Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm Jean Surette. I'm the executive director for Music NB. Music NB is a bilingual provincial music industry association, a MIA as we call them, providing a support network for musicians and music businesses involved in the creation and promotion of music within the province of New Brunswick.
MNB's primary responsibility is to represent the interests of its members, but also to foster the New Brunswick music industry. Through our professional development program, we reach out to all corners of our province to deliver information and training about career development, industry resources, and funding programs. Through our events we provide showcasing and networking opportunities in bringing music creators and buyers together. We have over 300 members and reach over 2,000 subscribers through our weekly newsletters.
With regard to the Canada Music Fund, MNB wants to thank the Government of Canada and Heritage Canada for giving it the opportunity to speak about the challenges the music industry faces in our province. We also want to congratulate Heritage Canada for renewing the funding of the Canada Music Fund. This fund has helped to make Canada a leader in the musical world.
From one ocean to the other, several associations in the music industry have greatly benefited from the collective initiative programs administered by FACTOR and Musicaction and originating with Heritage Canada. MNB encourages Heritage Canada to recognize the work done by these associations to provide key development programs for artists' careers.
The Collective Initiatives program has helped Music NB directly in tangible ways. First there is education of artists and music industry professionals through career development programming on topics such as online and social media marketing, domestic and international touring, music licensing for film, television, video, video games and commercials, and funding program information and much more.
It also has helped us develop in New Brunswick a music industry Web platform to promote and help market artists and music businesses in the province while serving as a centralized provincial music industry resource for the media and the public. This is a platform that will be launched in 2014.
It also helps us with funding export marketing initiatives for our music industry conference, Music NB Week.
A provincial perspective. Like many places in Canada, New Brunswick has a large portion of its territory that is rural. A great many artists and industry workers work from these locations. Our urban centres have well-established organizations, cultural infrastructures, and a highly creative and innovative pool of artists and creators. Having said this, New Brunswick lacks experienced industry professionals to support and foster the careers of artists and music businesses.
Our challenge lies in being able to create ties between geographically and culturally diverse communities, delivering training and information to our industry while continuing community outreach and the promotion of N.B. music culture through our events.
As for exports to other markets, one of the main reasons artists relocate is often to take advantage of export and touring opportunities. MNB has been slowly developing international export strategies for the past several years and we're focusing on the eastern United States, since they're our neighbours. Our main hurdle is accessing significant funding for both inbound and outbound activities.
So we'd like to propose some things. These are: funding programs with a focus on artist development on a grassroots level; funding programs with a focus on industry development and mentorship, so we can grow our industry and support our artists; and funding programs for international export activity as well. The delivery of some components can be through digital platforms, promotion, and marketing as well. MIAs could access funding through the Canadian Council of Music Industry Associations, which we are part of and which is a national body.
As for expected results now, artists will have better tools. They will have access to more resources to develop their careers on national or international stages. There will be more support and training for the artists, industry professionals and businesses as well as the retention of many industry workers in the province, which will help to solve the problem we are facing currently. Moreover, there will be an increase in international exports, greater engagement from the public for the artists and the industry in general, and naturally, more revenue will be generated.
Our recommendations include the following. First, the current funding for collective initiatives through FACTOR and Musicaction should be maintained.
More funding should be invested in artist development and industry development in all markets across the country. The provincial MIAs are best positioned to develop their respective industries at a grassroots level while leveraging local funding.
There should be funding for export initiatives outside of what FACTOR and Musicaction are currently administering.
The MIAs and their collective body, the CCMIA, could have the capacity to deliver such programs to their respective constituents.
I would like to thank you for giving MNB the opportunity to provide comments and suggestions on the review of the Canadian music industry to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. If anyone has questions or wants any information, we'd be happy to answer.
Thank you.