FACTOR
grant money to the music industry is what keeps it going, said Daniel
Broome of True North Records, at a NXNE panel discussion in June.
There are challenges in the Canadian music Industry, he said, that
force artists and labels to beef up their budgets to survive. One
of those challenges is geography on a shoestring budget.
Peggy Nash NDP Candidate for High Park was one of three political
candidates present for the discussion on how to save Canadian music.
"We have to be clear about supporting the arts [in Canada],"
she said. "If we are not investing in music, the drift southward
will continue."
Testimonial
after testimonial supported that point. Greg Noiri from Treble Charger
who also manages SUM 41 assured the audience that neither of these
band would have been able to record decent demos and be signed without
FACTOR grant money. Not only that, but he said the FACTOR help is
not enough.
"Treble Charger has platium and gold selling albums and we
still have no money."
Not everyone is upset about FACTOR's possible demise. One artist
in Ottawa, John Gillis who plays piano, guitar, sings and writes
songs said he won't miss FACTOR at all.
"FACTOR is a commercially oriented program. It's all 'industry'
people who are on the jury, and the criteria are always on the commercial
side, not the
creative side. In fact, to apply for a FACTOR loan, you need to
fit into a market niche, and check the little box that fits your
marketing category of music. I've applied for Factor loans many
times and always got an
inane 'market' response. I won't miss em!" He also suggests
that there are other financial support programs out there for musicians
or 'artists'. They just aren't tethered to the music industry the
way FACTOR is.
To find out more and make your own decision go to: www.savecanadianmusic.com
~ Bobbie
Smith is Editor-in-Chief of Thursday Night Cafe. Her day job is
in communications in government.
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