Thank you for the invitation to speak to you today.
My name is Debbie Peters, and I own Magnum Opus Management, an artist management company and booking agency based in Whitehorse, Yukon.
I am here as a northern Canadian, having lived in the Yukon for 30 years as someone working with a roster of Canadian musicians in the genres of jazz, world, classical, roots, and traditional music. I am a dedicated CBC radio listener.
Speaking as a northern Canadian, CBC is our connection to the rest of the country. l'm sure that many in remote and rural Canada would agree with me. Programs like CBC Radio 2's DiscDrive have been our introduction to outstanding Canadian classical, jazz, world, and roots artists. We need CBC radio.
On the CBC website, a description of the new CBC Radio 2 has this statement, and I encourage the CBC to correct it: “Radio 2 is the only radio station in Canada that broadcasts to Canadians coast to coast”. There is a third coast in Canada, and it's up north. I would encourage the CBC not to forget about northern Canada.
Some comments from two northerners....
Steve Gedrose is a dedicated music fan, and a committed listener to CBC radio, and he lives in Whitehorse. He says:
We have not had Radio 2 service for very long, but have come to have the utmost respect for the program hosts and their crews and will be devastated to lose that link, not only with the rest of the country but with the entire world of Canadian classical music. One only has to listen to “Here's To You” to understand how important classical music is to Canadians, particularly those of us in the smaller markets.
From Ben Nind, in Yellowknife, the executive director of the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre:
CBC in northern Canada is a lifeline of communication. Nowhere else in Canada are the CBC cutbacks recently made felt so deeply, because for most communities CBC is the only station that offers a national cultural perspective on who we are, what we are doing, and where we are going.
Speaking as an artist manager, working with some very fine artists in our country, virtually all of the musicians I am currently working with came to prominence in our country by having their music featured on CBC Radio One and CBC Radio 2. For jazz, classical, world, and roots musicians, the CBC is where their music is being played. You likely won't hear their music on commercial radio.
In my work as an artist manager and a booking agent, profile on CBC does factor into which artists my company chooses to work with. A national knowledge of the artist helps me successfully place these artists in the Canadian performing arts market.
The recent changes to CBC Radio 2 will benefit some of the artists I work with, and adversely affect others, especially those who perform with the CBC Radio Orchestra and who have had their compositions performed and recorded by the CBC Radio Orchestra.
Last night I met with three of Canada's major classical artist managers in Toronto. During our discussions it became apparent that the wholesale slashing of classical programs on Radio 2 over the past two years—and the list is very long—has meant that there is now virtually nowhere to launch the careers of new classical artists on national radio.
Speaking to the topic of quality programming, in a recent speech Mr. Stursberg, executive vic-president of the CBC, said the following: “CBC is committed to introducing Canadians to quality Canadian music. This is the key value that drives our decision-making.”
I would argue that recent changes in programming appear to have a tenuous commitment to quality, and that has me concerned with the direction of the new CBC Radio 2. There is an appearance of dumbing down content to appeal to the masses, with the result of alienating the dedicated CBC listener.
With the attempt to be all things to all people, you risk becoming nothing of importance to anyone, and you risk losing your dedicated audience.
It is important for the CBC to continue to commit to programming that showcases the finest this country has to offer—not just in words, but also in reality. It should in no way go down the path of becoming yet one more adult contemporary music station out there, losing its uniqueness.
John Mann of Spirit of the West is an artist l am privileged to work with. He said:
In its decision to disband the CBC Radio Orchestra and reduce its classical music content, CBC has lost its way. Somewhere along the line it got sucked into believing that the ephemeral world of pop culture will carry the day. That's a short-sighted notion that doesn't reflect the broad demographic that makes up the CBC listenership.
Here's an example of why I'm concerned about CBC's commitment to quality programming.
Jazz in our country has been ill-served by changes to the CBC over the past few years. Two shows, Jazz Beat and After Hours, were replaced by the show Tonic. Now, Jazz Beat especially showcased some of the finest, most ground-breaking Canadian jazz in our country. Gone are the interviews, live concerts, in-studio recordings, and all the good jazz that this program fostered. The replacement show relegates jazz to an easy-listening music program. I would venture to guess that there are many jazz aficionados who have tuned the radio elsewhere.
Will the demise of significant classical shows mean that their replacements will be of lesser quality? I would like to say I've been able to determine otherwise, but my query to the CBC about the new shows in advance of appearing here today went unheeded. But given the road CBC went down with jazz programming, classical listeners should be concerned.
My encouragement to the CBC: listen to your dedicated listeners; don't cast them adrift in an effort to be hip; showcase the finest this country has to offer in every genre; and continue in the very important role of connecting our country.
Thank you.