In the US, the RIAA has been suing people they feel are sharing music illegally. In one case, they sued a Texas teen for downloading an Avril Lavigne song. The publisher of that song, Nettwork Records, is a Canadian firm and has offered to pay the teen's legal fees to fight the lawsuit. They said that they don't believe suing their fans is the correct way to address the problem.
A few weeks ago, most of the Independant Canadian Music Publishers removed their affiliation from the Canadian Recording Industry Association since they saw this group as more and more pursuing a more anti-consumer/anti-fan agenda.
Now today, a coalition of Canadian artists (Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Sum 41, Stars, Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace), Dave Bidini (Rheostatics), Billy Talent, John K. Samson (Weakerthans), Broken Social Scene, Sloan, Andrew Cash and Bob Wiseman (Co-founder Blue Rodeo)), have formed the
Canadian Music Creators Coalition.
Quote:
The CMCC is united under three key principles:
Suing Our Fans is Destructive and Hypocritical Artists do not want to sue music fans. The labels have been suing our fans against artists’ will, and laws enabling these suits cannot be justified in artists’ names
Digital Locks are Risky and Counterproductive Artists do not support using digital locks to increase the labels’ control over the distribution, use and enjoyment of music or laws that prohibit circumvention of such technological measures. Consumers should be able to transfer the music they buy to other formats under a right of fair use, without having to pay twice.
Cultural Policy Should Support Actual Canadian Artists The vast majority of new Canadian music is not promoted by major labels, which focus mostly on foreign artists. The government should use other policy tools to support actual Canadian artists and a thriving musical and cultural scene.
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I know there are a lot of music fans on CP who enjoy many smaller Canadian bands. It is initiatives like this that may give more of those 'fringe' bands a chance to make a living.