I talked about the successes in the music world earlier, but it's very difficult right now. Sales in the music industry in Canada have fallen more than 30% as a result, among other things, of illegal downloading over the Internet. In the past four years, Quebec artists have maintained their 40% share of sales, but total sales have fallen 25% as a result of illegal downloading, among other things, which is done in part over cell phones.
It's absurd to say that there has been no impact for us. The industry is in crisis, particularly as a result of technological developments. Governments have put other financial measures in place to help us, but this is clear to us. When the CRTC asked its question on its new media policy, we asked it to try to see how—without copying what is being done in conventional broadcasting—certain aspects of the regulations that have had very good effects could be integrated. We're thinking of the regulation of quotas, distribution orders of priority.
How could that be applied to the Internet? I hope you are convinced that the Internet is increasingly malleable and controllable. I won't cite any examples, which could follow me for a long time, of certain countries that force giants to bend to their policies. However, it is clear that the problem is never one of a lack of control over technology; it's a lack of political will as a result of which the decision is made not to touch the Internet.
It can't be said that there is no connection. On the contrary, there is a very direct connection in our industry. At ADISQ, we also monitor, every day, all the services that emerge and die on the Internet, using this new highway. Hundreds of services die. Free, legal services, with advertising, subscriptions, with downloading, etc., die every week, and I'm not exaggerating. This is isn't the way of the future. This is a fact in our industry and has been for nearly 10 years.
