When CanCon rules were first introduced here in the 70s, despite massive opposition from stations like CHUM and others, it was designed to boost local artists. And love it or hate it, it’s hard to argue that the 30% playlist requirement didn’t achieve that objective.
 
Which brings us to Australia, which also has music quotas for its radio stations. The government there is currently considering changes to those rules, but I had no idea how complicated they currently are. Check out this list from The Guardian newspaper:
 
“Mainstream rock, contemporary hits, top 40 and alternative stations already have a 25% quota.
 
But “mainstream adult contemporary” and classic rock stations have a 20% quota; “soft adult contemporary” and “hits and memories” stations have a 15% quota; and “easy listening” channels have 10%...
 
"The inquiry heard that the difference between “classic rock” (20%), “gold – classic hits” (15%) and “easy” (10%) was unclear and “not defined anywhere within the code”.
 
Imagine having to try to figure all that out, especially if you’re considering changing formats. Not to mention how to beat the system. Some stations were playing the Down Under musicians only in the late night hours, Sound familiar to the early days of CanCon?
 
And then there are those who tried to find other creative ways of stretching the regs. From the same article:
 
"One submission said a young music director was incorrectly under the impression a Justin Bieber song was “Australian content because it was produced in Melbourne”.
 
Justin Bieber, Australian? Who knew?
 
The authorities now want changes that would force everyone to play 25% Aussie content between 6AM and 6 PM, regardless of format.
 
And we thought we had it bad! Something to think about the next time you hear Anne Murray, Gordon Lightfoot or Nickelback. 
 
The Guardian: Commercial radio should play at least 25% Australian music, inquiry told