Broken Down Clown

In Toronto this weekend?

Check out Broken Down Clown!

Saturday, June 30, 2007
9:30 - 11:00pm
The Cat's Eye
150 Charles Street West

Check out www.myspace.com/brokendownclown to hear 4 songs that will be played at the show.

Canadian Renaissance Project

I'm looking for a few good people with ideas and some optimism. The next online campaign I'm going to undertake is about people's ability to make money in 'the arts' in Canada. I should point out that I'm using the term arts losely here to refer to a broad spectrum including performing arts, visual arts, music, film etc.,

Canada is a big country. It is, as I've pointed out before, difficult for artists from one region to gain recognition in all of the others. Even traveling from one end of Canada to the other can be expensive and time consuming and is, for many, simply not a viable option. For this reason Canada has lost many of it's most gifted and creative people to the United States and Europe.

The Canadian Renaissance Project will be an, admittedly ambitious, attempt to fix that, or at least improve the situation. The idea is simple, allow artists to keep more of what they earn; Separate income from the arts from other income and then allow a certain level of income from the arts to be tax exempt. If this can be done it will not only make it easier for artists to make a living, but it will show Canada's artists that they are appreciated and will generally make staying in Canada a more viable and attractive option for them. Hopefully sparking an explosion of art, creativity and talent across Canada (hence the name of the project.)

I am not ready to launch this yet, but I'd like a small group of people to brainstorm with about exactly how it should work and the best way to approach making it a reality. If you are interested or if you'd like to nominate someone else, please contact me.

Canada Day from Hollywood?

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting spokesperson Ian Morrison is bashing the CBC over foreign content in prime time.

"There was an excuse during the NHL lockout to run Hollywood movies, because they desperately needed to balance their budget when there was no hockey around, but now the trend is continuing," said Ian Morrison, spokesperson for the media watchdog.

"Nine and a half hours of foreign programming out of 28 (are airing) for the national public broadcaster, and the week before Canada Day? Come on."

For the full story go here or here.

Personally I think it would be nice to see more Canadian content on the National public broadcaster. Especially right before Canada Day. But, that's just me.

Winnipeg Music

Yesterday I mentioned the Weakerthans new album, just in case you can't think of anything good out of Winnipeg. I just added Winnipegbands.com to the Music Links, if you're interested in what's going on there, you should definitely check that site out. It seems pretty comprehensive. - I'm always looking out for good Can-Con links to add and that includes local and regional stuff. So if you have any suggestions please pass them along.

Now, since we're talking about the Weakerthans, Winnipeg and music...well, it was kindof inevitable...

Be the Media

I've been getting alot of mail the last two days about big media taking over. I've even joined the media democracy day group on Facebook. Have a look at this video and then I'll tell you what I think.



I used to be seriously concerned about media consolidation. Sure, it's still a worry but not as much as it used to be. One of my favourite quotes is from Jello Biafra "Don't hate the media, become the media". Today this is something we are fully capable of doing.

Reglardless of who owns the media, we really own the media, in every respect. We, through the CRTC (a bureaucracy of the government we elect) decide who gets to use the airwaves and for what purpose. We are the viewers/listeners that the media is so desperate for. We are the consumers that the advertisers are after. If we don't watch, or listen or if we don't buy the products advertised, they don't get paid. Finally, every broadcaster in Canada is heavily dependent on Government subsidies. I don't just mean the CBC, private broadcasters also enjoy hundreds of millions of dollars in Government subsidies in Canada. A sum, without which, they would likely not be profitable.

So, now that we've established that we own the media outright and can make and decisions we like regarding it (now matter who owns it on paper) we can move on to 'being the media'. In 2006 Time Magazine (Owned by Time-Warner-AOL) declared that you were the "Person of the Year"

"It's a story about community and collaboration on a scale never seen before. It's about the cosmic compendium of knowledge Wikipedia and the million-channel people's network YouTube and the online metropolis MySpace. It's about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes."

If you think back at all of the media revolutions in history - the printing press, the radio, the television etc., they were always in the hands of the few. They were expensive and carefully controlled. It took alot of money and alot of manpower to run them. With the Internet that's all changed. It's a media revolution that has fallen into the hands of the many, there are hundreds of millions of people online around the world, able to share ideas and stories and their own media. We have, in short, done as Jello asked, we have become the media.

There are so many alternatives out there to the 'Big Media' - just on this site the canblogs section aggregates 100 blogs from various sources. A few of these are CBC blogs, the rest are independent.
The cancasts section is similar. There are many CBC podcasts listed, but about 2/3rds of the casts listed are produced indpendently, by individuals with no one to answer to but themselves and their audience. Then there is the public broadcasters section - listing online radio stations from every corner of Canada - all of them CBC affiliates or other public, campus or community broadcasters.

There is such a wide diversity of voices out there that you could easily ignore the main stream media entirely and always be informed and entertained. In the 80s and 90s I think that media consolidation was about extended power, influence and profitibility. In 2007 I think it's suddenly about circling the wagons because Big Media knows that the 'good old days' are over - forever. They will never again enjoy the power, influence and profitability that they once did.

That isn't to say that we shouldn't worry at all. By all means have at them. Take down the big media conglomerates. Stop watching their programs, boycott their advertisers, write your MP and the heritage committee, sick the CRTC on them. As I said before, you own it, make it heel. But for my part I'd like to see net neutrality become the irrefutable law of the land, I'd like to see copyright reform that rewards artists and content creators without punishing consumers and fans, I'd like to see income tax reform that recognizes the importance of the arts to society and makes it easier for independent artists to make a living and I'd like to see Canadians take back the CBC. As for the ConradblackRupertMurdockChumCTVBellGlobemediaFoxHalliburtonHappyfunballNationalEnquirerBritneySpearsChannel media and armorments company Inc. Let them step up and deliver, or wither away unnoticed.

Skip the break up - Go Straight to the Reunion

Via the Radio 3 blog: the Weakerthans new album Reunion tour is due out September 25.

From John K. Sampson

"Well, Reunion Tour is the name of one of the songs on the record. I wrote it after the Great White tragedy, thinking about old metal bands on reunion tours. But all the characters on the record seem to be speaking about some kind of connection they are missing, therefore I think of the record as a tour of reunions- missed, thwarted, longed for. So the title seemed inevitable."

If past work is any indication it will probably just be 15 or so completely brilliant songs. Yes, again! Getting a little old isn't it?

Who Cares about Canadian Idol

According to the producer of Canadian Idol Toronto does not support it's local musicians.

While the rest of the country is buzzing about Canadian Idol and the success of their hometown heroes, Toronto is not paying attention. Toronto is not supporting the local talent found right in its own backyard.

John Brunton's real concern is, obviously, ratings. If Toronto cared more about Canadian Idol, Canadian Idol would have better ratings. It's not about supporting local talent because Toronto certainly does that. On any given night dozens of acts are playing at local venues.

Recording artists deliberately move to Toronto because Toronto supports local talent. Just to name a few recent examples:

Broken Social Scene

Feist

Billy Talent

Apostle of Hustle

the Hidden Cameras

Hawksley Workman

Sum 41

Serena Ryder

the Fembots

the Constantines

K-os

Danko Jones

Ron Sexsmith

K'Naan

All of these have come out of Toronto, and the list could go on for awhile, then I could make another list of good bands that are currently on their way up in Toronto (that list would be even longer.) It is not that Toronto doesn't support local talent - we most certainly do. It's that Toronto doesn't care about vacuous, plastic talent shows.

As I said John Brunton does not care about music, or Toronto, he cares about ratings. Canadian Idol is not about musical talent, it is not about a music career. It is about pop stardom, a popularity contest where naive young people who think there is a shortcut to rock star status can grab 15 minutes of fame one summer before they are forgotten like a fast food dinner and I, for one, am happy that Toronto doesn't care.

Feel the Heat, on Friday morning:

If you live in Toronto you've been feeling the heat for a few weeks now. But, if you're concerned about why, and/or concerned about it getting still hotter - CBC's new Global Warming Show "Feeling the Heat" premieres this Friday at 9:30 am.

Feeling the Heat is a new CBC Radio program, hosted by Ian Hanomansing, that inspires Canadians to get serious about the environment - and shows them how do it. Feeling the Heat will air across Canada Fridays at 9:30 a.m. on CBC Radio One, starting June 29

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There is no word yet on a podcast (though this one should definitely be on the list), and very little info on the CBC website but it's definitely worth giving the show a shot if you're near a Radio Friday morning.

Subliminal Messages from CBC News?

Tony Burman has already announced his imminent departure under curious circumstances . So, I was reading his CBC Inside Media blog and couldn't help but wonder...given the CBC's ever increasing appetite for ratings, and ominous new consultant hires, is Tony trying to tell us something?

"..I agree it’s undeniable that, for many, the over-the-top coverage of Paris Hilton — a young woman known for nothing other than her “well-knowness’ — has become the latest metaphor of a news media spiralling downward into a sewer."

Friends of the CBC: Update

Just an update, I've said that my next project will involve tax relief for artists and content creators and that still holds. This one doesn't really count as next because the Friends of the CBC is something I started a long time ago on Myspace and more recently on Facebook.

This is more of a rededication of the idea. Complete with it's own subdomain and a intro that reads:

As a Canadian you own a national television network, two national radio networks, one of the deepest and most visited web sites in the country, one of the worlds most respected news agencies, a couple of cable channels and half of a satellite radio provider. Whether you like them or not you are paying for them.
If you want a Canadian national public broadcaster – to promote Canadian ideals, values and talent and to facilitate our ‘national town hall meeting’ – to inform, enlighten, discuss, debate and entertain then it is your responsibility to make sure the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation remains strong, well funded and independent. It is also your responsibility to make sure that your national public broadcaster is performing the way you want it to.
Like a shareholder in a corporation you have to stay vigilant and make sure that the company is acting in the best interest of the shareholders, that they are providing a valuable service, and meeting the expectations of customers and shareholders and that they are doing all of this in a socially responsible manner.
By becoming actively involved in the CBC, keeping up to date on the politics surrounding it, speaking up for it when it is threatened (from within or without) you will help ensure a strong, high quality, independent and indispensable Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for generations to come.
Please pick your method: Whether it is Facebook, Myspace, or the Google Group and join the Friends of the CBC.

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Breaking into the Ad World

Ok, so every good campaign needs a commercial, so breaking my lifelong boycott of audio and video editing (more just something I'd never done, but boycott sounds more dramatic and I dunno...commercial) I made one for the R3TV Campaign - enjoy!

Zeke's Gallery Update

Updating the story on Zeke's Gallery - a Quebec blog that was shut down for reporting something that had been reported by other news outlets: Rec'd today on Facebook

Howdy!

I realized that I have been tardy in keeping everyone appraised of what is happening with regards to the Zeke's Gallery blog (and by extension Zeke's Gallery). Apologies, but I took advantage of the long fete Saint Jean weekend and didn't do bupkiss.

In a nutshell, it is more of the same until at least September 6, 2007.

In more detail, the temporary injunction (aka the safeguard order) is in effect unchanged until the next scheduled court date. Apparently on September 6 we are supposed to have a hearing on whether or not I did in fact libel and defame Pierre Antoine Tremblay, along with a decision on the permanent injunction, the contempt of court charges and how much I owe him in damages, if the judge decides that I am the bad guy.

On the 21st of June he tried to amend and expand his initial request to prevent me from talking about him anywhere (Radio, TV, other websites, email messages, in discussions with newspaper reporters, friends, family and just about any other means he could think of). The judge declined to amend it.

However he did increase his request for damages to $60,000, a 140% increase from his initial claim of $25,000. I would venture a guess that come September it will increase once again.

As you might know, the blog has gone dark. Due to the vague nature and foreign language of the temporary injunction (aka the safeguard order) I thought it best to take everything off the blog. As the temporary injunction (aka the safeguard order) is in effect without any changes until September 6, 2007 I think it best to keep everything off of the blog. Contempt of court is a very serious charge.

Beyond that, I was turned down for legal aid (although on the bright side, I can appeal the decision) but I do have legal representation, I just don't know how I am going to pay the bill.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask, although it might take me a little bit of time to respond, and if you would like to read an outside opinion on what happened please read Steve Faguy's blog:

http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=414
and
http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=433

Thanks tons!
Chris

Canadian Cultural Exports Drop

According to Statistics Canada Canadian cultural exports have dropped in 2006 to their lowest level since 1999.

Some of the findings in the report:

"Canada imported $3.9 billion worth of culture goods from the world, a 3.2% decline from 2005. At the same time, exports fell 12.7% to $2.1 billion, the third consecutive decline."

"The trade deficit with the United States, Canada's largest trading partner, expanded by $236 million to nearly $1.2 billion. This was the result of a 12.4% fall in exports, which far exceeded a 0.9% decline in imports."

"For the last six years, imports of culture goods from China have been the second largest, after the United States. In 2006, imports from China increased 5.9% to $295 million, while exports to China rose 3.9% to $13.8 million. Almost half of Canada's imports of culture goods from China were printed books."

"In 2006, exports to the United Kingdom dropped by almost $31 million from 2005. The value of exports of video, other printed material, newspapers and periodicals, and photography recorded the largest decline. Exports of culture goods to the United Kingdom nevertheless remained the second largest for the seventh consecutive year. Canada exported mainly books and videos to the United Kingdom."

Yet another reason why we need to stand up for Canadian artists and content creators - more specifically, I think this will be a good start. More to come soon.

Smallest Hidden Camera: Better Video

I blogged recently about the Guelph Hidden Cameras show and posted some really bad video of a little girl who worked her way onto the stage to play with the band. Now mom has posted some much better video of Nora (that apparently is her name) and the Cameras - Thanks Mom!

Great Canadian Music Videos - Part 2

Check The O.R. - Organized Rhyme



We're all aware of Tom Green's unique sense of humor. However, one of Green's talents that tends to go unnoticed is his hip hop rhyming skills. For a guy from the suburbs (Orleans to be exact), he can hold his own. I've seen him freestyle with a couple of artists and he's pretty good.

By the way, Tom's the guy wearing the Sens hat.

Up Next: A Break For Artists and Content Creators

Things have been busy here, the R3TV Campaign is going strong, I'm still tweaking the site since the overhaul, and I've been doing some things that actually pay money as well. But, following a conversation I had last week, I think I know what's next.

Artists and content creators who decide to remain in Canada have a rough go of it. Canada is, in itself, a highly competitive market. Add to that the Geography problem. For an artist from Halifax to become well known in Vancouver takes alot of expensive travel, and/or a move. Then there is a neighboring country (won't name names) constantly flooding the market with cheap content.

Canada does, and should continue to, subsidize Canadian content but I think it's time we subsidized the artists themselves. In Ireland certain artists are exempt from taxes. I'm not suggesting an identical model. For one thing Ireland has created a bureaucracy to decide what constitutes art - dangerous political territory that. I also do not think that the Avril Lavigne's and Shania Twains of the world should live entirely tax free. Rather, what I propose is a system where income (after related expenses) derived from art and content creation would be exempt from income taxes up to 50 thousand dollars.

This would include visual art, performing arts, film, music, literature (and print publications in general) and even television, radio, and independent "amateur" media such as zines and podcasting.

There is already a personal tax exemption in this country all I'm really suggesting is that we increase that exemption for artists in recognition of the difficulty in making a living in the arts and in Canadian content in general. This would, in my opinion, make it easier for artists and performers to make ends meet, would allow more artists to stop working a second or third job and focus on their creative talents and encourage more talented, creative people to remain in Canada.

I hope to get this new campaign up and going soon to make sure there is plenty of time to get fully ramped up before the next federal election. If you have any comments, feedback or suggestions, please let me know.

RoS get famous!

Republic of Safety (who I personally only discovered recently), grabbed a small piece of the spotlight this week with their first ever magazine cover. The Toronto band grabbed the cover of Echo Weekly "covering the tri-city area of Guelph, Kitchener/Waterloo and Cambrige, Ontario" in anticipation of their upcoming show in Guelph.

Thursday June 28
Kazoo music series
@ Ebar, 41 Quebec St.
Doors 9:30pm, $5/PWYC
with Brides (CD release) + ETAOIN SHRDLU

You can hear RoS on their MySpace (where you can also download a few songs) or on New Music Canada.

Seeking Writers

The primary goal of this site is to promote Canadian content and most especially new and emerging Canadian artists from all fields. Sure, it also dabbles in politics, culture, and miscellany – but that is secondary.

Given that, I still need more writers. Ideally I’d like to have more people from Toronto, as well as people from every region of Canada. I can’t be everywhere at once, especially if it involves a lot of Travel.

The basic writers guidelines go like this:

Write about whatever you want, whenever you want. There are no deadlines and no assignments. I want people to do what they already do and write about it. If you go to a show, hear a new album, see a new film etc., write about it. Go because you want to, not so you can write about it.

The primary focus is, as I said above, Can con, but you are not limited by that. Write about what you do, what you like and don’t like, what you’re thinking about – whatever it may be.

I should also mention here that artists and content creators are also more than welcome to write about what they do. I’d love to have in depth stuff about their lives and careers, but even if you just want to write to promote your work and that of your friends, that’s ok too.

The only things that are not allowed are those things that will get me sued or the site shut down. So – no plajurism, copyright violations, hate speech, slander etc., - other than that you have free reign.

If this is something you’re interested in please email me at beach.justin@gmail.com if it not of interest to you, but you know someone who might be interested, please pass this note along to them. Please and thank you!

Great Canadian Music Videos - Part 1

1 2 3 4 - Feist



This is an amazing video. One camera. One take. It reminds me of a big dance number you would see in a Gene Kelly/Astaire & Rogers film.

Tony Burman Departs CBC News

This could be very bad news indeed. It was announced today that Tony Burman will be leaving CBC News. For those of you who don't know: Burman, Editor in Chief of CBC and 35 year veteran of the corp. has been a crusader for maintaining Journalistic credibility in an age where infotainment passes for hard news and CNN has sunk nearly to the level of the National Enquirer.

This announcement seems particularly ominous given the CBC's recently announced hiring of a man "The Maggot"

Frank Magid is called The Maggot in the United States because he is loathed and despised by pretty much anyone who wants to be, or is, a serious television journalist. He is loved by ratings-hungry station managers and blowdried airhead anchors.
He's been around for a while. His contribution to the world in crisis is "Live Local Late Breaking." We used to chuckle at WKBW and the fires in Tonanwanda. Now Buffalo is going to be laughing about fires in Toronto, Trenton and Thunder Bay.

Keep an eye on this one.