The Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC), the country’s oldest public broadcasting network, and Audio-Video Licensing Agency (AVLA) have reached the first negotiated collective license deal in Canada for online streaming and podcasting of radio and online digital music programming.
The historic music licensing agreement will offer Canadians CBC’s radio programs both online and on demand. The Corporation also plans to launch a new Canadian digital music service sometime this winter.
AVLA negotiated the agreement on behalf of its membership of almost 1,000 major and independent music companies.
“We are thrilled to have been able to work together with CBC to license a service that will be extremely welcome in Canada, where there are only a handful of digital options for consumers,” AVLA and Music Canada president Graham Henderson said in a statement. “This groundbreaking agreement means that music fans will have more access to the best in Canadian music, whether by emerging or established artists, while creators will enjoy full recognition for the value of their work.”
Added Chris Boyce, executive director of radio and audio of CBC English Services, “As Canada’s national public broadcaster, we must provide opportunities for Canadians to enjoy our on-air radio programs anywhere they wish, but also to offer original new ways to connect Canadians with music where, when and how they want it,” he said.
“Through this new relationship with AVLA and the Canadian music labels, CBC will be able to offer its programs on demand complete with music while at the same time building a new digital music service, that will be unlike any other available today in Canada.
“As part of our on-going commitment to Canadian culture, this will be accomplished by combining the power of context, curation and community in new and innovative ways.”