Local Podcast Presents 3-part Series on The Spirit of Radio

This Is Toronto, an audio podcast dedicated to Toronto's arts and culture community, is proud to present a three-part series on CFNY - The Spirit of Radio.

During the 1980s, CFNY (now known as 102.1 The Edge) was one of the most popular stations in North America. It prided itself on playing music that could not be heard anywhere else. CFNY was one of the first commercial stations in Canada to play songs from the punk and New Wave movement. The station was also responsible for the creation of the CASBY awards.

This three-part series will take a look back on CFNY and the impact it made on Toronto's airwaves. It features an interview with two CFNY legends: Don Berns and David Marsden. Part one of the series will be released on Friday, July 31 and can be downloaded from This Is Toronto's website: www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com.

The Spirit of Radio schedule

Part one - July 31

Part two - Aug. 14

Part three - Aug. 28

About This Is Toronto

This Is Toronto is an audio podcast that shines a spotlight on the people, places and events that give life to this great city. This Is Toronto does not focus on the "big-ticket" names and occasions. Instead, the program features items that enrich Toronto's cultural atmosphere. New episodes are published on Fridays, once every two weeks. All episodes are about 10-12 minutes in length. This Is Toronto is hosted by Eric Rosenhek.

Open Discussion: Fate and Destiny.

The greatest joy that I receive in writing this blog is the feedback from the readers. Lately people have written to me about fate and destiny. So I thought it would be good to open up some dialogue about the two words.

Do you believe in fate and/or destiny? Would it surprise you to know that the two words share similar definitions? They both are defined as an event (or course of events) that will happen in the future. I'm certain that at some time you may have heard someone say that something or another was fate, and that something or another was destiny. Sometimes the words are used interchangeably and at other times they are used as if they have separate meanings. How do you view the two words?

Let's explore a scenario and you give this some thought: If a person walks in front of an approaching car as he or she walks against the light and is struck down by the car...is it fate? Was it their destiny to be hit by that car on that street at that appointed time or was it simply their own carelessness that led to he or she being hit? In other words...their own fault. Or was it simply a case of, "that was inevitable?" Talk about the mysteries of life.

Ponder that and let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you.

Just for fun...

The National Film Board's celebrating its 70th Anniversary as best they can this year. That celebration includes an outdoor display in front of the Conference Centre. And it includes a still shot from my all-time personal favourite short cartoon produced by any outfit on the planet: "The Cat Came Back".

VIA Rail: One Passenger's Fantasy Map

I had some ideas on what the route map for VIA Rail ought to look like ten years from now. Granted that in several respects - costing out the details surely being among them - it is indeed a fantasy. Nonetheless, the choices made sense to me as I drew them up.

So, for your amusement at the publicbroadcasting.ca blog...



Opinions, anyone?

Update and words of encouragement.

I want to take this time to thank all you that read this blog (again, because I don't take that for granted) as well as all of you that have e-mailed me and requested an update on my recently released debut novel, "Choices." Sales have exceeded my expectations and the response to say the least has been humbling. Just this Monday 1 June 2009, I was interviewed on 1540 WNWR a radio talk show out of Philadelphia hosted by Janet Powell-Dailey. And the feedback from that show has been tremendous as well.

I sincerely hope that the words contained in this blog from its conception to now can encourage the discouraged, inspire the uninspired, give hope to the hopeless, and an awakening to a slumbered dreamer. Remember...a dream is still a dream, a goal is still a goal and aspiration is still aspiration even if it hasn't come to fruition as of yet. All it takes is pulling it out of the dark, hidden place where that dream, goal or aspiration is waiting to become more than a seed, it wants to become the fruit that feeds a nation.

So my friends, if you have a dream, a goal, or aspirations; please let my words of encouragement speak to the part of the body that has ears to hear. DON'T ALLOW AGE, GENDER, WELL-MEANING FAMILY OR FRIENDS, LOCATION, EDUCATION OR LACK THEREOF, OR ANYTHING ELSE, stop you from fulfilling your GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE.Remember the story of the three men that were given talents and how each handled theirs. Who knows, sitting in front of their computer screen right now could very well be the next great undiscovered artist, or maybe the person that really discovers the cure for cancer. But until you start to live that dream, go after that goal or aspire to do what you really want to do in life, your talent will lay dormant and never have the chance to blossom.

As the old saying goes, "Nothing beats a failure but a try." I tried and no matter what happens after this, no one nor anything can take away the fact that I fulfilled a life-long dream and achieved a goal and became what I've aspired to become...a writer with a published book.You can do it too. One day I want to receive an e-mail from one of you reading this that stepped out on faith and awakened the dream, surpassed the goal and you are aspiring to inspire others with your accomplishments. We all have a story to tell. Be your own biographer. I'm waiting to read it.

Trudeau Stories: An Open Letter to the Author-Performer

Brooke,

I went to see your show at the National Arts Centre tonight while it was in town as part of the Magnetic North Festival. Wanted very much to stick around for the Q & A session afterwards, but misunderstood what time it was by the time the show itself ended. Thus, my hasty - and stupidly premature - retreat from the room and the Centre. I could rationalize it by way of my side trip into the nearest Running Room for yet another pair of socks, but that just smells...like socks.

Wet socks.

So. Your show. A piece of your life, as you lived it and remembered it. A piece of the life of someone else dearer to many people than some would care to admit, or in some instances, care to tolerate admissions from others. A man who became a friend to you.

A piece of both lives that you cared and worked to share with us.

I won't speak to the technical details of the craft. Others better suited to that have already done this, I'm sure, and some of the people who read this aside from you and I will no doubt link to it in their replies in due course.

For myself, I'll stick to the response of the heart. I laughed straight into asthma attacks, a peril I'll gladly keep facing if it keeps me sane to do so. I teared up more than once, including right at the start with that photo. If you apologize for those moments, ever, I will not forgive you. Not on this side of the grave, anyway.

I think you found the best use I've heard of a Vince Guaraldi Trio recording outside of the Charlie Brown specials to date.

You made me wish I'd been able to count Pierre Trudeau as a friend of my own.

For that, I thank you.

You've reminded us of why, as is said by others, "he haunts us still" and why that haunting can and should be a blessing.

For that also, thank you.

Be well. Prosper if you can.

Note to everyone else reading this: If you're wondering what I'm talking about, take a gander over here.

This was originally posted on my own weblog, On the DEWLine.

New Toronto-themed Podcast Debuts June 5th

Toronto's arts and culture community has a new voice: This Is Toronto, an audio podcast that shines a spotlight on the people, places and events that give life to this great city. This Is Toronto will not focus on the "big-ticket" names and occasions. Instead, the program will feature items that enrich Toronto’s cultural atmosphere.

This Is Toronto will premiere on Friday, June 5, 2009. Episodes will be available off the program's website: www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com. New episodes are published on Fridays, once every two weeks. All episodes will be about 10-12 minutes in length.

This Is Toronto is hosted and produced by Eric Rosenhek. Eric is a freelance journalist and has written for several publications. He's also a former host and producer with CKCU 93.1 FM in Ottawa. An avid podcaster, Eric has produced two other podcasts: The Audio Circus (2006-2008) and FutuRéale Radio (2008-2009).

Do you know "why?"

A husband of many years walked into the kitchen and noticed that his wife was making corn bread in a frying pan. He asked her why did she make corn bread that way. She responded because her mother did it that way. Curious he went to his mother-in-law and asked why did she make corn bread in a frying pan. She responded because here mother did it that way. Even more curious he went in search of the grandmother and asked her why she made corn bread in a frying pan and she responded, "Because we didn't have an oven."

Isn't kind of amusing that we can watch others do things and without even fully understanding why, we may repeat those same habits, beliefs or ideas in our own lives. We simply do it, because that's how it was always done. We don't question the "why" or even if it makes good sense in some cases. If it was good enough for them, then... But, was it really good enough for them, or did they also fall into the mindset of, "Repeated Generational Behavior."

In the above anecdote, the "why" belonged to the grandmother. She had a good reason for doing what she did and a clear understanding of why she did it. Through observation, the daughter and the mother repeated the behavior without questioning the validity of the behavior. From one watching the other, over time that behavior became one that was repeated from one generation to the next.

Now it would be great if all repeated behavioral patterns were as simple and tasty as corn bread. However in most cases it's not. Many of us go through life repeating behavior that we don't truly understand. You too may be making corn bread in a frying pan. Not that it's anything wrong with doing so, however would it be a bad thing to take the time to find out "why?" Not all behavioral patterns were meant to be nor should they be repeated.

Doesn't it make sense to know why you take the time and energy to do something other than to simply go through life doing things just because someone else did it that way?

Disclaimer

I apologize that the excerpt placed on this site came out with errors. In reviewing the post those symbols were not visible until after I published the piece. In my haste to share, I obviously made a mistake.

Excerpt from recently released debut novel: Choices

The following is an excerpt from my recently released debut novel, "Choices" available at fine bookstores and on my website, www.wgranvillebrown.com

Prologue

The meeting took place in an out-of-the-way nondescript motel so deep in no-man’s land, the ancient woman who checked them in quickly forgot doing so.
“Are you kidding me? Why are we meeting in a dump like this?”
“A place is more than its appearance.”
“Well this place appears to be a dump.”
“You have always failed to appreciate the beauty of what I’ve created.”
“Ha ha. Let’s not forget you also created the flip side where I prosper.”
“There once was a man who threw a gold coin into the air with the intention of allowing the side it landed on determine his fate.”
“What in the…”
“Patience my son.”
Immediately a sense of peace and light filled the dim, dingy lit room.
“My fault, please continue.”
“Momentarily he was distracted and took his eyes off the descending gold coin. It bounced off his outstretched palm and rolled through a crack in the floor, lost forever.”
“So what happened?”
“I don’t know. Someone changed the channel.”
“Oh so you got jokes. And people think you don’t have a sense of humor.”
“Laughter is medicine for the soul, my son.”
“Yes it is. Where I reside we laugh often at how easy our job has become. In days gone by it was a little more difficult to get someone to denounce you; now let them miss the last digit on a lottery ticket after they prayed for a winner and bam. I have a new convert.”
“You have always underestimated the faith of my children.”
“With all due respect, I think you overestimate the faith of your children.”
“An argument for another time. I see you have been quite busy lately.”
“We all have our cross to bear. No pun intended.”
“No offense taken, my son. Now have you considered my faithful servants?”
“Ah, yes the young married couple in Philadelphia. I’ve been keeping track of them for some time, especially since the husband has stopped attending church regularly. I feel that they are ripe for the picking though you have blessed them greatly. However, as I am notorious for saying, remove your hedge of protection from them and they will surely curse you.”
“Behold all they have in is your power. Only do not touch them.”
“Including their relationship?”
“Yes.”
“Why am I dealing with them as one?”
“Because what I have put together let no man divide.”
“Consider it done. I will prove to you that the faith you have in your people is far greater than the faith they have in you.”

The Future of Publicbroadcasting.ca

Publicbroadcasting.ca has been quiet for awhile now as I have been busy with other projects, but it's going to come back soon - hopefully in a big, big way.

About 7 weeks ago (2 months as of May 20) I launched NxEW.ca because I knew there was an underserved audience out there for Canadian music. It has taken off as a community - which now includes 75+ writers from 25 Canadian cities, 10 provinces and 1 territory. The writers include journalists and journalism students, bloggers and podcasters (who have their own blogs and podcasts), photographers, videographers, promoters, managers and, of course, musicians.

It has worked so well that I'm getting ready to re-launch publicbroadcasting.ca as the site for 'everything else' - the hope is to cover Canadian arts, culture and politics again with contributors from all over Canada. So if you're a Canadian and would like to write about progressive politics, current events, film, television, art, literature, or anything else within the broad umbrella of 'arts and culture' give me a shout at beach.justin@gmail.com.

I hope to have it up and going within the next few weeks.

Paying what you can?

Just the other day I read an article that the Seattle Art Museum advertised one of its exhibits as the following:

SAM's admission is suggested, which means you pay what you can.

The author of the article tested the theory and the sales clerk collecting the money never gave him a look for putting in a dollar. Now, I'm always weary about going to pay-what-you-can shows because there's always that suggestion of a certain amount - usually $10 or $15. I mean, how is it pay-what-you-can, if it has that stipulation? I'm a student holding three jobs so pay-what-you-can shows are really what I can afford. So when I put in less than the suggested amount I always feel bad and it also doesn't help when the person selling you the ticket gives you a judgmental look. What gives?

Now back to the gallery scenario...wouldn't it be great if the ROM or the AGO toiled with the same idea that SAM did? I think it would attract more people to go to those institutions, who normally wouldn't be able to go. Although I hear there are some nights that free...

On the Dangers of Walled Gardens and Locked Gates

Steve Pratt of CBC Radio 3 has an excellent post on 'walled gardens' vs Setting your content free (which is an old topic/rule but still totally relevant.) Canadian media companies, from my point of view anyway, still haven't fully grasped the concept, or they are still very resistant to it. You should definitely read Steve's post but this one is about something related, but slightly different.

Canada's media juggernauts have done such a terrible job of covering Canadian arts and artists that, in the free and open media environment that we currently live in, more and more of the artists are losing interest in the media Juggernauts. Over at NxEW I talk to musicians, promoters etc., daily that don't really care about the old rules, or even the old media much anymore. They are more than willing to ignore SoCan policies, and the advise of others who 'represent' them in Ottawa and elsewhere. They give their music away freely (to me and others) without restrictions or conditions. They don't care about or want a Canadian DMCA and, while most of them would be more than happy to get coverage from 'old media' they no longer count on or rely on it. Instead they (we) are building their own press, their own audience, their own contacts and this shadow media is growing by the day in terms of size and popularity while traditional media debates how it is going to survive. I've seen evidence of similar things happening in Canadian literature, film, and other areas of the arts.

By paying so little attention to Canadian art and artists, and by fighting so hard to protect their entrenched status, much of Canadian media has essentially alienated themselves. As I said in the comments on Steve's blog, rather than lock the barbarian hordes out, they have locked themselves in. Essentially they have decided to wall themselves away and take all of the 'gold shekels' with them with the assumption that without any shekels the 'hordes' would have to come back to them.

What they don't seem to understand is that media is organic and like Michael Crichton said in Jurassic Park 'life will find a way.' You cannot legislate how people consume media any more than you can legislate how people breathe, it's something people just do, not something they think about (except for a few odd ones like me). If you take away all their media people won't die, they won't even be particularly upset by it, they'll just create their own - which is exactly what is happening. Without any of those 'shekels' people have just created their own currency, their own 'economic system' and life is moving on just as it was before. Meanwhile the old kings behind their well fortified walls are starting to discover that they can't eat shekels and are getting hungry.

As I said above they have locked themselves in and rather than, as they expected, having the upper hand in any negotiations may well have to negotiate their re-entry into the culture, a culture that no longer cares about shekels.

The Inseparable Relationship Between Politics, Art and Culture

At the Betty Burke show at This Ain't the Rosedale Library on Wednesday and met co-proprietor Charlie Huisken for the first time. He's been following many of my online projects and comlimented me on my mix of arts, culture and politics. The thing is I don't really know how you separate them.

I know the whole chicken v. egg argument - does life imitate art or vice versa. As far as I can tell though it works like this: art generally emerges from subcultures of various sizes. If it is engaging and based on ideas that resonate the sub-culture around it grows and begins to have an influence on the broader culture. In the 20th century you can see examples of this in jazz, blues, rock and roll and punk. Each started in a subculture, grew that subculture and then was adopted by and had an influence on the larger culture.

With the art comes social and political ideas (certainly all of the musical schools I listed above had a broad influence on culture and politics.) By the time they become popular in the broad culture the new art and the ideas that come with it have been watered down to an extent, but the influence is still there. This is not only the case with music. Film, literature, television and even comedy (Will Rogers, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jon Stewart ...) all had profound effects on culture in the 20th century and most new schools in each of these went through the same process: sub-culture to mass culture (with appropriate watering down.)

As with anything in the arts it's effect on culture, society and politics cannot be quantified, but 100 years ago we lived in a culture where racism was acceptable - now we live in a culture where it is not, but before there was a Martin Luther King, a Malcolm X or a Barack Obama there was blues and jazz which re-introduced people of European descent to people of african descent through the arts and made it increasingly more difficult to stereotype or hate.

If you go through the progress made in the 20th century a similar pattern emerges on almost every issue. It is hard to imagine the social reforms of the 1930s, or women's rights, or gay rights (we're not there yet but things are getting better), or environmentalism, or the peace movement, or the anti-cuclear movement or any one of a score of progressive victories happening without the ideas emerging from, and the support offered by the arts.

I should also note that by 'progressive' I do not mean any particular group or party. To me 'progressive' is that which makes the world a better place for everyone. One thing I think the 'me generation' got wrong is this: I believe that a person who seeks to make the world a better place for everyone makes the world a better place for him/herself. A person who seeks to make the world a better place only for him/herself makes the world a better place for no-one.

So this explains not only my view on the relationship between art, culture and politics but also the reason for my particular political point of view.

A political leader or party's support for the arts is directly related to their openness to new ideas. Conservatism is, by definition, the opposite of creativity. Creativity explores, it seeks progress, it challenges conventions and institutions - Conservatism is opposed to and in many cases offended by all of these things.

So, when Conservatives claim to support the "arts", to "like music" etc., they are invariably talking about entertainment more than art. When asked for examples they will give the names of musicians, authors, filmmakers and others whose work brings with it a minimum of creativity, or that is old enough so as to not be threatening (or challenging) any longer. If you look at 'artists' who support the Republicans in the U.S. it's a collection of bad actors and derivative musicians. It is also recently acceptable for conservatives to claim that they like 'jazz' now that it is no longer acceptable for them to be openly racist.

If you are a creative artists, you are a progressive and therefore not a conservative. If you are a political progressive you must support the arts because that is the medium by which progressive ideas are introduced to the larger culture, as far as I know this has been the case since we lived in caves.

Asper: Recession Not to Blame for TV woes

In a Report on Television report CanWest CEO Leonard Asper is quoted as saying that neither the recession, nor debt is responsible for the current woes of broadcast television.

" Neither the bad economy nor debt taken on by broadcasters are to blame for profit declines at Canada's major television networks, the head of CanWest Global Communications Corp. [CGS-T] told the federal broadcast regulator Tuesday.

Instead, chief executive officer Leonard Asper said the cause of the problem is a regulatory system that has allowed cable companies to get rich while network television erodes. The other forces are making the problem worse, but they are not the culprit, he said."

This is of course a political statement. CanWest Global, like all broadcasters in Canada, would like cable companies to pay carriage fees to broadcasters. Cable companies aren't interested and the CRTC doesn't appear to be interested either.

The recession has certainly had a profound impact on ad revenues which has hurt broadcasters. They have certainly taken on too much debt - CanWest recently bet the house on an acquisition of Alliance Atlantis: a move that was widely regarded as suicidal. So Aspers statement were certainly disingenuous but there is some truth to them.

The problems of broadcast television did not begin with the recession. It is primarily a refusal to adapt to the world of media as it is. A world that means smaller, fragmented audiences who insist on convenience and choice. Canada's television broadcasters have not made good choices, they have not tried to understand the audience or adapt to changing conditions and, although the writing has been on the wall for over a decade, none of them have taken more than baby steps toward the inevitable future.

From a 'vision' perspective, television is in much the same boat that auto manufacturers were a year ago. I have heard, from several different people in the last few years the statement "television is for boomers" (or statements to that effect.) and until that perception is corrected and steps are taken to adapt to the new environment all the carriage fees in the world will not save them.

CD Review: Metric - Fantasies

The press release for Metric's new album, Fantasies, stated that the title was intended to evoke a dream-inspired feeling. The suggested feeling does occur as the material seems to be motivated by subconscious thoughts. Listening to Fantasies in one sitting is very similar to an actual dream. The album's tone and emotion changes frequently, even in the middle of a song. It also depicts the feeling of waking up. For example, the album's fourth track, "Twilight Galaxy," is very calming and encourages one to fall into a trance. This is followed by "Gold Guns Girls," which is the literal equivalent to a noisy alarm clock.

But in all honesty, there's nothing really special about Fantasies. This is not meant to be a slight against Metric. The new album is enjoyable and the band upholds their acclaimed style. The music is original and doesn't conform to any commercial conventions. However, Fantasies does not break any new ground. It's a typical indie-rock album; something that we have come to expect from a band like Metric.

"Help I'm Alive," the leadoff track, was the first single released from the album. It's a good choice as the song describes the feeling the band was going for. There are various moods and the vocals by lead singer Emily Haines registers on several fronts. There's also the delightful fuse of hard rock and New Wave. However, "Help I'm Alive" doesn't come close to the powerful and attention-grabbing "Monster Hospital" from 2005's Live It Out album.

Fantasies will have its success. There will certainly be praise for it. But expecting the album to be monumentally noteworthy is outlandish. It's a great album, but not one that will revolutionize the Canadian indie-rock scene. Expectations should be set a respectful level; neither high nor low.

For more information on Metric, please visit www.ilovemetric.com.

The Key to Media Profitability is Respect

I talk to alot of people in various media. Most of them don't really care about file sharing one way or another. The thing I've found, with music, is that most of the people I know buy alot of CDs (physical or digital) from artists that they like because they respect the artists and they know how hard they work. They know that most artists (unless you're U2 or Coldplay) are not wealthy and make their money by a combination of recorded music sales, merchandise and concert attendance. So the fans show respect to the artist by buying something. Some may download the music for free but they go to live shows and buy t-shirts. The artists, in turn, respect their fans and will accept this partial payment - the artists know that their fans are also not made of money. The artists also know that there is little they can do about file sharing and would rather remain on good terms with the audience that create an adversarial relationship over a few dollars.

This is the kind of relationship, based on mutual respect, that needs to exist for your media company (in whatever medium) to survive. Sometimes it is the audience that needs to show more respect. To download an unreleased album or an unreleased film shows a lack of respect for the artists. It is up to the creator of the content to decide when it is done and when it is available to the public. You wouldn't want someone reading your rough drafts - or making them available to the public at large.

Most of the time though it is a lack of respect on behalf of the media. To actually expect fans of your film to pay to see it in the theatre and then to buy it on VHS, and DVD, and Blu-Ray and then to buy another .mp4 copy for their iPod shows a lack of respect for the audience and it should come as no surprise if that lack of respect is returned.

I have bought Sandanista by the Clash three times - on Vinyl, then on CD, then on CD again. If something should happen to my copy I should be able to download another one. I have shown my respect to the creators of the album three times over. But according to the big record labels I should not only buy it again, I should buy the CD and then buy it in digital form if I want it on my computer and then buy it yet again if I should if I want it on my portable MP3 player. That shows an intense lack of respect for the audience and it should come as no surprise if that lack of respect is returned (especially when the record companies have a poor track record on supporting artists.)

I pointed out in my last post that the problem that big media is facing is not due to downloading, it is due to their inability to adapt to the increased competition of the million channel universe. Taking your problems out on your fans and your best customers (and taking $222k from a single mom because you lost $8) is the ultimate show of disrespect and if that disrespect is returned at the same level your company will not survive.

To date big media (record labels, movie studios, and others) have shown almost no respect to the audience, but they demand back full and total respect, even a little bit of awe. I do not, at this moment, believe that most of these companies will survive. If one day I rent a DVD and, instead of an anti-piracy advertisement, see the head of the MPAA on his knees begging forgiveness and offering free downloads of all films made prior to 1990 - I may change my mind. I'm afraid though that it would take something on that level for me to have any confidence that Fox, Vivendi, Universal, etc., are going to be around in 20 years.

If you, as a content producer in any media want to have a lasting career and a growing audience that is willing to pay - not because they have to but because they support you - try earning the respect of the audience. If you create intelligent, meaningful, worthwhile media and show respect and appreciation for everyone in your audience you'll be fine.

MPAA Declares Victory: Pirate Bay Insurgency Begins

In case you somehow missed the news the Pirate Bay's founders were fined and sentenced to prison earlier this week. The action touched off immediate protests - but now it is going beyond that. The Twitosphere is buzzing with calls for a full media boycott. At this point any reasonable person can only hope that it is successful.

Independent studies of downloading in the U.S., U.K, and Canada have all shown that file sharing is good for media. The problem the media is having has nothing to do with torrents or piracy - the problem is competition. We now live in the million channel universe (it's actually far more than a million but we can skip that.) Big media hasn't learned to live in a world where they don't have a monopoly on the audience. As that audience fragments and their share gets smaller big media has opted to sue their fans and customers - not out of any kind of moral right and wrong but purely to try and grab some easy cash from an easy target. That kind of irrational and irresponsible behavior cannot and should not be rewarded.

Additionally, as a supporter and consumer of intelligent, meaningful arts and culture the product produced by the larger media companies in all areas (television, film, music, news, etc) is deteriorating rapidly year over year. In an effort to make a "safe" profit they have gone to the familiar and formulaic over anything new, interesting or progressive. These conglomerates are failures both as business' and as providers of arts and culture and there is no conceivable reason for the public to lift a finger to save them.

As for the Pirate Bay itself, it is business as usual. From their

"So the first verdict finally came, almost 3 years after the raid. You might have heard about it in the news...

You, our beloved users, know that this little speedbump on the information super highway is nothing more than just, a little bump. Todays verdict has already been appealed by us and will be taken to the next level of court (and that will take another 2 or 3 years!)

The site will live on! We are more determined than ever that what we do is right. Millions of users are a good proof of that.

We have seen that some people that we dont know have started collecting donations for us, so we can pay those silly fines. We firmly ask you NOT to do this. Do not gather or send any money. We do not want them since we will not pay any fines!"

So, if things continue on their current trajectory - when 2015 arrives Pirate Bay will still exist but many of the companies currently suing them will not and the world, including the arts and culture sector, will be fine (probably even better off) for the change.

CBC News Sunday Earns Misplay of the Week

Back on February 24 I pointed out that, apparently, more journalists need media literacy when it comes to 'scientific studies.' Today on CBC News Sunday I learned that the problem runs far deeper than that. Aside from bad health and science reporting - arts reporting was today called into serious question.

On News Sunday today Evon Solomon and Caole MacNeil along with two guests (didn't get names, I think one of them was from cbc.ca) were discussing Susan Boyle's appearance on Britain's Got Talent. There were three chief points in this discussion that I think are meaningful.

• 1. That we were set up for the reaction to Boyle's performance because reality television is heavily scripted.


• 2. That we expect our musical performers to be better packaged - pretty, well groomed, well dressed and well marketed


• 3. That we are not used to natural talent - we are used to people who sing with digital enhancement etc.,

Point one is obvious. I just hope that journalists repeat it more often. There is very little that is real about reality television. It is just as scripted and packaged as comedy and drama. There are no surprises in reality tv.

Points two and three are deeply troubling and call into question whether arts journalists are actually doing journalism anymore. It was unclear who the 'we' they were referring to was but it obviously included themselves. It certainly does not include the people at CBC Radio - who have been doing an excellent job of covering Canadian music (especially Radio 3 and the new Radio 2). If the people at CBC sunday expect or are used to pre-packaged artists, who use digital enhancement and have large marketing teams then they have no idea whatsoever what is going on in Canadian music. It indicates that they are relying solely on press releases and marketing contacts for information and that they aren't actually practicing any journalism (in the sense of going out and doing their own research and finding things out for themselves.)

This wouldn't really be surprising. Canadian television does, on the whole, an incredibly poor job of covering the arts in this country. They are far more likely to cover the latest American blockbuster, the latest U2 tour, and anything that enables them to say "Hannah Montana" than they are to cover Canadian film, music, art, literature etc. They will say that this is because they have to appeal to a mainstream audience but that in itself is appalling. The 'mainstream' as it is called, is just another niche audience and they know it. The group referred to as mainstream is, due to audience fragmentation, no larger than the gay community in Canada - it is probably not that big (9.5% of the country at the best of times.) That everything on television is intended for less than 10% of the country may help explain the current financial woes of Canada's broadcasters.

Taken all together, the bad (or lack of) arts reporting combined with the narrowness of focus, it is certainly the "misplay of the week"

Coming Up in Toronto

Friday, April 17
Steam Whistle Presents: WOODHANDS + THE CARPS + FAMOUS PLAYERS + MORE!
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Brewer's Plate Toronto
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WHITNEY SPEARS
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THROBBIN HOODS@ GRAFFITTIS
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NACHO LOVERS & DIRTY DALE @ WRONGBAR
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SOUND AFFECTS FRIDAY ✖ DEE JAYS: TOM WRECKS, MEDLEY, FAWN B.C, REAL TALK ✖
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Saturday, April 18
Better Day Gala Fundraiser 2009
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Great Bloomers Wish You A Happy Record Store Day!
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SHADOWRIBBON: performance and DVD release
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WWF CN Tower Climb woo!
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DINOSAUR BONES - Toronto @ The Legion
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TWM 39: La Casa Muerte, The Love Machine, Whale Tooth & Burn Planetarium
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Brazilian Band " fourSamba" + Maninho Costa + Special Guest Musicians
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Mother Tongue DJs
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DJ MEDLEY & VIOLCA MANSION & NASTY NAV @ WRONGBAR
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Sunday, April 19
WL 459 - New Feelings + Flowers Of Hell + Snowblink
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HTC Listening Party @ Gather 'Round
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Canada Screens presents Advanced Screening of "ONLY"
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the piano salon
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Monday, April 20
Spacing spring-summer '09 release party
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CLAY & PAPER FUNDRAISER
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Tuesday, April 21
*Showcho*
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Earth Day Vibrations
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Wednesday, April 22
Toronto Greenhouse "Earth Day Edition"
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PWYC Weds w/ Dancefloor Refraction, Thresh, Higher Rites
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Ronley Teper's Lipliners
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Thursday, April 23
TWM Presents: The Sideshow Tragedy , Little Foot Long Foot, Blanc & White
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Friday, April 24
APRIL 24-25 Film and Screenplay Festival - NFB (150 John St.) 7pm !!
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TWM: Leonids, Chang-a-Lang, Half Baked, Cedar
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Sketch Does...Stand Up?!?
An assortment of Sketch Comics out of their element!
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KIM ANN FOXMAN of Hercules and Love Affair | DJ SET @ WRONGBAR
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Saturday, April 25
How to Launch Your Film Career?
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President Obama, faced with his first global security crisis: North Korea
Learn how to turn your breaking news story into a lucrative script
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Toronto Centre NDP Neighbourhood Clean-Up
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Favianna Rodriguez "Transformation/Agitation"
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TWM: Sandman Viper Command (CD Release), The Antiqs & Left of Zero!
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Sunday, April 26
WL 460 - THOMAS + Univox + The Skeletones Four
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RSVP For The "OUTSIDE THE BOX" FUNDRAISER SHOWCASE
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Tuesday, April 28
Mountains (Thrill Jockey DRONE duo) + Doc Dunn + Ayal Senior
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Green Heroes Focus Group Session
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Wednesday, April 29
Reporting in Afghanistan
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PWYC Weds w/ Honest I's, The Ministry of the Environment & Airheart
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Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible! by Jonathan Goldstein
A 'This Is Not A Reading Series Presentation'
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Thursday, April 30
April 30 @ The Drake: Immaculate Machine album release
Immaculate Machine, Will Currie & The Country French and The Elwins!
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No Shame: GREEN GO 'Borders' CD Release Party THURS April 30th
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indiecredit 2.0 -- raising funds for Kiva.org
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Pouch Cove Foundation Art Auction & Party
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Pouch Cove Foundation Art Auction & Party
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Art Attack Toronto
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Friday, May 1
TWM 40: Black Diamond Bay (CD Release), Make Your Exit, the Dress Whites!
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Kollage/The Rhythm Section with special guest Michael Danso
CD Release Party - A Night of Great Jazz!
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Friday Night Magic - May 1st
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Saturday, May 2
No Shame: GREAT BLOOMERS 'Speak Of Trouble' CD Release Party MAY 2ND
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Karmageddon Two
LOVE!... It's in us to give
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An Evening of Conversation with Carlo Petrini
Founder of the Slow Food Movement and author of Slow Food Nation
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Sunday, May 3
Paula Poundstone in Toronto
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WL 461: Josh Reichmann Oracle Band, Cursed Arrows, Stop Time
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Tuesday, May 5
THE BALCONIES Play Bookie's New Music Night May 5th @ The Horseshoe
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Thursday, May 7
50 Artists, 50 Photos
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BOWZER ATTACKS TORONTO!!
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Friday, May 8
FAITHDOWN live @ Hard Rock Cafe- Club 279, Toronto
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Saturday, May 9
LIVE @ The Brunswick House with Faith Of A Martyr
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MUCK AND THE MIRES * THE PRIMORDIALS * THE SUPERSTITIONS
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Sunday, May 10
Commedia Dell'Arte Workshop
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TIN STAR ORPHANS & BOYS WHO SAY NO
"ALL-AGES MATINEE!"
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WL 462: METZ, Little Girls, Pacific Trash Vortex
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Wednesday, May 13
Battala Rockstars Toronto kick off show
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Saturday, May 16
BLUE ASH ... '71 POWER-POP TYME WARP!
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Sunday, May 17
WL 463: Katie Stelmanis, Emma McKenna, Braids, Diamond Rings
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Tuesday, May 19
Toronto Launch of The Peep Diaries
Hal's Multimedia Presentation on How We're Learning to Love Watching Ourselves and Our Neighbors
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Saturday, May 23
OTAKU O-TANJOBI PARTY
celebrating the 1st anniversary of the Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow blog
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Friday, May 29
VIVER BRASIL & DEBUT PERFORMANCE by BRACATUM!
A night of live dance & music at LULA
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Saturday, May 30
1001 NIGHTS BOLLYWOOD BOAT CRUISE
APPEARANCE BY MISS INDIA CANADA & PERFORMANCE BY MISS PAKISTAN EARTH 2005!!
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Swingin' at the Dominion
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Sunday, May 31
WL 465: Dwight Schenk, Bent by Elephants, The Max Woolaver Band
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Friday, June 5
Circus O Burlesque A Mania Insania 3
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