Bill C-11 committee  Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. My name is Victoria Shepherd. I am here on behalf of the AVLA Audio-Video Licensing Agency, which represents over 1,000 members, including major and independent record companies and many independent artists, representing

Bill C-11 committee  What I can speak to is in the context of our ephemeral right and the performance tariff. I imagine that's what you're asking me about.

Bill C-11 committee  Artists benefit from what we call a neighbouring right, which is the communication of the works over the air, so the performance, by radio stations. That's one way—for the activity of performing the music. There's a second activity that the Copyright Board has deemed has its ow

Bill C-11 committee  Mr. Chauhan...?

Bill C-11 committee  Well, I would like to address that specifically in terms of.... I'm here to talk about this 30-day potential loophole, so I can't speak with any level of expertise about the WIPO treaty and how that will affect the passage of the bill. What I can tell you is that in terms of th

Bill C-11 committee  Is it all right if I jump in here?

Bill C-11 committee  In the 2010 Copyright Board decision, when they set the rate, it was an effective rate of 5.7%, but they do take into account the size of the station, the amount of music that's played. For example, if you're looking at a small-market station, which the CRTC defines as having a m

Bill C-11 committee  I'm hesitant to speak to that, simply because as a collective licensing agency we're not in the business of producing the music and distributing it. Our role is to collect revenue for our members. I don't feel I'm qualified to answer that question. I'm sorry.

Bill C-11 committee  I can't speak to whether or not the delivery software is compliant with all of the stations. Every station could be using something different. What I can tell you is that when this music is delivered to the stations, it's at no charge to them. They're actually obtaining and acqui

Bill C-11 committee  Yes.

Bill C-11 committee  Yes.

Bill C-11 committee  As I just mentioned, when the Copyright Board looks at ability to pay, which they are obliged to do, they would look at a small market station. You're paying 0.59% of your revenue and it's a cost of $700 a year. Let's say that music is 80% of the raw material you're programming

Bill C-11 committee  That's a technical question that I don't have the answer to, I'm sorry.

Bill C-11 committee  Absolutely.

Bill C-11 committee  Absolutely.