Just as the Entertainment Industries Summit begins in Toronto, I received a press release from the Canadian Music Creators Coalition (CMCC) that responds to two events of recent weeks: the US$222,000 judgement against Minnesota mother of two, Jammie Thomas, for the downloading of US$25 worth of music; and the Canadian government’s plans to make copyright reform a priority as announced in last week’s throne speech.

Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies is a spokesperson for the coalition and is brilliantly quoted in the release.

“It’s shortsighted to say ‘See you in court’ one day and ‘See you at Massey Hall’ the next. If record labels want to try and sue fans, we hope that they’ll have the courtesy to stop trying to do it in our names.”

One can only hope that the CMCC can have an impact on the industry-friendly Conservative government. To them, Stephen Page said “If the Canadian government wants to reform copyright it should be creating a made-in-Canada solution that looks to where the music industry is going, not where it was.”

For more information on the coalition, visit the CMCC website and listen to an interview with Steven Page on the CMCC.

Considering I was originally blog-tagged four days ago by Bill Deys (and then two days ago by Charles Cadenhead), I would say that I’m decidedly late getting this post out.  I will spare you the excuses.  However, since I’m so late on the game for this one, I’m reluctant to tag anyone else since I’m probably the last one on the Internet to respond to this.

So, without further delay and in no particular order, here are my seven favourite songs based on current listening habits:

Sting - Fortress Around Your Heart
Xavier Rudd - Messages
The Police - Hole In My Life
Barenaked Ladies - Vanishing
Jack Johnson - Upside Down
Genesis - Trick of the Tail
Colin Hay - Waiting for My Real Life to Begin
Masters of Reality - She Got Me (When She Got Her Dress On)