Let's fix CanCon!

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

A group hoping to change the CanCon rule to support lesser known Canadian artists who need the rule more than internationally known Canadian artists who have already "made it".

www.letsfixcancon.ca/ --->link to petition in there

[allow that]

I'm not even Canadian but this sounds like a GREAT rule. Avril, Alanis, and Sum 41 will get played regardless of a CanCon law. So why not give those "required" spins to new artists trying to break.... maybe exposure of extra acts will lead to even more major Canadian artists.

[Arson]

I agree radio stations need to be encouraged to add more obscure Canadian artists. Too often, radio programmers play it too safe.

However, it will be difficult to determine where to draw the line for the categories listed, and when an artist might move from one level to the next.

Even with the international stars, there is the question of whether the star is current or waning in popularity. Without full Cancon credit, I'm not sure if Alanis Morissette or Nelly Furtado would have had as many of their latest singles accepted by Canadian radio. Moreover, the success of such artists do provide employment for other Canadians behind the scenes who contribute to their albums.

It's an interesting concept, though.

[Pipa]

I think they should support lesser known CanCon artists. The only station I know that does is 106.1 The Goat, and those artists make their Top 20.

[620 Soul Train]

I think CanCon, though I am not Canadian is fine the way it is, really. To allow the government to have a say in playing crap music just because they are Canadian is insane IMO. Let's get real here, do you honestly believe that they should recieve airtime even though the content is below quality standards to the public ear? Just one question, when did they come up with this ridculous CanCon law, anyway. If you want, please give me one good reason why artists with unaccepable quality content should be forced airplay due to CanCon.

[kellydicted]

I like the idea of giving newer artists a chance to compete against more established Canadian acts but I really think this is too much. This just takes away more power from the listener.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

The said:

I think CanCon, though I am not Canadian is fine the way it is, really. To allow the government to have a say in playing crap music just because they are Canadian is insane IMO. Let's get real here, do you honestly believe that they should recieve airtime even though the content is below quality standards to the public ear? Just one question, when did they come up with this ridculous CanCon law, anyway. If you want, please give me one good reason why artists with unaccepable quality content should be forced airplay due to CanCon.

Artists with unacceptable quality content are forced airplay even without CanCon. At least this way, it forces more variety from a larger array of artists that otherwise wouldn't be given a chance at airplay. If the songs/artists suck, they probably won't continue receiving airplay. Variety is key.

[Arson]

The said:

Just one question, when did they come up with this ridculous CanCon law, anyway. If you want, please give me one good reason why artists with unaccepable quality content should be forced airplay due to CanCon.

Artists who aren't as well known are not neccessarily of "unacceptable quality". There is a misconception that to fulfil Cancon quotas, radio stations dredge the sludge at the bottom of the barrow, but there are a lot of decent and very good Canadian songs that are given a chance to air, or receive more airplay, because of the Canadian content rule. Granted, I think the current percentage is slightly high and I don't like it when stations overplay tired hits like "How You Remind Me" to boost the Canadian content, but the good ultimately outweighs the bad. The Max raises a good point that a byproduct of the CanCon rules is that stations play more of a variety than they would otherwise.