Bobbyisms: Why you should care about live music

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: SONGKICK.COM
The face of live music in Canada is changing.

I write about random things a lot. I write a lot about random things. Over the course of the year, I'm going to feature a lot of stories about live music here in the city and interviews with bands coming to London to perform, and I strongly recommend you check them out.

At the risk of stating the obvious, live music is an experience unlike any other. The music scene here in London is as unique as they come; from the grungy club to the country bar, the chic bistro to the broad music hall, London has a stage for any style of music and every kind of crowd.

However, recent changes to federal regulations surrounding foreign workers announced early in August by the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment, Social Development and Multiculturalism, could forever change the climate of live music in Canada.

On July 31, new changes quietly took effect that sharply increase fees that certain live venues have to pay to present international artists in their establishment. In Canada, certain businesses must apply for a Labour Market Opinion in order to employ foreign workers, like venues across the country that have a primary business other than music but that still regularly feature live performances — like bars, restaurants, coffee shops and art galleries.

Intended to create more opportunities for Canadian talent, the regulations introduced a new application fee of $275 to venues for each musician and every member of their staff or entourage (manager, sound person or tech, etc.) while eliminating crucial payment caps previously in place.

Historically, venues applying to present international artists or groups would be faced with a fee of $150 per work permit per person, capped at a total of $450 and applicable only once to the performers' entry into Canada. As such, that fee could be arranged to be spread over multiple shows or not; having entered with approval, foreign acts could book more shows to support the application, making it a much simpler cost to bear.

Under the new regulations, venues must apply and pay the new $275 fee in addition to the $150 per person fee already in place, bringing the total up to $425 per person, per venue, and unprotected by caps of any kind.

What does this mean for London? Large venues like Budweiser Gardens likely won't have much trouble presenting ZZ Top or the Dixie Chicks as scheduled in November, but smaller venues around the city may very well see a sharper decline in performances by international artists due to the higher fees.

From an outside perspective, it's easy to think of the regulation changes as damaging to arts and culture in our country — Canadian music has always faced challenges looking for an audience beyond our borders, and placing such restrictions on international artists entering Canada threatens to further isolate our culture. But we're not powerless; thousands of citizens opposed to the new fees have taken to the Internet to rally support, driving discussion online through Twitter and by means of a petition on change.org.

If this story concerns you, there are three things you can do to help advocate a change. First, sign the petition “Canadian Government: Don't ruin live music with $425.00 charge per international artist per performance in Canada” by visiting change.org/canadamusic and add your name to the 150,000 they aim to collect.

Next, you can contact the Honourable Jason Kenney directly by Twitter @kenneyjason or using the hashtag #Music4Canada to say that live music is important to you. Phone, email and mailing addresses in Calgary and Ottawa are also included on his website at jasonkenney.com.

And most importantly, support live music every chance you get by taking in a concert here on campus or at one of our infamous venues across the city. Not only will you have the memory of a unique experience, you'll be sending a message to booking agents, promoters and bands that live music in London is worthwhile, in many ways the most substantial impact you can make.

For more of the latest in music news, album streams and local concert dates, consider following this column on Twitter @fsu_bobbyisms. Don't forget to check out frosh events on campus at fsu.ca. I'm out of words.