OTTAWA–GATINEAU – The CRTC is launching a proceeding to examine the framework for French-language vocal music (FVM) in order to foster its discovery, promotion, creation and consumption in the digital era.
Noting that Canadians’ consumption habits are changing thanks to new broadband-driven technologies, streaming music services, and a trend that sees some listeners migrating from French-language stations to English-language ones, the Commission said Monday that the goal of the proceeding is to ensure that French-language content is present in music programming and to provide French-language vocal music listeners with access to programming that reflects their needs, interests and culture.
The CRTC also called for comments, due by September 3, as it seeks to:
– discuss the listening sources and habits of French-language music consumers, trends in the French-language commercial radio and music industries, and their implications;
– evaluate the impact, effectiveness and relevance of the current FVM regulatory framework in the current and anticipated environment; and
– examine the possibility of implementing new, innovative measures to support the creation, discovery, promotion and consumption of FVM with a view to fostering the broadcast of quality FVM that meets the needs and interests of French-language commercial radio listeners.
The CRTC will hold a public hearing in Quebec City starting on November 16, 2015 to discuss these issues.
“Broadband is changing Canadians’ daily lives. We are now connected almost everywhere we go and have more and more options to discover and listen to French music from around the world”, said CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais, in a statement. “The framework surrounding French-language music must adapt to make sure that it is part of those choices and to more efficiently support francophone artists, including creators from here.”
