Evidence of meeting #4 for Bill C-11 (41st Parliament, 1st Session) in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was radio.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Bill Skolnik  Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Musicians
Don Conway  President, Pineridge Broadcasting
Ian MacKay  President, Re:Sound Music Licensing Company
Aline Côté  President, Les Éditions Berger, Association nationale des éditeurs de livres
Jean Bouchard  Vice-President and General Manager, Groupe Modulo, Association nationale des éditeurs de livres
Cynthia Andrew  Policy Analyst, Ontario Public School Boards Association, Canadian School Boards Association
Michèle Clarke  Director, Government Relations and Policy Research, Public Affairs, Association of Canadian Community Colleges
Claude Brulé  Dean, Algonquin College, Association of Canadian Community Colleges

10:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Glenn Thibeault

Thank you, Mr. Conway and Mr. Nantel.

We're well over the five minutes.

Moving on, the next questioner is Mr. Calandra for five minutes.

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Conway, just to be sure I'm correct, you pay for the music that you play?

10:05 a.m.

President, Pineridge Broadcasting

Don Conway

That's correct.

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

Mr. Skolnik, I was looking at some of the previous testimony we had. Mr. Regan suggested that if he were an artist he probably wouldn't be a very good one. So if Mr. Regan were out there and he had made a CD, he would not likely have sold any CDs, based on what he has told us today.

10:05 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

I didn't need you to carry on with that.

10:05 a.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

So if he's out there and he has not sold any of his CDs and has no radio play, how much is he making from the levies that you talk about? What is his cut?

10:05 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Musicians

Bill Skolnik

From the levies? If he's not getting any—

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

What's he getting from...?

10:05 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Musicians

Bill Skolnik

If he's not getting any airplay and he's not—

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

He has no CD sales and no airplay. What is he getting?

10:05 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Musicians

Bill Skolnik

He's getting his dad helping him; that's what he's getting.

10:05 a.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

I'm sorry, what is he getting?

10:05 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Musicians

Bill Skolnik

In that case he's only earning from live performance, so he's getting nothing. If he's playing—

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

I'm sorry, I don't have a lot of time. I don't mean to be rude, but I have to go quickly.

So he has sold nothing, he has no CD sales, he has no airplay, and he's not getting any royalties.

10:05 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Musicians

Bill Skolnik

He's getting live performance royalties, perhaps.

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

Okay.

So it stands to reason that the more airplay he gets, the more CDs he sells and the more revenue he gets. Is that correct?

10:05 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Musicians

Bill Skolnik

It's a crazy formula. That is possible, yes.

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

Is it possible, or is that...?

10:05 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Musicians

Bill Skolnik

They have a system whereby necessarily airplay has nothing to do with this. Airplay doesn't necessarily get you more money, but it could.

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

But there would be record sales.

10:05 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Musicians

Bill Skolnik

Sales would get him more money, sure.

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

So the more popular he becomes and the more successful as an artist he becomes, the larger his share of those revenues.

10:05 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Musicians

Bill Skolnik

That is so for him as an individual, but not for his band.