Canadian Musician - May/June 2023 | Page 15

SOCAN Welcomes Adoption of Bill C-11
Ontario Country Artists Organize Benefit Concert For CAMH
Ontario country artists are coming together to share untold stories about mental illness and mental health in a benefit concert for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health ( CAMH ).
Country Talks : Mental Health , taking place on Wednesday , May 24 at the famous Moonshine Cafe in Oakville , will feature a lineup of top Canadian independent country artists , all with a history of living with mental illness , addiction , and mental health challenges , sharing stories about their struggles , obstacles , and using music to overcome them . All proceeds from the benefit will be donated to the CAMH Foundation .
The lineup features Maddie Corinne , Taylor Wilson , Broadtree , Caves , Jessica Towler , and Katy Topham performing in a writers ’ round format . The event will be hosted by Nicole McCafferty and Armand Antony , who will also be performing in the show as Broadtree .
A benefit concert focusing on mental illness is a first for the Ontario country community and promises to be an evening of celebrating artists and audience members who live with mental illness in a safe space where conversations are normalized and welcomed . Resources to learn about mental illness and improving mental health will also be available on site .
Tickets for Country Talks : Mental Health are by donation with additional donation tiers offered that include exclusive thank you gifts such as event posters , merch , and song requests . Raffle tickets will be available in person and online for prizes donated by all artists performing , Gibson Guitars , Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment , the Toronto Blue Jays , Brooks Farms , Live Nation , and music festivals including Harmonia , Live Love Laugh , Dave Woods ’ Heart of Country , and Feeling 22 : A Tribute to Taylor Swift .
SOCAN ( the Society of Composers , Authors , and Music Publishers of Canada ) welcomes the passage of Bill C-11 , the Online Streaming Act , by the Senate .
Streaming has grown significantly in recent years , but Canadian songwriters and composers have not received their fair share of this growth . Foreign streaming giants have enjoyed unfettered access to Canadian audiences and now , thanks to C-11 , they will have to help support our cultural community and our Canadian songwriters .
Bill C-11 delivers on Minister Pablo Rodriguez ’ s promise to regulate online streaming services while excluding its application to individual content creators . On behalf of its more than 185,000 members , SOCAN warmly thanks Minister Rodriguez for his leadership , and assures him of its continued support on any project that will support the growth of Canadian cultural industries . SOCAN also thanks NDP and Bloc Québécois MPs for their support on this very important issue . CANADIAN MUSICIAN 15