Canadian content, DJ's just hate making sure they meet the regulations.

PS: Someone mentioned if this effected college radio stations - it does!

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » April 16, 2003, 6:16 pm

Well it was easier and more beneficial to the radio stations in Canada to just play American label music all the time, because American record companies pay the same bribes.. err incentives to play Johnny Vanilla's new manufactured hit: 'Baby I Want You' up here in Canada than they do in the states. Canadian artists are pretty much thrown into the mix and have to rely on their own merits and not their record label's checkbooks.

It was no coincidence that the rise of some really great bands in Canada in the early 90s coincided with the enacting of the CanCon regulations.

So the Canadian Content laws were enacted as a protectionist move.

Imagine what would happen in the united states if the roles were reversed. Well okay imagine what would happen if the roles were reversed and don't think about the RIAA running around washington with huge bags of money and successfully lobbying the government to invade Canada.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » April 16, 2003, 6:27 pm

kyoukan wrote:Imagine what would happen in the united states if the roles were reversed. Well okay imagine what would happen if the roles were reversed and don't think about the RIAA running around washington with huge bags of money and successfully lobbying the government to invade Canada.

LOL! I was thinking we'd be rebuilding Ottowa 3 months later

VeeshanVault

Questions for the Canadians

Questions for the Canadians

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