As the election campaign develops, the arts funding issue has become more and more a part of the debate.  We continue to monitor the news and opinion pieces emerging from across the country, and have accumulated them in the accompanying archive.

The Department of Canadian Heritage just put on-line all the documentation essential to submit an application for financial assistance under the Music Entrepreneur Component (MEC) - Aid to Canadian Sound Recording Firms of the Canada Music Fund (CMF). The deadline to submit an application is December 17, 2009. For more information and to access the guide and application forms, please visit our web site at www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/fmusc-cmusf/VEM-MEC/index-eng.cfm or contact us at 819-934-3208 (direct access to the program) or 1-866-811-0055 (toll-free).

Sept.13, 2009 - Part of the Government of Canada's ongoing national consultation on copyright.

Policy proceeding on a group-based approach to the licensing of television services and on certain issues relating to conventional television.
The Commission will hold a public hearing to consider a group-based approach to the licensing of conventional television and discretionary services and certain policy issues relating to conventional television. The Commission has invited written comments and proposals, along with rationale and supporting evidence, on the issues raised in this notice, which include:
- the modalities and conditions for group-based licensing that would provide the necessary criteria to consider upcoming applications for group-based seven-year licence renewals;
- revenue support for conventional broadcasters; and
- possible digital transition models.

Toronto, August 6th, 2009 – After over 3 decades of conducting business as CIRPA, the membership of the Canadian Independent Record Production Association (CIRPA) today officially approved a change of name to the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA). “This reflects the reality of the music business today,” said Bernie Finkelstein, CIRPA Chairman, “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who contributed to the organization and its goals over the past 30 plus years. Certainly without the efforts of those individuals the independent music community in Canada would not have made the progress it has in Canada, not to mention the worldwide admiration earned for what has been accomplished in Canada.” As the CIRPA membership has changed the way they conduct business, adopting diverse models to commercialize music, so too has CIRPA changed its services to support them. The current emphasis on developing business and trade opportunities both within Canada and abroad is a leading theme of the new organization. “We will continue to develop services that assist our members to build their businesses in whatever way we can,” added Duncan McKie, President and CEO, “...but we will still be aware of our roots and continue to represent the interests of companies who make and distribute sound recordings. We have witnessed the beginning of the digital age and the development of a viable commercial model for Canadian music recordings is our paramount concern.” The corporate changeover will take about a month, at which time the AGM in late September will approve it and any new by-laws which will reflect a broader mandate for CIMA.

The Art of Managing Your Career is a resource guide, from the Cultural human Resources Council, for self-employed artists and cultural workers in live performing arts; writing and publishing; visual arts and craft; film, television and broadcasting; digital media; music and sound recording, and heritage.

The Canadian Music Week 2009 Global Forum was a workshop attended by some of the world’s leading music industry thinkers, who gathered for a dynamic morning of discussion to explore issues surrounding the role of ISPs, the legalities of music downloading, international copyright reform and the role of consumers, and the business of producing, distributing and listening to music. This is the third consecutive year for the Global Forum event, and was – in the growing tradition of this event - compelling and certainly not short on controversy. The theme for the 2009 Global Forum was "Internet Governance: Who is responsible for what and who should pay for what?"

CIRPA comments on the Licence Renewals for Private Conventional Television Stations. CIRPA is opposed to any lowering of Canadian content levels for Canadian Television Licensees and sees no reason why this should be considered at this hearing, or indeed at future hearings. CIRPA is of the opinion that the whole issue of broadcaster finances is much more involved and complex than just that of declining advertising revenues in the short term. Also, as noted above, the usage of recorded music in TV and its allied industries continues to grow and CIRPA feels strongly that a substantial component of such usage in Canadian broadcaster produced or commissioned productions should consist of Canadian material.

These are CIRPA's final comments regarding Notice of Public Hearing 2008-11 involving issues pertaining to Canadian broadcasting in new media. The comments includes the definition for New Media Content Undertaking, New Media Broadcasting Distribution Undertaking, and Mobile Broadcasting Distribution Undertaking.

Application by Ultimate Indie Productions Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a national, English-language Category 2 specialty television programming undertaking to be known as CHEAR! (Canadian Homebred Emerging ARtists).

On Wednesday, February 18th CIRPA was represented at the CRTC New Media Hearings in Gatineau by our President and CEO, Duncan McKie, and Chair Bernie Finkelstein. Click on the link below to read CIRPA's presentation. Also check out the related link below the presentation to gain access to the transcripts from that days Hearings. CIRPA's presentation and Q&A begins about half way down in paragraph 1942.