[Canadian Musician Contents]  [Canadian Musician Showcase]  [Canadian Musician Music Online]  [Canadian Musician Recording Studio]  [Canadian Musician Artists] 


CIRAA Takes Over Government Relations and Public Awareness for Indie Pool

Indie Pool recently launched the Canadian Independent Recording Artists' Association (CIRAA) as a non-profit organization to take over government relations and public awareness for Indie Pool.

CIRAA is a non-profit political organization that advocates independent Canadian artists' development through improved conditions. Currently, over 95 per cent of artists in Canada are independent. This means that these artists are not signed to a record company. They get to decide what music they play and what they wear. Indie bands play music of all genres.

Up until recently, there was no representation for unsigned indie artists. Both major and major indie companies have had good representation, however this has not been the case for unsigned artists, until now with the creation of CIRAA.

Membership to join the CIRAA is free for this first year, and registration is available on their Web site.

The first project CIRAA is lobbying for is changes to Canada's artist development system (the star system). CIRAA is campaigning to increase public awareness on the issues confronting Canadian independent recording artists, and hopes to draw attention to the unsigned artists who can be neglected by the music industry and government.

Currently, CIRAA describes the state of the music industry as the perfect storm. Presently, there are more independent artists in Canada than ever before. Canadian radio stations are playing the lowest amount of independent music ever. Moreover, funding is going to other musicians because of the successful campaigning by other groups, and not to the unsigned musicians.

CIRAA wants to fix Canadian content (CANCON). They want to encourage Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to revise regulations placed by CANCON on Canadian terrestrial radio broadcasters (AM/FM).

Originally, the goal of CANCON was to give radio play to Canadian artists, and consequently increase the number of musicians, instrument sales, labels, record stores … basically it was designed to improve the Canadian music industry. However, Canadian radio is not playing Canadian indie artists, but instead they are mostly playing international and national Canadian stars.

The main goal is to create CANCON incentives for Canadian radio stations, so they have encouragement to play unsigned developing Canadian artists. CIRAA wants to see CANCON keep the CRTC's level at 40 per cent, but also provide radio stations with incentives to promote Canada's indie artists.

For instance, when a radio station plays a Canadian international artist, such as Celine Dion or Avril Lavigne, they would receive a credit of 0.75 CANCON song. Likewise, for playing a Canadian established artist they would receive a credit of 1.00 CANCON song. For playing a Canadian national artist they would receive a credit of 1.25 CANCON song. Finally, for playing a Canadian independent artist they would receive a credit of 1.50 CANCON song.
Currently, there is a petition available on the Let's Fix CANCON Web site.

For more information, visit www.ciraa.ca or www.letsfixcancon.ca.

| Contents | Showcase | Music On-Line |
| Studio Guide | Canadian Artists | Link To Us |

Norris-Whitney Communications
Contact us