MixedContent

Courtesy of Boris (who always finds good stuff) I discovered the Candian Music Creators Coalition. This organization is dedicated to dispelling the myths that some major labels seem bent on propagating, and also serves as a vehicle where Canadian musicians can have their voices, view points and ideas heard.

From their site:

Until now, a group of multinational record labels has done most of the talking about what Canadian artists need out of copyright. Record companies and music publishers are not our enemies, but let’s be clear: lobbyists for major labels are looking out for their shareholders, and seldom speak for Canadian artists. Legislative proposals that would facilitate lawsuits against our fans or increase the labels’ control over the enjoyment of music are made not in our names, but on behalf of the labels’ foreign parent companies.

Their main points are:
1. Suing Our Fans is Destructive and Hypocritical
2. Digital Locks are Risky and Counterproductive
3. Cultural Policy Should Support Actual Canadian Artists

While I am in complete agreement with all of these, I think their last point is the most interesting. Canada is a bit unique (compared to the United States) in that our government actually supports our artists. In an environment where government organizations like FACTOR fund artists as much as Warner Bros., we have a great opportunity to define cultural policy and legislation that reflects this.

Looking forward to more…

–update–
Michael Geist has some great thoughts on this.