Well, I heard about this on the isohunt website, and I'm glad to see that Canadian artists are speaking out for themselves. I've always questioned the motives of the major music labels that claim their fight against music piracy is in the interests of the musicians. Anyway, quite a list of Canadian artists are onboard of this group:
Barenaked Ladies,
Avril Lavigne,
Sarah McLachlan,
Chantal Kreviazuk,
Sum 41,
Stars,
Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace),
Dave Bidini (Rheostatics),
Billy Talent,
John K. Samson (Weakerthans),
Broken Social Scene,
Sloan,
Andrew Cash and
Bob Wiseman (Co-founder Blue Rodeo)
I'm just reading about this now, so I won't say too much about it now, but here's a few links and quotations from their website,
http://www.musiccreators.ca.
Interview with Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies on Canada AM:
[video width=320 height=255]http://www.musiccreators.ca/media/StevenPage-CanadaAM.mov[/video]
Exerpts from their Policy Paper:
$1:
Until now, a group of multinational record labels has done most of the talking about what Canadian artists need out of copyright. But let’s be clear: major labels are looking out for their shareholders, not for Canadian artists. Recording industry lobbyists, despite claiming to represent artists, seldom speak for us. Legislative proposals, particularly those that would facilitate lawsuits against our fans or increase the labels’ control over the enjoyment of music, are made not in our names, but on behalf of the shareholders of the labels’ foreign parent companies.
Record companies and music publishers are not our enemies. They’re often run by people who love music and are passionate about the promotion of Canadian culture. However, representatives of the sound recording and music publishing industries are in an inherent conflict of interest. This conflict has led to fundamental problems in the way Canadian artists have been represented in the copyright reform process.
Industry lobbyists claim that they represent our interests. In truth, these representatives are often beholden to the directors and corporate shareholders of a small number of multinational companies headquartered outside Canada. As part of the effort to maximize revenue, record labels typically seek to acquire, not protect, artists’ copyrights.
Most of the campaigning on behalf of major record labels is not about protecting artists or promoting Canadian culture. It is about propping up business models in the recording industry that are quickly becoming obsolete and unsustainable. It about preserving power structures and further entrenching the labels’ role as industry gatekeepers. Lobbying efforts are focussed on obtaining laws that restrict artists’ ability to take control of their own music, reach their fans in more direct ways and earn a decent living from music without sacrificing their autonomy.
Guiding Principles:$1:
Suing Our Fans is Destructive and Hypocritical
Artists do not want to sue music fans. The labels have been suing our fans against artists’ will, and laws enabling these suits cannot be justified in artists’ names
Digital Locks are Risky and Counterproductive
Artists do not support using digital locks to increase the labels’ control over the distribution, use and enjoyment of music or laws that prohibit circumvention of such technological measures. Consumers should be able to transfer the music they buy to other formats under a right of fair use, without having to pay twice.
Cultural Policy Should Support Actual Canadian Artists
The vast majority of new Canadian music is not promoted by major labels, which focus mostly on foreign artists. The government should use other policy tools to support actual Canadian artists and a thriving musical and cultural scene.
That being said, I'm proud to support Canadian artists, and I appreciate the ability to download the album, if possible, before buying it. I probably buy more Canadian music because of this, because I can be fully confident that I'm getting my money's worth.
I'm curious as to where Sweatshop Union is, since I think they'd support this kind of thing.
Here's to Canadian Artists! [flag]
CKA Uber 
