Canadian music industry claims to love "free market," but sucks greedily at govt teat

The Canadian music industry's mouthpiece has a real hate-on for "alternative compensation schemes" -- systems that legalize filesharing through flat fees paid by Internet users. In fact, he implies that the proponents of these systems are Communists (amazing how Red-baiting is back in vogue these days, between Bill Gates and these guys), and wraps himself in the Free Market Flag, calling for music that's free from "government intervention." This week, Michael Geist picks up the story in his Toronto Star column, and neatly dissects the music industry's claims of hating government intervention and loving the free market.

Since a market-based approach to music would presumably lead to no government funding, the industry has unsurprisingly ignored its own advice and sought millions of dollars in taxpayer assistance. For example, at last November's music lobby day on Parliament Hill, the industry urged the government to expand its scope and funding of the Canada Music Fund, calling for at least $35 million in annual support.

Not only does the industry rely heavily on government financial support, it also looks to government to intervene in the marketplace by establishing new rules that provide protection against upstarts that threaten longstanding business models.

Link (Thanks, Michael!)