Thank you for your presentation.
I admit that I am very fond of community radio and campus radio. I truly believe that you are making a special contribution to developing new talent.
I don't like to do glory day stories, Mr. Chair, but I'm going to indulge myself with the three minutes I have left.
When I was 18 I went on the road with a band and we'd play all these little islands of music events, and the only places we could play were places that had community radio, because nobody else played new music. We came to Ottawa, and we found out we had sold out three nights at the Roxy club, and we couldn't believe it. How was it possible that we had a lineup to see us? It was because CKCU had a signal that was heard all across the city.
On the third night, because there were so many people coming to see us—because this radio station promoted it—the DJ from the big rock station came to see us, and he came backstage. And that was in the days when the CHUMs and the CHOMs were like these giant edifices that never touched new music. He said how much he loved our band and this was fantastic, and I said, “So why don't you play us?” He explained, “Oh, you don't understand. Our radio station is for people who don't like music.” He basically said, “It's not in our mandate to play interesting music.”
My question is simple. It's a two-parter. One is on the role you play as a nursery of new talent, of new broadcasters, of cultural raconteurs who get their start. What role do you have in that, and what role do you have in relation to CBC? Secondly, now that we have the Internet and MySpace and other forms that are also acting as a cultural nursery, is that an opportunity for your industry, or is it a challenge, a threat?