It's a story we hear, over and over and over again. The illegal download of digital music files is hurting the earnings of musicians and record companies world wide.
Well, in Canada, it's refreshing to see musicians band together, form a coalition (Canadian Music Creators Coalition), and petition Ottawa for sensible solutions in recuperating the loss.
Some of the biggest names in Canadian music feel strongly that harsh copyright laws that make it easier for record companies to sue fans for digital file sharing isn't the right way to go.
Today, Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies, alongside Brendon Canning of Broken Social Scene, sat down with Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda and Industry Minister Maxime Bernier to ask them to lay off Canadian Digital Music Fans.
"This effort is not about giving our music away, it's about encouraging innovative approaches that will compensate musicians and protect music fans from litigation," Page said Monday in a release.
These artists, for which Page and Canning spoke on their behalf of, feel"This effort is not about giving our music away, it's about encouraging innovative approaches that will compensate musicians and protect music fans from litigation," Page said Monday in a release.
It's exciting to hear that through the din of big record labels pushing for ease to sue, artists on the other hand are looking for a solution to regain lost revenue, but, still allows the medium of digital file sharing to evolve. In fact, it's quite possible that harsher penalties within the copyright law may just squash ingenuity all together and prevent newer more exciting digital music models from being developped.
It is important for the politicians to take their cue from the artists themselves and not from the record labels. NDP Heritage critic, Charlie Angus said, "This issue is about artists who have adapted to new digital markets and an industry that is trying to use legislation to impose a 20th-century business model on a new generation of fans. There is no going back. Canadian bands have thrived and adapted. It's time Parliament woke up to this fact."
The coalition includes musicians Sam Roberts, Broken Social Scene, the Barenaked Ladies, Sum 41, Billy Talent, Bob Ezrin, Feist, Stars, Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace), Dave Bidini (Rheostatics), John K. Samson (Weakerthans), Sloan, the Stampeders and Randy Bachman.
The Canadian Recording Industry Association has been pressing for tighter controls on how music is distributed, saying the industry has lost close to $6 million in retail sales since the advent of online music trading.
Association president Graham Henderson scoffed Monday at the idea of bringing in more levies on blank media, noting how unpopular the existing tax is. He said legal downloading is available now that gives music lovers the songs they want and pays artists for their work.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Friday, May 05, 2006
Not only did I win the "I Am KMS California" contest, but, I also was the public's choice. Yes, your voting results were revealed and I was one of the three contestants who won People's Choice. Such an honour... I've never been any public's choice for anything!
If you want to check out the other contestants, you want to see photos of the Gastineau Girls or Jess Zaino then log into www.iamkmscalifornia.com and see the excitement that was the I Am KMS California.
Again, great contest, great people, great everything. We're all just waiting on what our next steps are going to be as representatives. First off, I have to say, my bio is only a wee bit sensational. The Arab Royalty bit is true, but, it's distant distant ancient relatives back in the days of lore. However, I'm not opposed if anyone wants to reinstate my family as royalty. 
Here's me molesting Edwin Johnston one of the Canadian KMS Artistic Team. Oh, the intoxication of winning made me forget myself, but, he was a real gent to allow me to try and plant one on him.
We make a handsome couple, don't we?
Tonight it's the Liberal Hospitality Suites. So I'll be doing my thing with the Michael Ignatieff suite. I believe I'll be serving as it's my sister's hard work and planning that's going into making the event a success.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Dear recently modified facial appendage,
Being a newer slimmer and sexier you is great, but, don't think that's going to help fool the public in believing your host has talent.
Remember the over publicized SNL Fiasco? Or the crowd of 72,000 booing your host at the Orange bowl? Did you forget this comment about Ashlee's voice being "a cross between a political prisoner being tortured and a test of the Emergency Broadcast System." Oh we all know how harsh those MSNBC.com commentators can be.
We all thought that it would've been Ashlee to break under the pressure and not you! It was Papa Joe Simpson wasn't it? He called you fat didn't he?
Whatever the reason, you never needed to be that skinny. When Ashlee's 15 minutes blows over you're just going to be a skinny nose on a big head.
kc
ps - I Karma find the new nose to be evocative of wacko jacko. It is HID-EE-OUS!... Heinous Nasous. Oh, Ashlee, you were so cute and approachable before. Did no one tell you that this whole perfection fad will change and blow a different direction. When it does, what will you do then?
Monday, May 01, 2006
So a while ago I posted about Clay Aiken's fugly pornstar love puppet John Paulus' blog.
Of course, me being me, I had to reach out and tell this dude to just stop embarrassing himself and to go on with his life. Isn't that the foundation for all good breakups?
So here's the dialogue:
At 9:47 AM, KarmaCake said...
It might be more interesting if you hooked it up with someone who wasn't Clay Aiken.
Everyone knows he's gay.
But, truthfully, and not to hurt your feelings, no one really cares to hear about Clay his trists or his slighted lovers.
I thought your blog was a joke until it was apparent that it was very very true.
I'm so sorry.
For your own self respect delete the blog and go on with your life.
At 10:13 AM, John Paulus said...
Karmacke: you really think that no onw really cares? I suggest you check out the counter at the bottom of my blog and take note that in 48 hours I have over 10,000 visitors to my site. I have now partnered with other outlets to carry breaking news about Clay Aiken and I will post it here as a "one stop" place for pleople Aiken for news about Clay.
INSERT SARCASM
Thank God, someone is fulfilling the public's need for breaking news about Clay Aiken.
Seriously now, I think that RCA is reflecting the public opinion on Clay Aiken by "post-poning" production indefinitly on Clay's latest release. In fact, they are encouraging Gaykin to do like fellow 'mo Barry Manilow and release a cover album.
There's nothing that old ladies and the infirm love better than a pumpin' cover album.
Here's something that's bringing up the rear of celeb trends! Behind the cutsy couple nicknames, ie- Vaughniston, behind the humans as accessories ie- trashy boyfriends ala Britaline or Nicole Richie's "singer" Taryn Manning and yes, even behind the celebrity baby boom, you will find the sweet smell of success: Celebrity Fragrance Lines.
In a scent-sitive (har har) modern age it's difficult to imagine anyone truly making money off of these ventures. But, they all are doing it, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, J Lo and now even tennis star Maria Sharapova.
Why are they doing this in face of a declining women's fragrance market in North America? Well, large cosmetic companies are hoping that the celebrity endorsement route will help to reinvigorate sales. ha ha. not likely!
Sure Britney's fragrance Curious was the #1 seller over the holiday season in 2004, but, was that an anomily? Chances are...
I really love how the fragrances really are not representational of the scents of the celebrities. You know, I imagine Paris Hilton's fragrance to smell like sex and cheap film, Britney Spear's scent to smell like hooch & fried chicken, Maria Sharapova's scent to smell like Tennis Player B.O. and J Lo's to smell like money.
Okay, not compelling, but, give me a break. I'm sleepy!