FACT SHEET - I
Canadian music creators
- There are approximately 25 000 Canadian songwriters, composers and lyricists, approximately 500 of whom earn their living from writing music.
- Royalties paid to Canadian songwriters and composers for public performance of their works (live and broadcast) totalled $65 million in 1998.
The Canadian sound recording industry
- More than 250 small Canadian companies produce 90% of Canadian artists' recordings.
- The majority of companies -- 91 of 254-- are based in Ontario, followed closely by Quebec, with 84, and British Columbia, with 40. There are 28 record labels in the Prairies and 11 in Atlantic Canada.
- Approximately 15 large foreign-owned companies (predominantly the 5 multinational majors) produce the remaining 10% of Canadian artists' recordings.
- According to Statistics Canada, 6 655 recordings were released in Canada in 1995-96; 828 of these were by Canadian artists. These figures do not include the many independent artist recordings that were also released.
- Distribution of sound recordings is largely controlled by the foreign multinationals; however, distribution of domestic recordings in Quebec is by Quebec-controlled companies.
- Retail is dominated by specialty chain stores (e.g. HMV and Archambault), 'big box' stores (e.g. Walmart) and a number of small independents (e.g. CD Warehouse).
Economic Impact
- The sound recording industry generates approximately 16 500 jobs in Canada, many of which are occupied by youth.
- Retail sales of sound recordings in Canada totalled $1.313 billion in 1999. Canadian sound recordings represented approximately 11% of that amount, for total retail sales of $144.43 million.
- Canadian artists and producers earned $337 million for licenses, rental and reproduction rights, and performance rights in 1998.
Canadian Audiences
- 90% of Canadians consider Canadian music on par with or of better quality than music by foreign artists (Goldfarb 2000).
- 82% of Canadians say music is an important part of their lives and 54% of Canadians consider themselves heavy music buyers (Goldfarb 1998).
- At 2.5 recordings purchased per capita, Canada was ranked tenth in the world in 1999 (MBI).
- Over 95% of Canadian youth listen to music. Many have access to music on the Internet. On-line penetration amongst youth in Canada is above 90% - ahead of the U.S. (Ipsos-Reid, 2000).
- TOP OF PAGE HOME