Internet Radio May Stream North to Canada

An anonymous reader writes "With U.S. copyright royalties threatening to kill Internet radio in the U.S., Michael Geist explains why webcasters considering a move to Canada will find that the legal framework for Internet radio trades costs for complexity. There are two main areas of concern from a Canadian perspective — broadcast regulation and copyright fees. The broadcast side is surprisingly regulation-free, but there are at least three Canadian copyright collectives lining up to collect from Internet radio stations."

Canadian Content Law

[Anonymous Coward]

Just gotta make sure that 33% of your music is from Canadian artists. Enjoy :D

Not me!

[Stanistani]

My internet radio station will be broadcasting from Nigeria... just think of the fund-raising possibilities!

CRTC

[Malc]

What? Regulation free? Haven't the Commission for Regulations and Thought Control got anything to say on this matter? Will Americans be happy with receiving minimum Canadian content? Well, I guess they were kind enough to liberate us of Celine Dion (big thanks there guys, it was an honourable sacrifice).

Move North to Canada?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm a webcaster from Alaska, you insensitive clod.

CanCon's Genre vs. Genre Favouritism

[CheeseburgerBrown]

Actually, it's a sliding scale depending on the genre. While jazz and classical might have to keep over 40% of the content Canadian, pseudo-American pop music by Canadian artists need take up only 25% of the valuable airtime otheriwse devoted to truly American pop pseudo-music.

Ahem.

Avante-garde Brazilian elevator music, to take another example, has a special exemption that requires only 2% of the material aired be produced or mixed in Canada. John Cage performances are required to have only an 8% Canadian quality to the street noise that fills in the silences.

Also, for some reason, Hip Hop from Quebec counts.

Re:Unregulated By Choice!

[brkello]

Oh, we are allowed to say it too...it just comes out as fk.

Re: Internet Radio May Stream North to Canada

[Anonymous Coward]

That's a bad idea. The stream will just freeze and then they'll play hockey on it.

Re:North?

[CptNerd]

So, Wall of Voodoo will just have to change the lyrics a bit:
I'm on a Mexican (Internet) Radio"...

Re:Move North to Canada?

[Anonymous Coward]

If I move North to Canada where am I gonna connect my server, up a caribou's ass?