TORONTO – The Canadian culture establishment took a swing at Indie Pool yesterday in response to its support of the CRTC’s satellite radio decision.
A statement yesterday from the Canadian Independent Record Production Association, “expressed major concern with statements attributed to Indie Pool owner Gregg Terrence yesterday claiming that 20,000 independent musical artists support the CRTC’s recent decision to award broadcast licenses to two foreign services,” it said.
"I’m not really sure where Mr. Terrence gets his figures, but to claim he speaks for 20,000 Canadian independent recording artists is interesting, to say the least," said CIRPA’s executive director Cori Ferguson in the statement. "Most artists who use his service do not cross-over with CIRPA’s members, who have a hand in the release of a substantial number of all English Canadian content albums each year."
"The impression that he speaks for all Canadian independent artists is simply not true. He speaks for himself and his business interests, period," says Ferguson. "At first glance, members of our organization have found Canadian independent artists such as Ember Swift, Stirling, Kathryn Rose, The Salads and Hush Hush in the listing of artists on Mr. Terrence’s web site, giving the wrong impression that they support Mr. Terrence’s positions.”
In the same vein, however, while CIRPA is giving the impression here that all artists support its stance, that’s just not so. Many Canadian artists expressed support for the satellite radio applications for the additional exposure they will be able to get in Canada and throughout North America.
“Terrence’s for-profit company has exclusively supported Canadian Satellite Radio boss John Bitove in his bid to secure a broadcast license for his service in Canada. The CSR application includes financial support for Indie Pool and its customers,” continued the CIRPA release.
‘In initial meetings with representatives from CSR (which partnered with XM Radio in the U.S. for its application), CIRPA was offered a financial commitment if it would support the CSR/XM bid. The offer was rescinded when CIRPA stated its position,” adds the release.
"Our support was not for sale," Ferguson stated. While it is true the CRTC has mandated that 25% of the musical selections on Canadian channels must be by emerging Canadian artists, the reality is that when factored across the total programming on all channels available, it amounts to a percentage in the very low single digits.
Even when all of the mandated Canadian content on all of the Canadian channels is included, the figure is still south of 10% of total airplay of music on the entire system. It’s hardly the tremendous opportunity that Terrence plays it as, adds CIRPA, conveniently not mentioning anything about how the eight Canadian channels will be heard across the continent, and not just here.
"That works out to be a minimal number of slots a day for emerging artists, and that’s only on each of the Canadian channels. There are no requirements for the foreign-programmed channels to play any content from emerging artists," says Ferguson.
That’s certainly correct. The foreign programmed channels play what’s popular and what people want to hear, regardless of nationality. It’s a subscription service, after all, and if listeners don’t like it, they won’t subscribe.
"With the unknown quantity of Canadian music to be played on satellite radio, it is highly questionable whether this will actually amount to substantial royalties, as Mr. Terrence claims," continues the CIRPA release.
"Mr. Terrence’s inability to recognize this decision for what it is, a dangerous precedent that could destroy Canadian content regulations in this country, merely demonstrates how out of touch he is with the rest of the artistic community in Canada, as you can see from the list of more than 20 organizations who have served notice that they will appeal this decision," she continued.
"I think Mr. Terrence’s ‘gift horse’ may in fact turn out to be a Trojan
horse for Canadian broadcasting."
"The facts are very clear in this regard. The decision is being appealed by associations and groups that span the cultural spectrum in Canada and represent the vast majority of all participants in the cultural milieu of Canada, both Anglophone and Francophone, all of whom clearly oppose the views being espoused by Mr. Terrence. It would appear that in his campaign he is out of step with the cultural community across Canada, and is a minority of one."
