CIMA Appears at CRTC Hearing on Bill C-11
Press Release
For Immediate Release
CIMA Appears at CRTC Hearing on Bill C-11
[TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 22, 2023] – Earlier today, CIMA President Andrew Cash appeared at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) hearing on modernized regulatory framework for Bill C-11. The Commission is expected to follow up this round of hearings with decisions on where new contributions funds from digital platforms should go, which companies should pay and how much.
Bill C-11, known as the Online Streaming Act, received Royal Assent and came into law on April 27, 2023. The Bill updated Canada’s Broadcasting Act for the first time in decades. With its passing, the CRTC must now work towards implementing the bill, through various consultations with businesses and artists. Today’s public hearing centres on what initial contributions online services will be required to make to support Canadian and Indigenous content and where those contributions should go.
'I am grateful to have had the opportunity today to describe the important achievements and immediate struggles of the Canadian owned music sector,” says Cash. “My message was simple—the music industry is a complex eco-system and FACTOR as well as The Radio Starmaker Fund are vital to that system. New monies created through regulating digital platforms should go to existing funds.”
While CIMA supports broadcast reforms through Bill C-11, Cash cautioned the Commission to ensure that any contributions it compels platforms to make not come out of creators’ pockets down the road.
CIMA has actively participated in this process for several years, staunchly supporting the importance of independent artists and companies at the table through this rapidly changing technological environment.
About CIMA
Founded in 1975 CIMA is the not-for-profit national trade association representing over 350 Canadian-owned music companies connected to over 6000 artists in every province and territory in Canada. CIMA's membership ranges from individual artists and solopreneurs to Canadian-owned global music companies. Its membership also includes music publishers, managers, agents, songwriters, as well as other industry associations, provincial MIA’s and industry adjacent service companies including in digital marketing, public relations and content creation.
CIMA’s mission is to empower and engage Canada’s music community to build and sustain equitable, inclusive, diverse, and successful global businesses and careers through advocacy, professional development, collaboration, networking, and celebration.
CIMA continues to develop key member services, export and international showcase opportunities and innovative public policy programming that help Canadian-owned music businesses and artists make it to the world stage.
--- 30 ---
Media Inquiries:
Jenia Schukov
Canadian Independent Music Association
Communications & Export Programming Officer
E: jenia[at]cimamusic.ca