On Monday, November 19th, BCE submitted a new proposal to the CRTC to purchase Astral, following a previous bid that was rejected by the regulatory body.  The updated bid, according to BCE, "addresses CRTC concerns, including viewership share criteria."

CIMA has submitted its comments to the CRTC regarding application 2012-0516-2 by BCE Inc. (BCE), on behalf of Astral Media Inc. (Astral) and its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, for authority to change the effective control of Astral’s broadcasting undertakings so that it is exercised by BCE. The Commission will hold a hearing commencing on September 10th 2012 at 9am at the Palais de congrès de Montréal, 1001 place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, Quebec, to consider the application.

CIMA is off to Gatineau, Quebec on June 21 to speak at the CRTC hearing on SiriusXM Canada’s application to renew its broadcasting licence for its satellite radio holdings, which expires Aug. 31, 2012. SiriusXM Canada is seeking a new single license to encompass the operations of its newly merged company (Sirius Canada and XM Radio Canada). As part of its licence renewal application, SiriusXM is seeking to reduce its annual Canadian Content Development (CCD) contribution to 0.5 percent of its gross earnings from 5 percent – a 90 percent reduction in support to the Canadian independent music industry.

On Tuesday February 21st CIMA submitted comments to the CRTC in response to their Broadcasting Notice 2011-796, a request for comments on proposed administrative changes relating to the Canadian content development policy for commercial radio. Please click the link below for CIMA’s submission.

CIMA addressed the federal Legislative Committee on Bill C-11 on Wednesday February 29, where CIMA's concerns with Bill C-11, an Act to Amend the Copyright Act were outlined. CIMA President Stuart Johnston and Board Secretary (and Government Affairs Committee Vice-Chair) Bob D'Eith told the committee why a modernized copyright act is needed by the independent music industry, and outlined CIMA's 12 recommendations for improvements to the Bill. The Committee began hearing from witnesses from CIMA and other music industry associations, music representatives, film, arts and other interested parties on Feb 27. They will conclude their hearings on March 13, after which they will review the Bill clause by clause before sending it back to Parliament for debate at the end of March. The government has indicated it wants to see Bill C-11 approved by Parliament before the Spring session concludes.

The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) is asking the Canadian government to end an unnecessary subsidy, bring balance to Canada’s copyright laws and help support and grow Canada’s music industry with a proven market solution. Currently, Canada’s Copyright Act allows every commercial radio station to shelter their first $1.25 million in advertising revenue from the royalties they pay to music performers and record companies. This constitutes an unjustifiable subsidy for the commercial radio industry at the expense of the creators of Canadian music, and should be repealed. CIMA has issued a letter of support for the end of this subsidy to Heritage Minister James Moore and 23 other Members of Parliament, as an addendum to its recent submission on Bill C-11, the Copyright Modernization Act.

CIMA has created 10 specific recommendations for changes to the federal government’s proposed legislation that will update and change Canada’s copyright laws. Bill C-11, the Copyright Modernization Act (as it is known) is now being reviewed by a special all-party committee comprising members of parliament, the majority of which are members of the governing Conservative Party. It is expected that this Bill will be passed and approved by Parliament before Christmas, but CIMA would like to see several amendments to the Bill in order to ensure that it truly does protect the rights of creators and copyright holders in the music industry. CIMA also believes that the government’s respect for the rule of law, and for victims’ rights, must be the foundation of Bill C-11, and any and all other legislation that serves to protect and nourish critical sectors of Canada’s economy. While Bill C-11 does make in-roads to modernize the Copyright Act in regard to Canada’s obligations under international treaties, CIMA believes that some provisions of this Bill will lead to significant problems for copyright owners in their efforts to protect their rights, determine the use of their works and to enjoy reasonable compensation for their intellectual property. Hence, CIMA’s proposed recommendations for specific changes to the Bill.

Seeks Reforms To Improve Bill The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) welcomes the introduction of the federal government’s new Copyright Modernization Act today, and looks forward to its passage for the benefit of the nation’s independent music sector. CIMA members have long awaited a new Copyright Act, one that will serve to protect the integrity and ownership of the music they create, while at the same time ensuring their ability to be fairly remunerated for their craft.

The following is an article published in The Mark concerning the CRTC’s Notice of Consultation 2011-344 regarding over-the-top programming services in the Canadian broadcasting system and their potential impact on the entertainment industry, including possible modifications to the CRTC’s new media exemption orders.

A collective licensing agreement, representing more than 1500 major and independent record labels in Canada, has facilitated the launch of Galaxie Mobile by Stingray Digital, the first Canadian-owned commercial-free mobile streaming music service.

CIMA has filed its 2012 Prebudget submission to the Federal Government, as part of Ottawa’s public consultations for its 2012 budget. In its submission, CIMA has asked the government to consider three priorities:

1. the creation of a Canadian Sound Recording Tax Credit
2. to establish a market driven capital investment strategy for the music (and creative) industries
3. to maintain the current level of funding for the Canada Music Fund

CIMA makes the case that these three initiatives will serve to support and grow the industry by providing much needed financial support, facilitate cash flows and provide access to much needed capital that will help our businesses grow and exploit new and emerging markets.

On April 13, 2011 Stuart Johnston, CIMA’s President, Shauna de Cartier, CIMA’s Vice Chair and Jim West, CIMA’s Treasurer appeared at the CRTC Public Hearing in Gatineau, Quebec – a hearing to consider the broadcasting applications for the group-based licence renewals for English-language television groups listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2010-952, 2010-952-1, 2010-952-2 and 2010-952-3.

The study confirms the strategic role played by the cultural sector in the new digital economy The Cultural Human Resources Council's (CHRC) much anticipated Cultural HR Study 2010 is now online. The Study, conducted by the Conference Board of Canada, draws on the input of thousands of employers and workers from the entire cultural community in Broadcasting; Digital Media; Film and Television; Heritage; Live Performing Arts; Music and Sound Recording; Visual Arts and Crafts; and Writing and Publishing.

Canadians continue to bob on the consumer confidence front. Two months ago all indicators turned negative. Last month, the future brightened while the present stayed dark. And this month, the indicators remained mixed. Not surprisingly, Canadians are indicating this will be the lowest spending holiday-spending season since 2005. Overall, results of TNS Canada’s most recent Consumer Confidence Index were essentially flat with the index rising only 1.3 points in November.

Today the CRTC released their decision on the changes requested by CTV to the MuchMusic license, essentially preserving the status quo until the next license renewal of that service. This preserves both English and French exhibition quotas and the financial contribution that the service makes to video production through MuchFact. The Commission noted the contribution to the discussion made by the large group of content creators that intervened on the matter, including CIMA.

The Department of Canadian Heritage will soon put on-line 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 10, 2010. When it has been activated, the link to download the documents will be www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/fmusc-cmusf/VEM-MEC/index-eng.cfm. In the interim, to obtain copies of the Application Guide and all the forms that must accompany an application for fiscal year 2011-2012 you can contact the MEC at 819-934-3208 (direct access to the program) or 1-866-811-0055 (toll-free).

The Cultural Human Resources Council has issued a Request for Proposals to undertake a study to asses the impact of digital technology on the cultural sector.

CIMA’s submission to the Government of Canada through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade regarding digital policy.

Record Labels Urge Passage of Robust Digital Copyright Protection
TORONTO, June 3, 2010 - The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) and Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) today welcomed the introduction of copyright reform legislation in Parliament.
The organizations, which together represent Canadian independent and major music companies of all sizes, thanked the government for taking this important step to modernizing Canada's Copyright Act.
"We are pleased that the government not only has recognized the need for copyright reform, but is now taking action," said Duncan McKie, President and CEO, CIMA. "Canada's independent record labels, and the artists they represent, need better protection from online piracy to build a successful digital music market."
"We thank the government for taking this step to protect the right of artists and other rights holders to earn a living from their work," said Graham Henderson, President, CRIA. "We are witnessing the emergence of thriving, legitimate online markets in other countries that have implemented robust copyright rules. With the right rules here, there is no reason Canada could not follow the same path."