CNM Update

Independents launch music industry web siteThe Canadian Independent Record Production Association (CIRPA) has launched a new web site at http://www.mincanada.ca with trade information for participating member associations. The site features the "All New Releases Lounge" with email notification to radio stations of new CDs, a section to help users find out which funding programs they might be eligible for, an industry contact directory and a calendar of events. Access to most features will require membership in one of the Alberta Recording Industries Association, Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association, the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia, Music/Musique NB Inc., the Pacific Music Industry Association, the Recording Arts Industry – Yukon Association, the Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association, or CIRPA. The site was launched at a Juno Awards party in Ottawa April 4. CANARIE issues long-awaited RFP CANARIE Inc. is soliciting project funding proposals under the $6-million Applied Research in Interactive Media e-content funding program (CNM, Jan. 23/02). It’s not known at press time whether any projects have been chosen from the funding round ended Jan. 30, 2002 or whether this RFP round represents the last stages of finalizing those contracts. Several new criteria have been added specific to this RFP, including a requirement that proposals be content flexible; use standardized classification/metatagging schema to fit in multiple contexts; include cost and use structures that will enable management/facilitation of use for non-profit, private sector, education and community organizations; identify and effectively address media differences related to access and use; and others. The e-content funding program is slated to fund projects through 2004. Proposals are due on May 9. Coalition begins piracy public service announcementsThe Canadian Value of Music Coalition has launched the promised public service announcements (PSAs) for its "Value Of Music" campaign launched in early March (CNM, March 6/03). PSAs aimed at the nine-to-17-year-old demographic, created by ZiG Inc., will run on television and radio networks including those owned by CHUM Limited, Corus Entertainment Inc., Craig Media Inc., CTV Inc., Rogers Broadcasting and Standard Radio Inc. Canadian ecommerce numbers post strong gainsStatistics Canada reports that the combined private- and public-sector online sales in this country grew by 27.2% from 2001 to 2002 for a total of $13.7 billion. This compares to an increase of 46% a year earlier. The proportion of private businesses selling goods and services online rose a slightly from 6.7% in 2001 to 7.5% in 2002. But, StatsCan notes, the value of online orders rose 28.4% from 2001 to $13.3 billion in 2002. Public-sector online sales, by contrast, were $327 million in 2002, down 7.8% from 2001. Canada three-peats on e-governmentFor the third year running, Canada has topped a list of countries’ e-government sophistication compiled by Accenture in its report eGovernment Leadership: Engaging the Customer. Canada was also the only country to reach the study’s "fifth plateau," or highest category of e-government maturity representing an overall service transformation wrought by digital technology. According to the study, "Canada’s eGovernment initiative is differentiated by its customer-service vision; methods for measuring success of services; broad, integrated approach to offering government services through multiple service-delivery channels; and a cross-agency approach to online services. Further, the government has placed its citizens and businesses at the core of its eGovernment initiative, identifying services for individual customer segments, and government executives view eGovernment as an evolutionary process that is part of a broader service transformation effort." Lavalife wins exposure on Cox Radio web sitesCox Radio station web sites will now feature content from online dating company Lavalife Inc. Visitors to Cox sites will be able to visit a Lavalife-branded meeting spot, as well as promotions, events and contests. It’s hoped the partnership, on undisclosed terms, will "build value for Cox’s audience members, maximize Cox’s Internet venture, and build traffic for both," according to a media release.

CNM Update

Broadcast | April 9, 2003

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