Yes.
Evidence of meeting #118 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was back.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #118 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was back.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
—on these record labels, and we see “C” and “P”, so we're talking about both the C and the P.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Okay. Thank you for that.
Since I spoke about the MAPL, and I'm still referring to your career, when you got signed at the very beginning in 1988 or something like that, and you signed to A&M—
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Oh, that's true. You're right. Yes, because Cuts Like a Knife was in 1983.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
You're right. It was 1978.
At the time you got signed, were you under the impression that the MAPL system, the rules we had for radio, helped you get signed by a major label?
11:55 a.m.
Artist, As an Individual
I don't know if I benefited from it in the signing aspect, because literally there was a boot mark from kicking me out of most of the studios and record companies at the time, but I will say that I think it probably helped.
In the same way that a percentage of the music that is played in France has to be French content, I think the same thing has helped Canadian artists, without a doubt, here in Canada. Without a regulatory system, a mandatory system, for playing Canadian music, we'd just be playing what the hits are south of the border. We would never have recognized Canadian talent, so I think it's been helpful.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
I was tracking on radio. That was my job, to call the musical directors and say, “Play my song, play my song”, so in terms of the words you're using, and what you're describing, I understand clearly what you're talking about. The reality, however, is that the market has changed so much. Since most people are streaming, that's all the papers talk about in music. The fact is that Spotify remains the biggest one.
Do you think there's something we should do to cut out someplace for Canadian artists in this environment?
11:55 a.m.
Artist, As an Individual
I came here just to focus on what I think would be the simplest change, at this point, to help authors and composers. There's a much bigger problem with how to help artists and composers beyond this. You've just highlighted a couple of those points.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
I'll mention what I think was one of the most touching moments we had here. First, it's very important that you real McCoys come here and tell us your reality. Your reality is not that you've been suffering from exploitation—you had a wonderful career that you're thankful for and that we all appreciate—but then there are people like Damhnait Doyle from Newfoundland. Do you remember the fiddler?
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
She came here and was telling us that there's no way she can actually have a middle-class income to pay for taxes and stuff in such a situation. Getting access to her master tape or to the recording of her albums when the contract ends—not after death, as you say—would surely help her remarket and make new deals.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Thank you very much for that.
Since Mr. Gervais has said that many people are listening to this in the States, I have to tell you that I'm still wondering if there's something we can do to help our artists, our cultural diversity, since obviously the record labels and publishing houses have made bizarre agreements with these streaming services. They're giving you something like three thousandths of a cent per stream for one of your songs.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
I hope your coming here will bring a lot of focus to the study we're doing. I thank you for the angle you've brought.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
I wish for you that the next album.... What's your next album to be freed from this?