I am here to provide a real-life example of the Canada Music Fund in action. I moved to Toronto in the year 2000 with a $15,000 loan from my brother, and a couple of credit cards. After four years of building a track record, I was eligible to access funds from FACTOR. I have since leveraged that support to release more than 80 albums by dozens of Canadian artists, and coordinated thousands of concerts around the world. I've also started a festival attended by more than 10,000 people in Edmonton. Now, more than 50 people rely on Six Shooter for their livelihoods. Six Shooter is a typical example of how your support can go a long way to create a sustainable Canadian-based infrastructure for a vibrant cultural industry.
In closing, the business of music, the commercialization of music, is multi-dimensional, but it all starts with the song. The Canadian-owned independent community is leading the way on artist discovery and development, and commercially exploiting markets around the world.
The cornerstone of the industry is still production, marketing, and touring. It is a three-legged stool and it all starts with the music. Therefore, Canada Music Fund programs must continue to support these fundamentals. They are necessary to support industry. These programs help ensure that artists are fairly compensated, and businesses are successful both globally and at home, based on the execution of sound business strategies. Any new programs should be funded in addition to the Canada Music Fund's core funding.
Thank you for recognizing the value that Canadian music brings to our country, both culturally and financially.