The reality is that music in North America hasn't always gotten the silver spoon, to say the least. The music scene in Canada, has been more of an adopted child that has played against the rules of the new family. Hey they didn't say it would be easy to raise a child did they! The American Music Industry has always been there as a model, of what to create as the music for the mass to truly invest time and money, to see a show and or purchase a CD.
Are we reactive to the system of the US Music Industry, waiting to hear the next wave of sound? Well in the great Canadian market the artists, record companies and promoters sit, hoping that the next sound that is accepted comes from up North! Though alas the ratio for Canadian artists in the Music Industry to US an Europeans must be quite extreme. Which, is why a pole will be researched on this matter asap! (well we can obtain more info from these 3 lovely websites at this time if you like:
Which says in brief :
'Right now the American and European music industry dominates the music market, in both corporate and customer base. Over the years many Canadian artists such as Oscar Peterson, the Tragically Hip, and Gorden Lightfoot just to name a few, have risen in to stardom, making a name for Canadian musicians. Although we have a few big stars in our country, we don't have the budgets of big record labels to help our music thrive.' http://www.canadianmusicartists.com/about.html
The much-needed de-centralization of the Canadian music industry is still ... of us that Canadian artists are as good as their US and British counterparts. ... (Billboard - 29 Sept 1973)
'The music of Canada has reflected the diverse influences that have shaped the country.[1] Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada.[2] The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between the two countries' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Canada
Until the confidence of the Canadian music market grows, to support there own artists more proactively to build the team around the artists that show their credit, character and capacity to represent not only the city but the entire country on their back, an in their hearts the struggle will always be seen as a slow reactive approach. The answer many artists have found to be the best road, has been to pick up their bags and their gear, kiss their mother, mate and wish their friends all the best as they search for stardom in the US or Europe. Though it's interesting that many artists ( like film companies) go to Toronto for the open arm welcome of foreign exchange (tax breaks) mixed with the dyer need to advertise and market as much artists and actors that are not residing from Canada, espically Toronto. Though a visit is momentary the entertainers impact is substantial, and far from disguised when surrounded by cameras and papparotzi.
After close to over 30yrs, of Hip Hop and R&B in the Canadian market, it only now seems necessary to coop with every coast possible for the betterment of one event (MMVA) really. So the lack of consistency has been a cycle that we all struggle to change ever so quickly, in order to be the barrier of the torch that leads the way in seeing the artistic creations to come.
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