TORONTO – "This appears to be an act of desperation by an association scared of progress," said Gregg Terrence, president of Indie Pool, about the recent jabs the Canadian Independent Record Producers Association has taken at his company.
"CIRPA’s comments are possibly libelous and are disrespectful to thousands of Canadian artists that signed a petition supporting satellite radio. Let’s be clear here, CIRPA represents record companies, lawyers and accountants, not unsigned artists."
Indie Pool, which says it represents 20,000-plus Canadian independent recording artists, reinforced its support for all three satellite and subscription radio applications in its release today.
CIRPA…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Canadian Satellite Radio today announced the support of the band Les Trois Accords and singer-songwriter Stefie Shock with a $100,000 contribution.
The money is part of CSR’s initiative to help develop Canadian francophone artists on the international scene.
"We have chosen Les Trois Accords and Stefie Shock because they represent the vibrant and flourishing Québec music scene, which is already making waves in Europe," said Stephen Tapp, president and COO of CSR. "We expect that these exceptional talents will have huge careers internationally, and we’re proud to be able to be there to support them as they…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – With the ongoing growth of his company, Bill Evanov, president and CEO of Evanov Radio Group, announced this week the appointment of Wolfgang von Raesfeld as director of special projects.
Von Raesfeld will work on a variety of special items including overseeing the sales departments for the Evanov Radio Group’s five radio stations.
“With the expansion and growth of the Evanov Radio Group and the CRTC granting new broadcasting licenses to the company in Halifax (Z103.5) and recently in the Ottawa market (98.5 The Jewel), there is a need for additional management personnel,” said the company.
Von…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC’s VOIP decision prevents monopolies like SaskTel from driving newcomers out of the telephony business and the federal cabinet should deny all appeals, says Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association.
"Telephone companies, such as SaskTel, are free to lower prices for VoIP services under the CRTC ruling, but this decision prevents them from driving out emerging competitors, including local cable companies in Saskatchewan, by using the telephone monopoly position to price below cost," said Michael Hennessy, CCTA president.
Hennessy was responding to the Saskatchewan government’s appeal to cabinet today to overturn the CRTC’s VOIP decision (provincial telco…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Canadians with health questions (that aren’t emergencies) may soon be able to dial 8-1-1 to have their questions answered.
The CRTC today approved a request by Alberta Health and Wellness (the provincial ministry of health) to be assigned 8-1-1 as a number people could call with non-urgent health questions.
“Alberta Health and Wellness stated that teletriage service has been identified by all provincial and territorial Deputy Ministers of Health as an important component in primary care restructuring and reform. Teletriage service, as a component of primary care systems, would improve access to primary health care services, the…
Continue Reading
REGINA – The Province of Saskatchewan, which owns provincial telco SaskTel, today filed an appeal to the federal cabinet over the CRTC’s voice over Internet protocol decision of May 12th.
"This government is committed to the development of a competitive environment in Saskatchewan, we encourage the entrance of new service providers and we believe in providing the people of this province with competitive choices," Minister responsible for SaskTel Maynard Sonntag said in a statement released today.
"However, we do not believe that this should be accomplished by handicapping Canadian companies in favour of foreign-based providers and other large domestic…
Continue Reading
WHITECOURT, Alta. – Just six weeks after the Newcap Broadcasting was granted a license by the CRTC for a station in Whitecourt, the company launched Rock Station 96.7 THE RIG July 1st at 6 a.m.
“For some time now, Whitecourt and area has been awaiting arrival of a new rock station,” says a press release from Newcap Alberta Fox Radio Group general manager Dave Schuck
“The Rig is synonymous with the key oil and gas industries that provide work for thousands of men and women in the area. This Classic…
Continue Reading
WASHINGTON — XM Satellite Radio recently announced it added more than 640,000 new net subscribers during the second quarter of 2005 for a total of more than 4.4 million.
This subscriber gain represents a 53% increase in new net subscribers compared to the second quarter of 2004, when XM recorded 418,000 new net subscribers. Additionally, the 640,000 net subscriber gain represents an 18% increase over the first quarter of 2005 when XM recorded 540,000 new net subscribers.
"This was the best second quarter in the history of XM. The momentum behind XM’s subscriber growth is undeniable. In just one…
Continue Reading
THE VOIP REVOLUTION could end with a single phone call.
No, not by a call from the CRTC deregulating the incumbent telcos, but by one dropped 9-1-1 call.
I’ve often wondered why, since the launch of VOIP, the newcomers came to market without 9-1-1 service. When Primus and Vonage and others began, buried in their marketing materials in teeny type, were notes mentioning their service can’t offer some of the basics people have come to expect, like, oh, 9-1-1.
While they’ve since moved to offer the emergency calling feature, I thought its absence was unconscionable at launch.
Personally, if I’m…
Continue Reading
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…
Continue Reading
