Most actors and recording artists receive very modest compensation for their time spent recording a work, whether it’s a film, a series, or a song that is enjoyed and exploited for profit for decades. There is value in their performance. Performance draws us in, keeps us engaged, and keeps us tuned in. The average Canadian adult watches over 30 hours per week of TV and online programming, and we spend over 15 hours per week listening to music.
Content and music are embedded in our lives and fuel our economy. Our artists, though, are struggling. The middle-class artist is disappearing. Many live at or below the poverty line. It's not because they aren't good. It's not because they don’t book jobs. It's not because they don’t get airplay. It's because they aren’t compensated fairly for the use of their work.
As content and music have shifted to digital distribution platforms, those creating the work have been paid less for its use, if at all. This value gap is devastating to their livelihoods and is threatening the future of our cultural industries. In the digital era, it’s more important than ever that our legislation ensure performers are fairly compensated for the value they create.