advertisement
FYI

CMPA 2019: Crusading For Songwriters and Music Publishers

Editor's note: This is the second of several editorial perspectives mapping out the goals and aspirations of Canada's key associations.

CMPA 2019: Crusading For Songwriters and Music Publishers

By Margaret McGuffin

Editor's note: This is the second of several editorial perspectives mapping out the goals and aspirations of Canada's key associations.


A modern copyright regime will maximize the creation and discovery of new Canadian songs for years to come. The Canadian Music Publishers Association welcomes the trade agreement reached late last year between the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico (USMCA) and congratulates all three governments involved in the  on the decision to extend the term of copyright in works to the life of the author plus 70 years, consistent with international standards.

Canada’s current term, life plus 50 years, limits the revenue available to music publishers and other domestic rightsholders to finance the discovery and development of Canadian talent. 

advertisement

One or two songs in a catalogue can make a huge difference to the viability of a music publisher and the Canadian songwriters they can invest in. Day to day, these songs may not generate much money, however, holding on to this copyright over an extra 20 years allows music publishers to invest more in emerging songwriters and build their business to compete globally better.

The Canadian Music Publishers Association is actively participating in the current review of the Copyright Act and will continue to do so in 2019.  Changes to the Copyright Act to ensure Canadian works are competitive internationally and reform of the Copyright Board are the keys to success for a robust, successful music publishing industry and the Canadian economy. It is essential that the government act to allow our sector to remain globally competitive.  The value gap must be addressed and exceptions in the Act must be removed. 

The current Act has contributed to a situation where large-scale, profit-driven organizations have been able to derive significant additional value from the creations of rightsholders without transferring additional value to the creators of the work and the companies that invest in them.   Additionally, we ask the Government to amend the Act to make the private copying regime technologically neutral to cover audio recording devices such as digital sound recorders, tablets and smartphones. 

advertisement

Happy New Year.

advertisement
Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at BC Place on December 6, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Kevin Winter/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at BC Place on December 6, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Concerts

Taylor Swift’s 8 Best Moments as the Last Eras Tour Weekend Begins in Vancouver

Vancouver night 1 set the stage for the last hurrah for Swift's epic, sold-out tour.

How will The Eras Tour end?

Here on Dec. 6, 2024, on a Friday night in Vancouver — home of Taylor Swift‘s final three Eras shows (Nos. 150-152, for those counting) — we’re among about 60,000 kindred spirits at BC Place.

“You and I, we’re about to go on a little adventure,” Swift, in a bedazzled blue-and-gold Lover bodysuit, teases the crowd. “That adventure is gonna span 18 years of music, and we’re gonna be doing this one era at a time. How does that sound to you, Vancouver?”

keep readingShow less
advertisement