Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It is really a pleasure to be here with you today and to speak with the committee.
I listened attentively to the remarks by Mr. Cooper and Mr. Bisaillon and those of all the speakers. Everyone should hear what these people have to say. I think we could learn a great deal from it.
My name is Andréanne Sasseville and I am director of Canadian Content Development and Industry Relations at SiriusXM Canada.
Joining me today is Paul Cunningham, senior vice-president of marketing and sales for SiriusXM Canada.
Since the launch of satellite radio in Canada back in 2005, SiriusXM Canada and the satellite radio category have matured to a viable and sustainable business while offering Canadians more choice and diversity in their daily audio entertainment. Prior to and since the merger of both Sirius Canada and XM Canada in 2011, our efforts to consistently deliver the best in music and entertainment brands and exclusive content to our customers has resonated with the Canadian consumer. This is evidenced by a 90-plus per cent customer satisfaction rate and our subscriber growth is now up to 2.4 million Canadians.
We have clearly helped to fill a gap in providing Canadians the content they want and are looking for. This is especially true when it comes to generating and providing Canadian content to our customers. We are developing over 120,000 hours of Canadian programming every year and provide access to this programming not only to major Canadian regions but equal access to rural and remote areas with limited radio operations. We are providing increased diversity and a wide variety of programming choices, 11 genres, available to all Canadians and exposure to homegrown talent across North America.
SiriusXM is committed to being one of the top broadcasters of independent music in Canada, and since our launch in 2005 we've played a leading role in helping emerging English and French Canadian artists grow their audiences both in Canada and in the U.S. Outside of our broadcasts SiriusXM Canada is also at the forefront in providing increased exposure and financial support for Canadian musicians and spoken word artists, particularly where new and emerging artists are concerned.
SiriusXM Canada, through its subscription business model, has contributed more than $75 million directly to artists through copyright and royalty fees as a result of our continued commitment to leverage the platform for the airplay of Canadian content. As well, our contributions to developing and promoting Canadian artists and our investment in music education and the cultural infrastructure required to provide this promotion are very strong. Canadian content development contributions are approaching this year $70 million since we began operating in Canada. This year only, we're talking about $11 million that will have been invested in CCD funding with a large portion of that investment going to institutions like FACTOR and Musicaction.
These institutional contributions, however, do not necessarily provide the best opportunity for artists, and that is our view. Where we are seeing greater success is in the development of programs that provide targeted and direct impact to artists' careers, impact where we can actually build a direct relationship with the artists. The proportion of institutional investments we support limit our opportunities to develop more grassroots initiatives that provide direct impact to Canadian artists. We could be doing much more together as an industry.
Whether it's providing exposure to emerging bands on movie screens across the country, showcasing emerging artists at events and festivals year round, all genres, or giving bands a chance to shine in front of one of our largest TV audiences at the Grey Cup halftime show, SiriusXM's innovation in funding these initiatives and others like them are providing direct results.
For those more used to Quebec television, a program is available to new artists who are exposed to a French audience across Canada. New artists are thus being given the opportunity to be seen and known.
There is definitely no shortage to promotions and initiatives that we can develop that impact artists directly, vastly enhancing and building a measurable trajectory for their careers. I recently had the pleasure of joining Minister Glover in Winnipeg during the Juno Awards week last Friday. We were at a local school and helped to present a music education grant through MusiCounts, an organization that we have supported for many years now and have contributed over $1 million to. We presented to over 1,600 students and shared the news of this important grant alongside Canadian band The Trews.
This is just one of hundreds of initiatives we take part in to support our industry, and one example out of many that provide music into classrooms to help get today's young and talented musicians and aspiring Canadian artists onto the airwaves and our playlists of tomorrow.
Part of the maturing business has been to adapt to a radical change in the industry landscape. The many different ways in which Canadians are now consuming content today continues to shift and is complex. In order to continue to provide a sustainable platform for Canadian voices, we must introduce continued innovation and a level playing field from which listeners and artists alike would benefit. This is an important and vital step in ensuring that the opportunities for Canadian artists are abundant in the midst of this radical change in the ways Canadians consume music.
Broadcasters must adapt to this ever-changing environment to succeed. This is a given, but adapting within an unfair competitive environment is rife with implications affecting both the artist and the consumer. I did mention earlier a continued investment to the industry. The $11 million SiriusXM Canada invests annually is sharply contrasted with the less than $7.3 million investment from all commercial radio licensees combined per year.
We also must remain competitive with respect to unregulated music streaming services entering the Canadian market. Internet and mobile streaming companies currently pay nothing toward the Canadian industry related to artist awareness and growth, nor do they currently have any requirements to feature Canadian content or any other means that would aid the discovery of new music.
SiriusXM Canada dedicates millions of dollars and commits its platform every year to programs and initiatives designed to provide support and exposure to up-and-coming Canadian artists and especially to music education. There is clearly an opportunity for shared responsibility here. Without federal regulation and parity throughout commercial radio, satellite radio, streaming services, and other content-delivery methods, the Canadian consumer will begin to see a reduction in choice and talent, and the exposure potential of a vibrant industry will not be realized.
This is an exciting time for the music industry. There is great opportunity amidst the changing music landscape, and we do remain very hopeful that we can continue to support everything we're discussing here today. We welcome the opportunity to further work with the committee to explore these areas and to help develop with our industry colleagues an immediate strategy related to all our concerns.
Thank you very much for the time you have allotted me.
Once again, I will be pleased to answer your questions and to speak with you.