The Canadian government has made an important announcement regarding the implementation of the Online Streaming Act, with implications for artists and music companies at home and abroad.
The CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) has revealed that foreign streaming services with significant revenue will have to make key contributions to Canadian content. Streaming companies that are not affiliated with Canadian broadcasters and earn more than $25 million in annual fees would have to pay 5% of that revenue into specific funds.
These contributions will be used to strengthen Canadian content in the music, news and film industries, creating a total of approximately $200 million in increased funding.
The decision follows a consultation process that included public hearings last autumn, as well as more than 360 written submissions.
The government specified that these contributions would be allocated to “areas of immediate need”, prioritizing existing funds in order to speed up the delivery process. Those funds include FACTOR and Musicaction, which industry groups like CIMA and the Canadian Live Music Association say need increased funding.
The Beaches Awards Group of the Year at Billboard Canada Women in Music release announcement
Billboard Canada and iHeartRadio have teamed up to present a big prize to a great Canadian group this week.
The Beaches received the first-ever Billboard Canada Women in Music Award for Group of the Year on Wednesday (June 5), honoring the Toronto quartet's first year. The band was ready for its announcement Billboard CanadaWomen in Music gala event, which is officially set for September 7, 2024.
The band was presented with the award by Billboard Canada CEO Amanda Dorenberg and CCO Elizabeth Crisante. At the event, more Canadian artists (including some industry legends) will be recognized and honored for their art and shining paths as women in the industry.
Accepting the award as part of an iHeartRadio YouTube live performance, The Beaches played a stripped-down set of three songs from their hit 2023 album, I blame my ex. The acoustic set saw drummer Eliza Enman McDaniel on a shaker, leaving room for Jordan Miller's powerful vocals and light harmonies from guitarists Leandra Earl and Kylie Miller.
After the show, iHeartRadio's Shannon Burns did a Q&A with the group, joking that he played pool with them and asked them questions submitted by the audience. The band spoke about their experiences as women in the music industry, offering some advice to aspiring female artists.
“Make sure you do it with your friends,” McDaniel said. The group spoke about how isolating it can be to be a woman in a male-dominated industry – although that is slowly changing. It's important to surround yourself with women you trust, they stressed, whether in your band or on your team.
See the full show and announcement here.
Lowell wins the first Billboard Canada Non-Performing Songwriter Award
Lowell won the first Billboard Canadaa Non-Performing Songwriter Award (presented by SOCAN), which honors a Canadian songwriter who has a big impact behind the scenes.
The victory was announced on Billboard CanadaPower Players event on Sunday (June 2) at the CN Tower. The award was presented to Lowell (Elizabeth Lowell Boland) by the CEO of SOCAN Jennifer Brown and vp of creative and member relations Cameron Kennedy.
“Songwriters have it so hard,” Lowell said upon accepting the award. “We don't make money and then we very quietly make other people really famous and then we cry about it tonight because nobody loves us,” he joked.
“Well, it's really nice of you to give me a little pat on the back — I'll take that on behalf of all my amazing songwriter friends who haven't gotten that pat on the back, Yet.”
Lowell, who has also released music under the same name, was one of five finalists for the inaugural edition of the award — the first in Canada to recognize the work of songwriters for other artists. Other shortlisted writers included Tobias Jesso Jr., Jeremy Fedryk, Ali Willa Milner and Aaron Paris — an extremely strong initial list with many writers responsible for songs that have earned Grammy nominations, top chart placements and millions of streams.
Lowell had a breakout year, including co-writing titles on “Texas Hold 'Em” and “Bodyguard,” two of the biggest hits on one of Beyoncé's biggest albums of the year Cowboy Carter. The award was for songs from 2023 before Cowboy Carter released, but beyond Beyoncé, Lowell has shown a unique ability to help artists break through to a new level.
In addition, Lowell wrote and co-produced I blame my exthe breakthrough album from Toronto band The Beaches, including Lowell's hit “Blame Brett,” which held No. 1 at alternative radio for 17 weeks and climbed into the Top 40 in the US and Canada. She's also a close collaborator with Lu Kala , the Congolese-Canadian artist who debuted on the Hot 100 last year, co-writing Kala's emotional ballad “Nothing But Love.”
In her acceptance speech, Lowell emphasized the importance of supporting Canadian talent.
“Some people think I live in Los Angeles, but no, I live in Toronto,” she said, addressing the room full of powerful and influential members of the Canadian music industry. “I love finding talent here, I love seeing who LA isn't looking for and what people need, and there's a lot of people who are here either in this room or working with people in this room. […] My goal is not to largely ignore the real talent that is in this living city,” he continued to cheers.
