8 Days of Tariff 8: Tariff 8 is a Lose/Lose/Lose

We believe the Tariff 8 decision set a dangerous precedent in Canada for streaming rates on music streaming services.

There are three ways in which this decision negatively impacts the Canadian music industry:

• Tariff 8 is bad for Canadian artists, who receive 10% of the streaming royalties from semi-interactive services as their American counterparts. This means that Canadian artists are paid 90% less than what other artists on similar services outside of the country are paid.
• Tariff 8 is bad for international artists, who receive less royalties when their work is played on Canadian semi-interactive streaming services. This could lead to international artists refusing to have their music used on these services, potentially limiting content to Canadians.
• Tariff 8 is bad for the economy because it shows just how unpredictable the Copyright Board is. It created a regulatory precedent that ignores the reality of the marketplace and will continue to harm the business climate and create a market of uncertainty. This may dissuade new services from entering the Canadian market, which means less choice for consumers.

Stand with us and join the conversation at #IStandForMusic.

Tariff 8 is a lose / lose / lose: it’s bad for Canadian artists, int’l artists, & the economy: http://t.co/NfoSied5ae pic.twitter.com/k2m4NbluPA

— Music Canada (@Music_Canada) June 23, 2015