The Canadian Music Cooperative™ is an artist owned and operated record label founded in November 2017 by composer Louis Marc Vautour (The Lost Chord, Arabika) and veteran producer Don Kerr (Communism) along with artist Brendan Furlotte. The CMC is the sister cooperative to The MUSIC COOP™, with the goal to develop, produce, and promote the music of our members, through sharing resources and member support, and holding ourselves to the highest artistic standards. Taking a holistic approach to the music industry, the Cooperative is pioneering a new approach to industry infrastructure with an artist owned and operated cooperative record label.
COOPERATION: A HOLISTIC APPROACH
In today's modern digital age, the DIY model is the standard and the major label record contract is no longer necessary to the modern artist. Bands are booking their own tours, producing and distributing their own music, selling their own merch. To the independent artist, there still remain certain barriers to success such as the costs of self-production and distribution, the lack of industry networks and promotions, inexperience and lack of self-critique. Kerr and Vautour understood that at the heart of any vibrant music scene is a healthy community, and to develop and grow as an artist required the help of other musicians, venue bookers, record labels, videographers, journalists, T-Shirt vendors, and the myriad of other layers of the music ecosystem. The Canadian Music Cooperative grew out of this sense of interconnectedness and interdependence.
By pooling their resources, network connections, and knowledge and experience, the members of the CMC can overcome the obstacles to career growth and longevity. Members have access to CMC mentor's recording studios based in Toronto and in Moncton, New Brunswick, as well as their production/engineering services at highly reduced, nominal rates. By reducing the expenses of production costs /of purchasing studio gear, members benefit by having a product to sell with a much lower initial financial investment. Members also benefit from the network connections of the CMC by booking tours and shows through other members, as well as harnessing media and social network promotions. Members can also support other members on tour by arranging accommodations, saving the cost of hotels. To help develop and promote other CMC members, Cooperative members offer their skills and experience, such as production advice, mastering, performance coaching, songwriting collaborations and critiques, career coaching, and management.
When performing any service that helps a CMC member, our members earn credits. Credits can be earned by producing, mixing, mastering, by booking shows for any CMC artist, by songwriting for other CMC artists, by arranging travel accommodations, by discovering and signing news acts to the label, designing a CD cover, etc. In the spirit of DIY, the CMC members take on the roles of producer, booking agent, web designer, manager, A&R rep, tour manager, art department, marketing, PR/social media, and stylist. Credits are earned by performing any service that benefits the label. All revenues earned by the CMC through its artists will be put into a pool at the end of the fiscal year and distributed equally to all the credits that were earned by members. The more you help other members of the Cooperative, and your own act, the more revenue you earn based on your credits earned. This incentivizes cooperation and will foster friendships and partnerships between the members. Credits may also be bartered between members in exchange for services, such as session work, mixing, etc. The CMC has created an infrastructure that allows artists to develop with much smaller financial investments, while promoting longevity through community support.
CONNECTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY
A healthy music ecosystem starts with our youth. One of the principles of the CMC is education outreach. In partnership with Studio Chez Louis, the CMC has developed an education program aimed at New Canadians, to preserve and educate traditional music systems from around the world, specifically targeting the Hindustani, Arabic, and Chinese music communities, encouraging cross-cultural exchange.
Another program spearheaded by the CMC is the LISTEN LOCAL education and outreach campaign. When looking at current Canadian Content rules, there are many areas that could be improved. The LISTEN LOCAL campaign works with local music communities as well as local business organizations to encourage radio stations and venues to promote more local, original content. By promoting more local music, the licensing fees paid to SOCAN by venues and radio stations can come back to the local artists, driving not only the local music scene, but also benefiting the local economy as a whole.