Battle heating up between mainstream artists and recording labels

Interesting article about the growing scuffle between mainstream Canadian artists and recording companies.

Battle lines are being drawn over the possibility of legal action and financial punishment over music downloading in Canada.

A coalition of Canadian artists has formed the Canadian Music Creators Coalition to voice concerns over copyright law and cultural policy, while at the same time the Canadian Recording Industry Association is encouraging Canadian legislators to more closely align policy here with other countries, where illegal music downloading can result in legal action against individuals.

The Canadian group includes major recording stars such as The Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLaughlin, Avril Lavigne and more. ...

Coalition artists do not support using digital locks to increase the labels' control over the
distribution, use and enjoyment of music or laws that prohibit circumvention of such technological measures, the group stated. It says the government should not blindly implement decade-old treaties designed to give control to major labels and take choices away from artists and consumers.

Let's hope that the new federal government is pro-small business and will level the playing field for entrepreneurs (i.e. musicians) in the music industry. In which case we'd have wonderful choices, including music by Ukrainian and other ethnic artists in Canada.