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Proposals to introduce neighbouring rights in copyright legislation would require radio to pay substantial new fees to artists and recording companies. Big Canadian music stars would get richer, but local radio and Canadian communities would foot the bill with lost jobs, service cutbacks and station closures.

Radio airplay has made many talented Canadian performers rich and world famous.

Radio can't afford neighbouring rights. Despite cutting costs to the bone, the industry lost $28 million in 1994 -- $180 million over the past five years.

Canada's music industry is healthy and booming. It enjoyed a $140 million profit in 1994.

Only the big stars would gain much from the copyright reform bill. Struggling emerging artists who need help most would get a meagre 2% of the money.

At least half of neighbouring rights money would flow to foreign artists and recording companies.

Broadcasters agree Canadian artists have a right to own their works and be adequately paid. Radio stations:

• Support neighbouring rights for new technologies
• Generously compensate performers with free air play
• Help sell millions of CDs and tapes through airplay and promotion
• Pay $22 million a year in music copyright fees today
• Meet and often exceed Canadian content quotas
• Seek out and promote local amateur talent
• Support a tape levy to offset music industry losses to illegal tape copying
• Spend millions developing new talent through support to music organizations

The U.S. recently recognized radio's value to the music industry with a complete exemption for radio in their neighbouring rights legislation. Exempting only small stations isn't the answer. Losses are spread across all station sizes.

Canada's hundreds of local broadcasters urge all MPs to support a neighbouring rights exemption for local radio.

Doug Ackhurst, President, Ontario Association of Broadcasters

Michel Arpin, President, Association canadienne de la radio et de la télévision de langue française

Donald Brown, President, Atlantic Association of Broadcasters

Vic Dubois, President, Saskatchewan Association of Broadcasters

Barry Duggan, President, Alberta Broadcasters Association

Ron Kizney, Vice-President, Western Association of Broadcasters

Johnny Lombardi, President, Canadian Association of Ethnic Broadcasters

Erin Petrie, President, British Columbia Association of Broadcasters

Bryan Stone, President, Broadcasting Association of Manitoba

Michael McCabe, President, Canadian Association of Broadcasters

Thank you for standing up for local radio.