Music Canada
Formation | April 9, 1963 |
---|---|
Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Website | musiccanada |
Music Canada is a
History
Originally formed as the 10-member Canadian Record Manufacturer's Association, the association changed its name to Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) in 1972 and opened membership to other record industry companies.[2]
In 2006, the CRIA was in the news when a number of smaller labels resigned their memberships, complaining that the organization was not representing their interests.[3] On July 7, 2011, the CRIA changed its name to Music Canada offering special benefits to some of the leading independent labels and distributors in Canada.[4]
Organization
Music Canada is governed by a board of directors who are elected annually by association members. To be eligible for election a candidate for the board must be among the executive officers of the member companies. Patrick Rogers (formerly the Vice President, Corporate Affairs) was named the new Chief Executive Officer, effective 11 January 2021.[5] Graham Henderson had been president from 15 November 2004 to 28 May 2020; Brian Robertson previously held the position from 1974.
- Class A members are Canadian individuals or companies whose principal business is producing, manufacturing, or marketing sound recordings. These members hold voting rights, and currently consist of the "big four" record labels.[6]
- Class B members are Canadian individuals or companies whose principal business is producing sound recordings. These members pay a $600 annual membership fee but have no voting rights. As of 2007, there were 22 class B members.[6]
- Manufacturing Division members are Canadian individuals or companies whose principal business is manufacturing sound recordings.
Other services
Music Canada is responsible for the distribution of
Representation
Historically, Music Canada has represented all record labels in the country. Recently, however, some labels and other industry groups have publicly disagreed with Music Canada and claim it no longer represents them. In 2006, six well-known "indie" labels including
Legal actions
On February 16, 2004, Music Canada applied to the
On March 31, 2004, in the case of
Additionally, in October 2008, the four main members of Music Canada were sued by the estate of Chet Baker and several other artists for copyright infringement. The major claims in this lawsuit are as follows:
- That some three hundred thousand works were illegally distributed by the Music Canada's members, and
- That they failed to seek proper licensing and distribution agreements with the creators of the aforementioned works, instead placing the works on what is colloquially referred to as a "pending list" (i.e., any payments to be made for the use of the aforementioned works are reserved, pending an agreement with the artists who created the works).
As the standard punitive damages for each act of infringement is set at $20,000, and there are three hundred thousand works on the "pending lists", Music Canada could have faced punitive damages of a minimum of $6 billion.[14] On November 8, 2011, the suit was settled out of court for over $45 million.[15]
Certification awards
Albums
Certification | Releases before May 1, 2008[16] | Releases after May 1, 2008[16] |
---|---|---|
Gold | 50,000 | 40,000 |
Platinum | 100,000 | 80,000 |
Diamond | 1,000,000 | 800,000 |
Singles
Prior to September 12, 2016, Music Canada had different certification levels for physical singles and digital downloads singles.[17] On that date, the digital downloads singles award was discontinued and the singles award consisted of sales numbers for digital downloads and physical singles alike. It also includes streams, where 150 on-demand audio streams from a subscription service equals 1 unit towards certification.[16]
Certification | Certifications after September 12, 2016 |
---|---|
Gold | 40,000 |
Platinum | 80,000 |
Diamond | 800,000 |
Certification before September 2016
Physical singles | |||
---|---|---|---|
Certification | Releases before February 1, 1982[18] |
Releases before September 2002[18] |
Releases after September 2002[A] |
Gold | 75,000 | 50,000 | 5,000 |
Platinum | 150,000 | 100,000 | 10,000 |
Diamond | 1,500,000 | 1,000,000 | 100,000 |
Digital downloads | |||
Certification | Certifications before January 1, 2007[B][19] |
Certifications until April, 2010[C][20][21] |
Certifications after May 1, 2010[21] Discontinued September 12, 2016 |
Gold | 10,000 | 20,000 | 40,000 |
Platinum | 20,000 | 40,000 | 80,000 |
Diamond | 200,000 | 400,000 | 800,000 |
- CRIA / Music Canada certified digital download singles (and since September 12, 2016, any singles) applying the most recent certification-levels, even to those titles that are released during the time frame the CRIA had lower certification-levels for digital download singles. One such example is the single "Right Round" by Flo Rida feat. Kesha, which was released in January 2009 when certification-levels for Digital-downloads were 10,000 units for Gold and 20,000 units for Platinum. The CRIA (currently Music Canada) certified it three times Platinum in October 2010, applying the latest certification-levels for sales of 240,000 units.[22]
RingTones (singles)
Ringtone certifications were retired April 1, 2021.[16]
Certification | For all RingTone releases[16] |
---|---|
Gold | 20,000 |
Platinum | 40,000 |
Diamond | 400,000 |
Music DVD
Music DVD certifications were retired April 1, 2021.[16]
Certification | For all Video releases[16] |
---|---|
Gold | 5,000 |
Platinum | 10,000 |
Diamond | 100,000 |
See also
Notes
- A ^ One of the first physical singles that was certified with levels of Gold=5,000 and Platinum=10,000 was "A Moment Like This" by Kelly Clarkson,[23] which was released on September 17, 2002.
- B ^ One of the first digital singles that was certified with levels of Gold=20,000 and Platinum=40,000 was "Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven,[24] which was released as a digital track on March 6, 2007.[25]
- C
References
- ^ "About Music Canada". Music Canada. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
- ^ "Canadian Recording Industry Association". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "Canadian Recording Industry Association Changes Name". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
- ^ "Announcement of New Leadership at Music Canada and CONNECT". Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ a b Geist, Michael (12 September 2007). "LeBlanc on HMV and CRIA Stats". Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ^ "Indie labels break with CRIA over commercial radio proposal". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 April 2009. Archived from the original on Feb 16, 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ^ Geist, Michael (6 August 2009). "Manitoba Music Industry Association Distances Self From CRIA On Copyright Reform". Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- Industry Canada. 11 September 2009. Archived from the originalon 28 October 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ^ Joudrey, Stephanie (2005-04-22). "Canadian File Sharing Lawsuits Moving Ahead, Vidéotron To Reveal Names". ChartAttack.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - BMG Canada Inc. v. John Doe, FC 488(F.C. 2004).
- BMG Canada Inc. v. John Doe, FCA 193(F.C.A 2005).
- ^ "Statement of Claim - isoHunt vs CRIA members" (PDF). 19 November 2009.
- ^ "Geist: Record industry faces liability over infringement". The Star. Toronto. 7 December 2009.
- ^ Gardner, Eriq (November 12, 2011). "Why Universal Music Sued Its Insurer Over a $14.4 Million Payment to Musicians (Analysis)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g Music Canada. "Certification Definitions". Music Canada. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
- ^ "Certification Definitions". 23 July 2016. Archived from the original on July 23, 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ Billboard magazine. 1982-02-27. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum Certifications: March - August 2006". CRIA. Archived from the original on 2010-10-19. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ^ "CRIA Gold Platinum Certifications (April 2010)". CRIA. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b "What is Gold Platinum Certification?". Music Canada. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum Certifications: October 2010". CRIA. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved 2014-10-12.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Gold & Platinum Certifications: April 2003". CRIA. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Gold & Platinum Certifications: August 2007". CRIA. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Amazon: Paralyzer". Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum Certifications: June 20107". CRIA. Archived from the original on February 12, 2014. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Amazon: OMG". Retrieved 2012-06-24.