Great Canadians, Every One

(Posted by John.)

So there's been a bit of a shakeup in Canadian music lately. The CRIA (Canada's answer to the RIAA) recently underwent a major crack-up as most of the actual Canadian labels (as opposed to foreign multinational labels) left the association in protest over the CRIA's support for suing customers and breaking their shit. This was insult to injury - injury being the research (commissioned by the CRIA itself) showing that file sharing is not harming the music industry.

In response to this falling out, a group of Canadian musicians has founded the Canadian Music Creators Coalition, and I love them all for it. From the CMCC's website:

1. Suing Our Fans is Destructive and Hypocritical

Artists do not want to sue music fans. The labels have been suing our fans against our will, and laws enabling these suits cannot be justified in our names. We oppose any copyright reforms that would make it easier for record companies to do this. The government should repeal provisions of the Copyright Act that allow labels to unfairly punish fans who share music for non-commercial purposes with statutory damages of $500 to $20,000 per song.

2. Digital Locks are Risky and Counterproductive

Artists do not support using digital locks to increase the labels’ control over the distribution, use and enjoyment of music or laws that prohibit circumvention of such technological measures. The government should not blindly implement decade-old treaties designed to give control to major labels and take choices away from artists and consumers. Laws should protect artists and consumers, not restrictive technologies. Consumers should be able to transfer the music they buy to other formats under a right of fair use, without having to pay twice.

The artists who have so far signed on to this coalition are:

Barenaked Ladies
Avril Lavigne
Sarah McLachlan
Chantal Kreviazuk
Sum 41
Stars
Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace)
Dave Bidini (Rheostatics)
Billy Talent
John K. Samson (Weakerthans)
Broken Social Scene
Sloan
Andrew Cash and Bob Wiseman (Co-founder Blue Rodeo)

So if y'all wanted to go buy some music, this is your shopping list. As I've said before - the latest Stars CD (Set Yourself on Fire) is fantastic.

(Just to be clear, Sarah McLachlan was already a Great Canadian, and not for her over-representation on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Soundtracks. For this.)

What concerns me about this move by the artists is the potential for this to become a blacklist for the major labels - any one who signs up with these guys is liable to be persona non grata at Sony.

On the same topic, has any band in history sucked worse than Metallica?