Starting New Years Day, 1999, the amount of Canadian content increased for Canadian radio stations from 30% to 35%. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of Canadian content, it is the percentage of music made from Canadian artists (eg. Our Lady Peace, Crash Test Dummies) that outlets such as radio and television station (eg. CBC Radio, MuchMusic), are required to play in their programing rotation in the course of a day. These levels must be kept in order for the station to keep their licensing agreements.
What this change means is this: the stations will have a more difficult time finding enough quality Canadian selections to meet their programing needs, but at the same time will create two positive benefits. First, many up-and-coming bands who might have not normally found the opportunity to find airspace will now find it slightly easier; and two, us, the average Canadian will benefit from the pleasure of increased Canadian music on the radio. Seeing that that is what this page is all about, we here at "CanEHdian.com" agree with and support fully the decision to increase the level of Canadian Content.
The Official Word
"Canadian Content on Radio and on TV
Section 3 of the Broadcasting Act requires among other things that the Canadian broadcasting system encourage the development of Canadian expression. Public, private and community broadcasters must contribute to the creation and presentation of Canadian programming. They should also make maximum use, and in no case less than predominant use, of Canadian creative and other resources. Where this is not possible because the programming service is specialized or uses languages other than English or French, the broadcaster must make the greatest possible use of Canadian resources.
To ensure that these goals are achieved, the Commission has established quantitative requirements. In fact, the Commission's Canadian content requirements are one of the fundamental aspects of Canadian broadcasting regulation. They ensure that the work of Canadian recording artists and program producers is available to Canadians and have led to the development of a healthy Canadian recording and program production industry.
Radio
Canadian content quotas for radio are based on the broadcast of a minimum number of musical selections to be aired during the official broadcast day (6 a.m. to midnight). For AM and FM stations, the minimum weekly requirement is 35% of all popular musical selections, except for stations whose playlists are at least 35% instrumental. Such stations are allowed lower Canadian content levels because of the limited amount of Canadian instrumental music that is available. To ensure an even distribution of Canadian music throughout the week, the Commission also requires Canadian selections to account for at least 35% of the popular music broadcast Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
A separate fact sheet entitled "The MAPL System" sets out the conditions that a musical selection must meet to qualify as Canadian".
This was reprinted from the Canadian government website Fact Sheet - Canadian Content on Radio and on TV
Related Sites
