Did anyone catch "Live From the Rehersal Hall" last night? This is the type of programming the CBC should be doing. It's sad that a for profit, private cable station seems to get the mandate better than the Ceeb does. Oh well, Serena Ryder was on doing songs from her major label debut - a collection of covers of her favorite Canadian tunes. Serena, undoubtedly, has one of the best voices on the planet. Let's just hope that she stays here and doesn't become the newest defector to Los Angeles. You can catch hilights from the Rehearsal Hall show here
I've added 3 new blogs to the CanBlogs section today:
Datalibre, which describes itself as "datalibre.ca is a group blog, inspired by civicaccess.ca, which believes all levels of Canadian governments should make civic information and data accessible at no cost in open formats to their citizens. The data is collected using Canadian tax-payer funds, and we believe use of the data should not be restricted to those who can afford the exorbitant fees."
the Invisible Truth a blog of poetry, literature and photography by Trevor Cunnington of Toronto.
and
It's not the band I hate, it's their fans - "A completely arrogant and pretentious outlet for me to rant about the state of pop music today, make a few reccomendations and talk about shows that I've recently seen."
On Sunday night at Toronto's Harbourfront I saw Do, Make, Say, Think live for the first time. Nothing I can say, nor the video below will prepare you for the full power of DMST - with two drummers, two guitars + bass, a full horn section, violin and cello the sound just takes over. Watch the video by all means, listen to their recorded stuff, but if you get the chance go see them.
Sadly for Final Fantasy (see second video) the solo violin, even with the loops, was a bit anti-climatic after the orchestra that is DMST.
In the previous two entries on this (here and here) I primarily discussed the idea of a tax exempt status (to a certain level of income) for artists and content creators and why I felt this was necessary and important. I've realized however that this is only part of the battle. As long as artists incomes are very low even tax exemptions will only help so much. Artists today are in a much more challenging position than they've been in in years past. While the million channel universe offers new opportunities, it makes it even more difficult for artists to be noticed by any large number of people. While the internet does make it easier for artists to reach out and find an audience that audience may be split across the globe (or at least the country) without large numbers of them appearing in any one place.
So, part two of the Canadian Renaissance Project plan (as it currently stands) would go something like this: Following the model of the "Children's Fitness Tax Credit") Allow up to $500 per year, per individual in tax deductions for cultural activities. That would include things like art or music lessons, but it would also include concert tickets, theatre tickets, film tickets, book or music purchases, etc., (as long as it fell within the guidelines of "Canadian Content"). This would not only encourage people to spend more on these activities, it would encourage producers to produce more material and encourage retailers to carry more. I am all for physical fitness, but I happen to think that fitness for the mind and the soul are important as well.
Again, please let me know if you are interested in joining the brainstorming team for this 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.
"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."
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.
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...
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.
"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?
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:
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.
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
. 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.
"..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."
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.
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!
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
"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.
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!
Via the Radio 3 blog: the Weakerthans new album Reunion tour is due out September 25. 
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. 
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. 
