Re:Sound’s online write-in campaign calls on federal Government to take action in Budget 2024

Over 800 Canadian music creators signed on to Re:Sound’s online letter writing campaign asking for fairness for music creators ahead of the 2024 federal budget. On March 19, Tim Louis, MP, Kitchener – Conestoga, Ontario, a musician and passionate supporter of the Canadian music industry, hand delivered the letters to the Minister of Finance’s office on behalf of music creators from across the country.

“As a professional musician, recording artist, and long-time advocate for the Arts, I know that creating art takes years of dedication, and that requires support,” says Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga. “For an artist to be sustainable, music creators must get fair compensation. I stand behind Re:Sound’s call for reform in Canada’s copyright laws, recognizing the vital importance of protecting artists and copyright holders alike.”

The letters ask the government to level the playing field for music creators by making the following changes in the upcoming Budget:

1. Amend the definition of “sound recording” in the Copyright Act to address its unfair exclusion of performers and record labels/makers from performance royalties from television, film, video streaming platforms and other audio-visual content.
2. Eliminate the “temporary” $1.25 Million exemption for commercial radio stations instituted in 1997 – a subsidy for commercial radio at the direct expense of music rights holders.
3. Update the private copying regime to make it technologically neutral.

Canadian music creators passionately supported Re:Sound’s letter writing campaign. Comments from artists who signed the letters include:

• “Without the music creators, we’ll be forever looking back at what was instead of looking forward. Fairness. That’s all we need.”
• “Let’s keep progress moving forward and protect and improve creatives’ abilities to make money from their work.”
• “Supporting Canadian musicians and composers will help enrich Canadian culture.”
• “I support Re:Sound’s position to reform the copyright laws regarding music as noted in the attached letter. We hope the Government will take steps to protect artists and copyright holders.”
• “I support this action to update the Copyright Act as a professional musician and artistic creator of recorded content.”

These changes are needed now.  They will directly impact the bottom line of countless music creators without costing the government any money.

“We hope the hundreds of letters will make clear to the government that Canadian music creators are struggling and need their urgent support,” says Lou Ragagnin, President & CEO of Re:Sound. “The solutions we are proposing do not require additional funding from the federal government, but will greatly assist music creators, including tens of thousands of Canadian performing artists, background musicians and record labels, both large and small independent labels, who depend on these royalties to help them earn a living wage and continue to create music, fostering Canadian culture.”

The federal budget is set to be released on April 16, learn more about how you can support Canadian music creators at resoundacts.ca.