According to this article:
The CAB [Canadian Association of Broadcasters] undertook a number of diversity initiatives through 2005-06, including the launching of the Diversity in Broadcasting website. Launched in May of 2005, the website has evolved into a central repository for a broad range industry-wide information, including studies, reports, links, and events that help promote the need for diversity in the broadcasting industry.
Moreover, the CAB has engaged organizations and individuals from ethnocultural, Aboriginal and disability communities, broadcasting and production industries, media, government decision-makers in an ongoing dialogue about this issue ...
Apparently, the CAB is pretty selective in which "ethnocultural" communities it engages. Far as I can tell, it didn't approach a single soul in the Ukrainian community. Certainly, I know of no Ukrainian Canadian broadcaster who is involved in this "ongoing dialogue" ... and I'm touch with pretty much all of them.
Of course, I'd be delighted to be proven wrong. But I'm not holding my breath!
UPDATE: Apparently other "invisible" minorities haven't been contacted either, judging by my contacts in the ethnic broadcasting industry. Presumably, to media moguls caucasians are not "ethnic." Of course, that should come as no surprise. To the elites, "ethnic" means "coloured" ... only they are too "enlightened" to actually use such terminology. It's pretty obvious the moneyed power-brokers are not interested in diversity within races so much as the diversity between them. The latter type of diversity must be more lucrative.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Kyiv becoming star struck
Another Kyiv Post article about Ukrainian glitterati:
This fall Kyiv will have even more beautiful women than usual, as the famous "Miss Europe" beauty contest takes place in Ukraine for the first time. ...
Similar to the winners of the Eurovision song contest held in Kyiv last year, the winner of "Miss Europe 2006" will be picked through interactive voting by the viewers as well votes by the contest jury. The jury's composition is yet unknown; however, the organizers already confirmed that the American actress Sharon Stone has agreed to head it. In fact, news of Miss Stone's arrival to Kyiv already circulated once before when she was set to open the Ukrainian movie festival, "Molodist." She never materialized. Hopefully this autumn Sharon will finally make it.
Only time will tell. Meanwhile ...
The first Ukrainian awards ceremony to honor the best achievements in show business, called appropriately the "ShowBiz Awards," was held in Kyiv at the National Opera House on April 22. Awards were presented in 17 categories with the winners and nominees determined through the vote of an expert council headed by singer Sofiya Rotaru.
The band Okean Elzy became the star of the ceremony, winning three of its four nominations. Not only was it named “Best Rock Band of the Year,” its latest CD “Gloria” was given the title “Album of the Year,” while band leader Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, who recently appeared in a new role as a UN goodwill ambassador, won “Best Male Performer.”
Tina Karol and the boy band “Aviator” were both named as “New Artist of the Year,” the title of the “Best Female Performer” was given to Iryna Bilyk and Gaytana. Skryabin was named “Best Pop-Band,” TNMK were given the award for “Best Hip-Hoppers” and ManSound got the “best” in jazz. The ceremony also made mention of the people behind the music: the best manager, Yury Nikitin; the best record label, Lavina Music; and the best studio, Mama Studio.
No doubt these award ceremonies would be more entertaining that similar ones in North America have been lately.
This fall Kyiv will have even more beautiful women than usual, as the famous "Miss Europe" beauty contest takes place in Ukraine for the first time. ...
Similar to the winners of the Eurovision song contest held in Kyiv last year, the winner of "Miss Europe 2006" will be picked through interactive voting by the viewers as well votes by the contest jury. The jury's composition is yet unknown; however, the organizers already confirmed that the American actress Sharon Stone has agreed to head it. In fact, news of Miss Stone's arrival to Kyiv already circulated once before when she was set to open the Ukrainian movie festival, "Molodist." She never materialized. Hopefully this autumn Sharon will finally make it.
Only time will tell. Meanwhile ...
The first Ukrainian awards ceremony to honor the best achievements in show business, called appropriately the "ShowBiz Awards," was held in Kyiv at the National Opera House on April 22. Awards were presented in 17 categories with the winners and nominees determined through the vote of an expert council headed by singer Sofiya Rotaru.
The band Okean Elzy became the star of the ceremony, winning three of its four nominations. Not only was it named “Best Rock Band of the Year,” its latest CD “Gloria” was given the title “Album of the Year,” while band leader Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, who recently appeared in a new role as a UN goodwill ambassador, won “Best Male Performer.”
Tina Karol and the boy band “Aviator” were both named as “New Artist of the Year,” the title of the “Best Female Performer” was given to Iryna Bilyk and Gaytana. Skryabin was named “Best Pop-Band,” TNMK were given the award for “Best Hip-Hoppers” and ManSound got the “best” in jazz. The ceremony also made mention of the people behind the music: the best manager, Yury Nikitin; the best record label, Lavina Music; and the best studio, Mama Studio.
No doubt these award ceremonies would be more entertaining that similar ones in North America have been lately.
Roll over Khmelnetsky
After holding the first Ukrainian ethnic music festival, Krayina Mriy (Dream Country), for two years in a row, Oleh Skrypka - the leader of the band Vopli Vidoplyasova - in conjunction with the whole Ukrainian rock movement finally came up with a full-scale rock event: the Rock Sich music festival is now set to take place this weekend on Trukhaniv island.
Originally, "sich" was the old name for fortified areas created by Ukrainian Cossacks as protection against invaders, the most famous of these being the military and political organization "Zaporizka Sich"situated on Khortytsya island. The "Rock Sich" festival, then, according to organizers and Skrypka, symbolizes a fortress of Ukrainian rock-Cossacks aimed at protecting modern rock from the "pop oppression."
In fact, Skrypka had voiced this notion once before ... claiming that pop stifles quality rock and alternative music from developing in Ukraine...
VV ... are about to release their new CD while Skrypka himself chose not to give in to "pop oppression" but instead fight it in his own ways - such as holding a music festival that would resemble the famous European open-air festivals both in quality and organization.
Read the entire Kyiv Post article.
Originally, "sich" was the old name for fortified areas created by Ukrainian Cossacks as protection against invaders, the most famous of these being the military and political organization "Zaporizka Sich"situated on Khortytsya island. The "Rock Sich" festival, then, according to organizers and Skrypka, symbolizes a fortress of Ukrainian rock-Cossacks aimed at protecting modern rock from the "pop oppression."
In fact, Skrypka had voiced this notion once before ... claiming that pop stifles quality rock and alternative music from developing in Ukraine...
VV ... are about to release their new CD while Skrypka himself chose not to give in to "pop oppression" but instead fight it in his own ways - such as holding a music festival that would resemble the famous European open-air festivals both in quality and organization.
Read the entire Kyiv Post article.
new trend in music distribution?
This blog entry is an example of the "long-tail" economics model that is worrying recording label oligarchs and loosening their stranglehold on music distribution.
The labels of course point to "illegal" file sharing as the source of their problems (i.e. falling sales and ergo profits) and has them scrambling to influence lawmakers in order to protect their cash cows.
If the stats in this blog entry are representative of the general trend, it's evidence of how far off the mark the labels are. If the situation gets desperate enough for them to try this system, perhaps it will end the cacophony they've been marketing as pop music in recent years. (We can only hope.)
In the meantime, perhaps Ukrainian and other ethnic musicians should take note, and heart.
The labels of course point to "illegal" file sharing as the source of their problems (i.e. falling sales and ergo profits) and has them scrambling to influence lawmakers in order to protect their cash cows.
If the stats in this blog entry are representative of the general trend, it's evidence of how far off the mark the labels are. If the situation gets desperate enough for them to try this system, perhaps it will end the cacophony they've been marketing as pop music in recent years. (We can only hope.)
In the meantime, perhaps Ukrainian and other ethnic musicians should take note, and heart.
playing hardball in the music industry
Now this describes a progressive business approach.
Songs at Apple's iTunes Music Store will remain 99 cents per download after the company extended its distribution deals with major recording labels.
The recording industry and Apple had been at odds over Apple's insistence to keep its flat rate with some labels wanting variable pricing, including higher prices for new releases.
"Apple has all the cards, and when you have all the cards, you can play hardball," said Ted Schadler, analyst at market research firm Forrester Research.
But I wonder who's keeping score?
Songs at Apple's iTunes Music Store will remain 99 cents per download after the company extended its distribution deals with major recording labels.
The recording industry and Apple had been at odds over Apple's insistence to keep its flat rate with some labels wanting variable pricing, including higher prices for new releases.
"Apple has all the cards, and when you have all the cards, you can play hardball," said Ted Schadler, analyst at market research firm Forrester Research.
But I wonder who's keeping score?
online communication increasing in popularity
This should come as no great surprise:
New channels of communication, especially online activities such as e-mail and instant messaging, are driving an anytime, anywhere media attitude in Canada.
According to a recent Ipsos-Reid online poll conducted for MSN Canada, Canadians connect, on average, with about 23 different people every day. ...
83 per cent of respondents said they feel communicating online has an overall positive effect on their life. Almost half (49 per cent) believe using the Internet to communicate has allowed them to be more outwardly social, while 45 per cent say it has helped them locate long-lost friends, and 39 per cent say it lets them act more like themselves, the survey found.
Rest of article here.
New channels of communication, especially online activities such as e-mail and instant messaging, are driving an anytime, anywhere media attitude in Canada.
According to a recent Ipsos-Reid online poll conducted for MSN Canada, Canadians connect, on average, with about 23 different people every day. ...
83 per cent of respondents said they feel communicating online has an overall positive effect on their life. Almost half (49 per cent) believe using the Internet to communicate has allowed them to be more outwardly social, while 45 per cent say it has helped them locate long-lost friends, and 39 per cent say it lets them act more like themselves, the survey found.
Rest of article here.
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Honouring Gareth Jones - Welsh journalist who exposed horrors of Stalin
A young Welsh journalist who exposed the man made famines of the Stalinist Government and was later murdered by Japanese bandits was honoured at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, today, with the the unveiling of a triligual plaque in Welsh, English and Ukrainian.
Gareth Richard Vaughan Jones, a journalist with The Western Mail, died on the eve of his 30th birthday in August 1935. Traveling surreptitiously in Soviet Ukraine, in March 1933, Jones, who spoke Russian fluently, soon thereafter wrote a number of articles about the man-made famine orchestrated by the Stalinist government in what had been the 'breadbasket of Europe.'
He then himself fell prey to a determined effort to discredit his reporting. Many millions of Ukrainians perished even as the Soviet authorities denied that a famine was raging, and continued to export grain. They were joined in their cover up by some Western journalists, including the now notorious Walter Duranty of The New York Times.
Full article here.
Gareth Richard Vaughan Jones, a journalist with The Western Mail, died on the eve of his 30th birthday in August 1935. Traveling surreptitiously in Soviet Ukraine, in March 1933, Jones, who spoke Russian fluently, soon thereafter wrote a number of articles about the man-made famine orchestrated by the Stalinist government in what had been the 'breadbasket of Europe.'
He then himself fell prey to a determined effort to discredit his reporting. Many millions of Ukrainians perished even as the Soviet authorities denied that a famine was raging, and continued to export grain. They were joined in their cover up by some Western journalists, including the now notorious Walter Duranty of The New York Times.
Full article here.
advertising works - unfortunately
Scary to think how easily ad agencies can control our thought processes and action. They are the scourge of the earth.
Earlier this month, the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine published a report showing that for each additional hour per day that a child watched television an average of one additional request was made for an advertised product. The effect of the commercials on children lasted up to 20 weeks.
This article is all about subliminal advertising. What started out as a stunt apparently ended up a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Earlier this month, the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine published a report showing that for each additional hour per day that a child watched television an average of one additional request was made for an advertised product. The effect of the commercials on children lasted up to 20 weeks.
This article is all about subliminal advertising. What started out as a stunt apparently ended up a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Canadian musicians taking on major labels
A growing coalition of Canadian music creators is thumbing its collective nose at multinational record labels. The coalition is also concerned about legislative proposals that would facilitate lawsuits against music fans and/or increase the labels' control over the enjoyment of music.
Sounds like a practical, pragmatic and fair-minded bunch. Perhaps Ukrainian Canadian musicians should join their crusade. Certainly, the labels have been no friends to our music genre.
Details available at the Canadian Music Creators Coalition website.
Sounds like a practical, pragmatic and fair-minded bunch. Perhaps Ukrainian Canadian musicians should join their crusade. Certainly, the labels have been no friends to our music genre.
Details available at the Canadian Music Creators Coalition website.
Vancouver audio archives updated for 043006
Archives for Nash Holos and Chetverta Khvylia April 30 broadcasts are now uploaded.
All about nuts, fortresses in Ukraine, the upcoming BC Ukrainian Cultural Festival, and plenty of Great Ukrainian music! CD of the week is Ihor and Vasyl with Marusia ... a re-release of a 1971 recording by brother-sister duo Anne and Bill Shcherbatiuk.
Enjoy!
All about nuts, fortresses in Ukraine, the upcoming BC Ukrainian Cultural Festival, and plenty of Great Ukrainian music! CD of the week is Ihor and Vasyl with Marusia ... a re-release of a 1971 recording by brother-sister duo Anne and Bill Shcherbatiuk.
Enjoy!
Former "shock jock: to oversee CRTC
This is less than good news.
What is the government thinking? (Assuming of course that it does. And don't they say one should never assume?)
What is the government thinking? (Assuming of course that it does. And don't they say one should never assume?)
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