TORONTO — Until 1971, if one were to turn to “The Big 8” — CKLW in Windsor, Ontario — or Top 30 giant CHUM-AM in Toronto — chances are any Canadian artists would have been completely ignored. To help give home-grown talent exposure via radio, something the NAB is arguing in the U.S. is vitally important as it works to stop the “American Music Freedom Act” from gaining steam in Congress, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission created the first incarnation of what has become known as “CanCon.”
Shorthand for Canadian content rules, a “MAPL” system was established that put required airplay percentages of Canadian recording artists in place. On Wednesday, those rules were amended — along with a small thawing of local ownership restrictions, something the NAB wants the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to engage in.
