Fixing growing value gap in music industry central to Parliamentary committee recommendations for Copyright Act reform

TORONTO, May 16, 2019 — Margaret McGuffin, executive director of the Canadian Music Publishers Association, made the statement below following the public release of the House of Commons Canadian Heritage committee’s report, Shifting Paradigms:

Canada’s music publishers thank the Canadian Heritage committee for its work on the report and their vision of a modernized Copyright Act. In particular, we applaud MPs for recognizing the growing value gap in the music industry in which creators and the companies that invest in them are not being fairly compensated compared to the value of the work.

We welcome the recommendations that urge the Government of Canada to review exceptions and laws that ensure the value gap is addressed including that internet service providers are held accountable for their role in the distribution of copyrighted content.

We also urge the federal government to heed the committee’s recommendation to pursue its commitment to implement the extension of copyright to 70 years after the author’s death, which is consistent with international standards. Canada’s current term, life plus 50 years, limits the revenue available to music publishers and other domestic rightsholders to finance the discovery and development of Canadian talent.

Music publishers represent and invest in thousands of Canadian songwriters and songs that are heard daily on the radio and streaming services, in video games and film and television productions around the world.  We look forward to continuing to work with the government on copyright reform to ensure that we continue to hear Canadian songs around the world.

Margaret McGuffin is available for interviews.

CONTACT

Margaret McGuffin, Executive Director
Canadian Music Publishers Association
416.926.1966 ext. 282
musicpublisher.ca