Shared from Re:Sound:
Music creators are pressing the Government of Canada to update the Copyright Act now to:
- Amend the definition of “sound recording” in the Copyright Act to address its unfair exclusion of performers and record labels/makers from performance royalties from television, film, video streaming platforms and other audio-visual content.
- Eliminate the “temporary” $1.25 Million exemption for commercial radio stations instituted in 1997 – a subsidy for commercial radio at the direct expense of music rights holders.
- Update the private copying regime to make it technologically neutral.
Why now?
- With so many artists suffering in these hard economic times, these changes will help Canadian music creators survive and thrive in today’s economy now to ensure that creators can make a living in the Canadian music industry.
- The Copyright Board process takes at least two years or more from proposing a tariff to having it approved – so the results of these changes will take more than two years to have an impact for music creators- the process must begin now!
- We need to catch up with the rest of the world: over 40 countries already have audiovisual rights entrenched for their members.
Why these solutions?
- These are market-based solutions that will greatly assist music creators, including thousands of Canadian performing artists, background musicians and record labels, both large and small independent labels, who depend on these royalties to help them earn a living wage and continue to create music, fostering Canadian culture.
- These require no funding from the federal government.
- The Copyright Board process allows all affected parties to have their say before final decisions are made.
- These measures already exist around the world. Canadian creators need to be able to benefit from reciprocal agreements and compete on a level playing field at home and abroad.
Ask the Minister of Finance to include Re:Sound’s FFMC proposals in the 2024 Federal Budget. Lend your voice and support Canadian Music Creators.
