A Big Boost For Canadian Talent

A number of BC-based musicians will be receiving a boost of support from the latest CRTC ruling, which granted Jim Pattison Broadcast Group a new AAA format license to broadcast under 100.5FM THE PEAK. The 'Adult Album Alternative" format should bode well with Vancouver's rock audience, and will hopefully provide some much needed airtime for the glut of local talent. The format is a spinoff of the "Album-Oriented Rock" category that I suppose Vancouver's CFOX would fall under. We shall see how this rivalry develops. I think the airwaves of Vancouver just got a little more interesting, or at least I hope.

The even-bigger news is the bundle of cash Pattison has pledged to local artists, under the
Canadian Talent Development Program. Every licensed radio station is required to make this contribution every year, depending on the size of the station, how wide they reach, etc. Some stations are required to donate only a small amount $500-$1000) but Pattison will be contributing over the next seven years... (drumroll)

$12 Million Dollars - $6.5 Million of which will be going directly to local, homegrown talent.

Locally, the money will be used in a pilot band-aid program called the PEAK Performance Program; which is designed to give several local acts a career kickstart. The program will send 20 chosen acts per year through a musical bootcamp, offer live spots at 100.5 THE PEAK-sponsored events... and to the top 3 of the pack, a recording package and marketing fund to help take it to the next level. This program will run for the next 7 years, so 140 acts will be assisted overall.

Pattison will also be contributing $50,000 per year to the Music Industry Travel Assistance Program (MITAP) to assist BC-based artists and industry professionals in travelling both domestically and abroad for touring as well as attending useful conferences and industry events.

Both the PEAK Performance Program and MITAP finding are administered by Music BC Industry Association (www.musicbc.org)

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