In what is becoming a trend in cultural funding decisions, this cut was made without any consultation with the cultural community to determine whether it is shortsighted, which it is. Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording and Grants for Specialized Music Distribution fund non commercial/musically adventurous recordings made in Canada.
Art cannot always be quantified in pecuniary terms. Innovation breaks new ground, expanding the conceptual territory from which pop/commercially viable music mines its "new", and ultimately popular sounds. Non-commercial musicians lay the groundwork for the eventual norm. This exchange is centuries-old.
As is widely recognized, art makes people smarter, more efficient, more adaptable, more creative... Canada's cultural activity generates an active and fertile economy, and influences the overall economy in ways which are indisputable and extensive. These facts are fully documented. Every walk of Canadian life is enriched by the innovations of Canada's commercially "nonviable" artists, whether the masses know/appreciate it or not.
Etcetera etcetera...
I just returned from the United States of America, where I observed - first hand and in multiple contexts - the collective celebration and support of art and innovation. Who would have thought that we might find ourselves looking southward in envy.
What does Stephen "Piano Man" Harper have against artists and the making of art? What's his plan?
If our voices are loud and strong enough, we can stop the flagrant unravelling of our social fabric, the blurring of our cultural identity, the walmartification of our very Canadianness. No Culture = No Canada.
Read the petition, and sign your name if you are concerned.
Thanks as always for your consideration, and for allowing this intrusion.
- RC
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You can stop there, but if you want to know more, and/or hear what others are thinking -
RC has offers...
- a note about the cuts from Russell Kelly (head of music), and program information from the Canada Council. This explains the context in which this musical activity takes place.
- quotes from fellow signatories
- media reports
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From the Canada Council website:
On July 31, 2009, the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH) announced that, as of April 1, 2010, the $1.3 million administered by the Canada Council for the Arts under the Canadian Musical Diversity Component of the Canada Music Fund on behalf of PCH since 2001 will be reallocated to the redesigned Canada Music Fund. As a result, the Canada Council Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording and Grants for Specialized Music Distribution programs will no longer exist as of April 1, 2010.
The Music Section of the Canada Council for the Arts had been administering recording funds on behalf of PCH since the late 1980’s. This funding has benefited numerous artists, ensembles and groups and produced many recordings of artistic and cultural significance. The distribution function was added in 2002 and assisted specialized music labels and distributors to promote their catalogues.
The October 1, 2009, deadline will be the last deadline for the Canada Council Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording program. All eligibility criteria will apply as usual. The final deadline for the Grants for Specialized Music Distribution program was May 15, 2009.
Russell Kelley
Head, Music
Canada Council for the Arts
10 September 2009
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Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording and Grants for Specialized Music Distribution:
The Canada Council for the Arts administers this program on behalf of the Department of Canadian Heritage. Funds for this program are provided by the Canadian Musical Diversity Program of the Canada Music Fund.
This program supports the recording of Canadian “specialized music” by Canadian artists, ensembles, bands, record companies and independent producers. Its purpose is to ensure that a diversity of artistically driven Canadian music is produced and is available to the public.
Not all forms of music are eligible for support from this program.
“Specialized music” is defined as music whose intent or content is not shaped by the desire for wide market appeal—instead, it places creativity, self-expression or experimentation above the demands and format expectations of the mainstream recording industry. Specialized music has significance beyond being just entertainment, and it is usually found in the parallel market and alternative distribution systems.
Specialized music is primarily artistic in intent. It is understood that the definition of specialized music is changeable, depending on current public tastes and the resulting market share of various musical genres. Therefore, forms of music eligible for support through this program may change over time.
Eligible practices include, but are not limited to:
- contemporary Canadian composition or songwriting in classical music of any world culture, new music (as defined in the Music Section’s New Music Program), jazz and musique actuelle, electroacoustic, folk, world music, and Canadian Aboriginal music
- original interpretations of traditional music, where the applicant is significantly interpreting or arranging existing works
- fusion of specialized music and spoken word, where the music is as or more important than the text.
Ensembles, groups and bands must be made up of professional artists.
Managers or agents applying on behalf of an artist or ensemble, group or band must provide evidence of authorization to submit the application, such as a letter of agreement or management contract. Leaders of ensembles, groups or bands are not required to submit evidence of authorization.
Record companies applying on behalf of artists must submit copies of articles of incorporation as well as letters of agreement or contracts with the artist they plan to record. The letters or contracts must indicate royalty arrangements and contractual details.
This Canada Council for the Arts program is accessible to Aboriginal artists and artists of diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.
Individual artists and ensembles may submit only one application under their own name to this program per fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Record companies and independent producers may submit more than one application per year, but they may apply on behalf a particular artist only once per year. Please note that applications by record companies or producers on behalf of artists or ensembles that have already applied in a given fiscal year will be disqualified.
Ineligible Applicants
Non-Canadian artists or entities may not benefit directly from this program. Projects including non-Canadian artists may be eligible for this program if the majority of artists in the project are Canadian and a Canadian artist provides the artistic leadership. However, costs related to the participation of non-Canadians are not eligible expenses and should be reported separately from the budget, on a separate sheet of paper.
At least 50 percent of the running time of the proposed recording project must be Canadian-composed music or Canadian interpretations of traditional music.
All elements of the project, from recording to manufacturing to launch, must take place in Canada. If the album is released through a label, the label must be at least 51 percent Canadian-owned.
Music that is created to meet current market expectations and for which an established music industry infrastructure exists are ineligible for support through this program. Ineligible music currently includes such genres as:
- pop, rock, heavy metal, country, adult contemporary and new age
- urban music, including rap, r & b, soul, new soul, hip hop, garage, soca and reggae
- electronica, including house, techno, down tempo, commercial dance, drum and bass, electro, jungle, ambient and trance
- commercial forms of folk, jazz, world music, Aboriginal music, children’s music, classical music and gospel.
This program funds the following types of costs:
- recording costs, including studio expenses and artistic fees for the principal performers, producer and guest artists
- production costs, including editing, mixing and mastering
- post-production costs, including package design, liner notes and artwork
- manufacture of 1,000 units
- some initial marketing expenses.
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I strongly disagree with your decision to cut funding from the Canada Council (CAC), even if you plan to reallocate the money to other institutions. Support for creative artists is vital to the culture of Canada. The CAC is best suited to administer programs such as the Recording Grant for Specialised Music because it is focused on supporting art, not commerce. Other institutions, such as FACTOR, primarily serve the commercial music industry and cannot provide the function of meeting the needs of artists. Please reconsider your decision to reallocate this funding and reinstate the current program.
Nothing good comes without artistic creation -- it is the lifeblood that fuels the curious explorers within a progressive society. To deny any part of artistic discovery is to slow the blood to the heart of a progressive and healthy society and environment. To deny it, in our particular case, will eventually decimate the uniqueness of Canadianism.
This, from June 26, 2009: "The cultural sector needs stability in this time of economic uncertainty. With ongoing investments by our Government, artists and arts organizations can plan their activities for the longer term and continue to create, produce, and present innovative works that will make Canadians proud," said Minister Moore... Is this irony, or just this Government's interminable mendacity?
This bill will kill small music production at the root where our unique Canadian voice is developed. I strongly disagree with this legislation.
Misters Moore and Harper, what is it that you have against the Arts and Canadians?
I am a jazz enthusiast and much of the music I purchase has been supported by Canadian Recording Arts Grants. The artistic community in Canada is extremely rich and diverse; it is elements such as this that make me proud to be Canadian. It pains me to know that our government does not want to support the cornucopia of talent that Canada is blessed with.
Just for a minute, Mr. Minister, imagine your world without music, paintings, movies, live shows or TV entertainment by singers, actors, musicians, dancers, writers. Then you might understand why Canada has to give more financial support to the Arts Council and its artistic community in general.
Home grown music is essential to the survival of our culture. Do not cut this grant, my vote depends on it.
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By phum Tue, Sep 8 2009
Jazzblog.ca
As this Vancouver Sun story relates, the Canada Council's grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording and Specialized Music Sound Distribution will cease to exist in April 2010.
The long-standing programs provide more than $1 million annually in support of:
- contemporary Canadian composition or songwriting in classical music of any world culture, new music (as defined in the Music Section’s New Music Program), jazz and musique actuelle, electroacoustic, folk, world music, and Canadian Aboriginal music
- original interpretations of traditional music, where the applicant is significantly interpreting or arranging existing works
- fusion of specialized music and spoken word, where the music is as or more important than the text.
Jazz musicians who have recently received recording grants include Toronto saxophonist Jane Bunnett, Toronto bassist Brandi Disterheft (both have won Junos for their discs), Ottawa drummer Mike Essoudry, and Vancouver pianist Amanda Tosoff. Small record labels have also benefitted from the program, including the Vancouver-based label, Songlines.
The elimination of the grants was in fact made public July 31, when Heritage Minister James Moore announced that the Canada Music Fund would be restructured. According to this CBC story, the CMF's value is to increase, with its other components increasing while the Canadian Musical Diversity program is axed.
Moore's spokeswoman Stephanie Rea told the Vancouver Sun that the restructuring is “just a streamlining of everything. We are giving more access through this fund for digital market development, international market development and expanded eligibility for small entrepreneurial artists and labels. This will promote innovation and [create] more business opportunities online and internationally.”
However, those who have benefitted from the the Specialized Music Sound Recording program contend that the restructuring is simply another blow to the arts from the Harper government. There was much hubbub on Facebook this weekend, from jazz musicians across the country:
Montreal drummer and bandleader Thom Gossage wrote:
"The latest move by the Harper government (to eliminate the Canada Council specialized sound recording grant) only confirms the most cynical view of his lack of understanding and open disdain for the arts, in this case music.
"The Canada Council mandate encourages art from a broad spectrum of styles and regions of the country, it bases its criterion [sic] for acceptance not solely on commercial guidelines but more importantly on the quality of the applicants, producing work that is internationally respected.
"The fact that funds will be re-directed to digital distribution is an insult to the intelligence of everyone in this country. How can you promote music online if it hasn't been recordedin the first place. Specialized sound recording enables a broad spectrum of music to be represented of a high standard, it allows musicians to sell their music at shows and it also allows for the minimal cost of digital distribution."
Winnipeg pianist Michelle Gregoire commented:
"Specialized recordings make the entire industry grow. Quality, artistry, diversity affects commercial music just as well."
Canadian saxophonist/composer Christine Jensen wrote:
"It is a minute amount of money in the grand scheme of Canadian tax $$'s. This whole cut goes against the Canada Council mandate. They try to cover it up by saying they will support int'l touring. how the heck are you going to tour without a quality recording representing artistic excellence? (the whole thing stinks and reminds me of that survey CC ... Read Morehad us do a while back). I can't talk to badly of FACTOR as they have supported my work, but it is a completely different system based on marketing. Creative music has a hard time fitting their bill. Time to rally and protest..."
Montreal bassist Patrick Reid feels the same way, as you'll see from the e-mail that he sent to me and many others yesterday:
The Canada Council's recording grant program has been cut ... This is incredibly saddening and disheartening news for the creative arts in Canada and its supporters. The majority of Canada's library of creative music was made possible by this program and the future of its production of new creative music is uncertain at best. Small record labels and non-profits that work relentlessly to distribute our creative outputs will have an incredibly difficult time surviving without it.
This program was the main way that artistically motivated/non-commercial recordings were possible in Canada. Recordings are the only way for musicians to document their work and now this will no longer be supported by the only federal organization that promotes art for art's sake in Canada. This is by far the largest blow to music that has taken place since the Conservative regime started their crusade against Canadian culture. This news went completely under the radar mid-summer and I only began to here about it as a scary rumour last week. Unfortunately it is very true. Aside from money that was cut from this program, even more funding from the Canada Council is being redirected into the more commercially driven sectors of music listed below. Where that money will go is ambiguous at best.
Hopefully, now that the word is spreading there will be a major protest. Unfortunately, as history demonstrates, once a program is cut it is far more difficult to have it reinstated. It will take a huge collective effort from artists, supporters, press, entrepreneurs and others combined to give us a fighting chance. With a possible impending election this fall, now would be the most opportune time to create a national uproar.
This e-mail is my initial and immediate reaction to get the ball rolling. I will be on this trying to collect the masses in all the ways that I can but please spread the word far and wide. Thanks.
Yours truly,
Patrick Reid
UPDATE: I just cracked open my mail, which brought two CDs bearing the logo of the Canada Council for the Arts' insignia: Amor, from singer Amanda Martinez, and The Breathing of Statues from Gordon Grdina's East Van Strings, on the Songlines label.
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By phum Tue, Sep 15 2009 Jazzblog.ca
An online petition has just sprouted up to protest the cancellation of the Canada Council for the Arts' grants in support of jazz, folk, world, and Aboriginal music recordings. (I wrote about the axing of the $1.3 million Canadian Music Diversity Fund here.)
I've checked the petition a few times this morning, and seen it grow from 587 names to 800 in less than two hours. I recognize more than a few of the signatories, including Ottawa drummers Jesse Stewart and Rory McGill; pianists David Ryshpan, Ali Berkok, John Sadowy and Steve Holt; drummers Jerry Granelli, Jonathan McCaslin, Nick Fraser, Bernie Arai and Barry Romberg; saxophonists from across the country including Kelly Jefferson, Steve Kaldestad and Evan Arntzen. I could go on and on.
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Some signers have also included their comments. They include:
Roberto Occchipinti
A misguided, idealogy driven decision. The governments's own study shows a return of a ratio of 2 to 1 for every dollar invested in the arts. This is one of the few programs that the artist receives the funds directly by a jury of peers. What is the rationale for cutting the program ?
Tara Davidson
This recording grant is vital and necessary to facilitate the production of non-commercial Canadian music. Numerous recordings made through the funding of this grant were JUNO nominated or winning recordings. If these non-commercial genres of music (and let's face it, that's most everything besides rock and pop) do not have funding opportunities, the music and the community will suffer. The consequences of this are enormous. It affects a broad community of people and this ripples outwards to the popular music community as well. Culture in this country is suffering at the hands of short-sighted and uninformed government cuts.
Jesse Zubot
arts & culture is the basis to our society. Without this grant only commercial music will exist in Canada. Canada will become a laughing stock on the international scene for arts. Music is medicine. If only commercial is being made, that will be the same as only harmful pharmaceutical drugs existing to heal. Creative music should be looked at in the same vein as herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy and other natural forms of healing. Can you imagine the world without classical music. Well that was the creative music of it's time, when it was developed.... Without this grant no new forms of music will be created in Canada and we will become closer and closer to only having candy coated formula product by the likes of Nickelback, Shania Twain, Hedley and others existing in this country. What a depressed nation we would be.
Jordan O'Connor
Artists are not the enemy and Art is not the problem. Why do we let politicians gut cultural programs when they are duty bound to affirm all citizens and promote diversity of expression? It is not their job to treat “culture” as a political schism, pitting people against one another in a clandestine attempt to split ridings and “win” elections. And it is not their job to limit the capacity of the business of Art at any stage, in research and development right through to the final product. This is business, period. Tens of thousands of people are employed, directly and indirectly across the country as a result of the work by Artists. So the decision to further cut funding to the Arts is a condemnation of small business, which is what we artists are, small business people. And when we are asked, what is Canadian culture we will say, culture isn’t something we fund and it isn’t something we grow and develop as a nation, rather it’s something we import.
Yvette Tollar
Cutting this specific program is a direct attack on the jugular of the independent music industry. I fear it is just the beginning of a series of sucker punches that will cripple Canada's beautiful and vibrant musical landscape that has been nurtured so carefully by the Canada Council since the late 1980's. Artists who record aboriginal music, jazz, children's, world music and folk are just some of the genres who will be left with little or no chance at funding. Leaving artists with no CD's will mean hardship for 1000's of Canadians whose livelihood depends on music festivals, and tourism that so often revolve around the music that has been attacked by this ultra conservative + uncultured government. What a terrible lack of foresight.
John Sadowy
The Recording Grant for Specialized Music is vital to preserving and promoting diversity on the Canadian artistic landscape. Cutting this program will effectively silence countless unique Canadian voices. Our country's place in the global artistic community is at stake, as are the livelihoods of the thousands of individuals at various levels of artistic production. The decision to cut this program was extremely short-sighted and misguided. I urge you to reinstate the Recording Grant for Specialized Music.
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Moore restructuring Canada Music Fund
Friday, July 31, 2009
CBC News
Heritage Minister James Moore has announced an increase in the Canada Music Fund, the federal government's main fund to support the music industry, but changes are coming in the way the fund distributes its money.
Two programs have been eliminated but the five remaining programs will see more money under the new plan, announced in Montreal on Friday. Moore said the changes will direct more money to digital platforms, but he could provide few details.
Its funding will be increased by $9.85 million annually to $27.6 million a year until 2014, he said.
"We are also ensuring that a wide variety of Canadian music is accessible on multiple platforms, increasing the reach of our artists both in Canada and abroad," Moore said in a statement.
The programs eliminated were:
- Canadian Musical Diversity: This fund, administered through the Canada Council for the arts, went to indie music makers under a sound recording program and a specialized music distribution program.
- Support to Sector Associations: This program, administered by Canadian Heritage, provided up to $250,000 annually to industry associations
The new program areas include:
- $900,000 for digital market development, in a fund aimed at music entrepreneurs and businesses.
- $500,000 for international market development, which will support international showcases that help Canada artists make international connection
Expanding eligibility to professionals, such as managers and distributors who work in digital technologies, seems to be among the thrusts of the new development.
The Canadian Music Fund will continue to fund existing programs administered by:
- FACTOR: the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings, an independent organization that provides grants for new Canadian artists to tour and record.
- SOCAN: Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, which provides grants for cultural festivals and new works.
- MusicAction Foundation: a non-profit organization that supports the marketing and promotion of francophone music.
The changes take effect in April 2010.
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