In 1971, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) established Canadian Content regulations in order to support Canadian artists and Canadian content. According to current regulations, radio stations (in both languages) must ensure that at least 35% of the music broadcast each week is Canadian content, and at least 35% of the music broadcast between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday is Canadian content (50% if the station is owned by
CBC or Radio-Canada). What is "Canadian Content" is defined by the MAPL system (Music Artist Performance Lyrics) as described
here
.
Prior to this regulation, Canadian music was widely ignored, by everyone. According to the CRTC, the purpose of CanCon regulations can be summed up as:
"Canadian attitudes, opinions, ideas, values and artistic creativity are shaped by our history and geography, our institutions and our linguistic and cultural diversity. They're part of our shared experience and our Canadian identity. The Broadcasting Act recognizes this and declares that the Canadian broadcasting system should encourage the development of Canadian expression"
To the layman, the purpose of CanCon is evident in the explosion of Canadian artists and musicians since the 1970's. When the regulations were first introduced, nearly every station was forced to play Gordon Lightfoot or Anne Murray at least once a day. Now there are more than enough artists to support 100% Canadian Radio stations (Check out one
here
)
Famous musicians from Canada:
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Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
- Susan Aglukark
- Comeback Kid
- Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- Holly Mc Narland
- Bif Naked
- Tom Cochrane
- Crash Test Dummies
- The Guess Who
- Harlequin
- Chantal Kreviazuk
- (Married to the frontman of Our Lady Peace, below)
- Daniel Lavoie
- Loreena McKennitt
- Venetian Snares
- The Watchmen
- The Weakerthans
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
- April Wine
- Buck 65
- Classified
- Jenn Grant
- Ashley MacIsaac
- Matt Mays & El Torpedo
- Sarah Mc Lachlan
- Anne Murray
- Joel Plaskett
- Plumtree
- The Rankin Family
- Sloan
- Hank Snow
- The Trews
- Wintersleep
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
- Tara Maclean
- Paper Lions
- Tim Chaisson and The Morning Fold
- Two Hours Traffic
- Meaghan Blanchard
- The Grass Mountain Hobos
- Haywire
- Boxer The Horse
- Arrows in the Air
Quebec
- The Agonist
- Arcade Fire
- Bowser and Blue
- Terri Clark
- Cur de Pirate
- Leonard Cohen
- Les Cowboys Fringant
- Cryptopsy
- Celine Dion
- The Dears
- Garou
- Gregory Charles
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor (and Constellation Records)
- Also Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra (as they're known as at the time of writing)
- Handsome Furs
- Corey Hart
- Tim Hecker
- Kataklysm
- Despised Icon
- Jon Lajoie
- Luba
- Malajube
- Marie-Mai
- Mashmakhan
- The McGarrigle sisters
- Mes Aieux
- Men Without Hats
- Frank Mills
- Mobile
- Aldo Nova
- Bruno Pelletier
- Oscar Peterson
- Sam Roberts
- Simple Plan
- Stars
- The Stills
- Sunset Rubdown
- Les Trois Accords
- David Usher (started his career with Moist, a band formed in British Columbia)
- Gino Vannelli
- Voivod
- Rufus Wainwright
Saskatchewan
- Colin James
- Streetheart
- The Waltons
- The Sheepdogs
- Wide Mouth Mason