|
Public Notice CRTC 2000-14
|
|
Ottawa, 28 January 2000 |
|
Revised content categories and
subcategories for radio
|
|
Summary
|
|
In Public Notice CRTC 1999-76, the
Commission called for comments on its proposals for revisions to the music categories
contained in the appendix to Public Notice CRTC 1991-19 entitled
Implementation of the FM Policy. Music categories are used by the Commission and
its radio licensees for the purpose of classifying musical selections and defining station
formats.
|
|
The Commission received eight written
submissions from interested parties concerning the proposed revisions. While one party
expressed the view that music categories were unnecessary, the remainder supported the
proposed revisions in principle. The general view was that they would add clarity to the
music definitions and promote the emergence of musical styles that are not widely
programmed by radio. Several parties took the opportunity to propose additional changes to
the definitions, the main ones being the addition of various new and emerging genres of
music as subcategories of Category 2 (Popular Music); further broadening and
clarification of the Folk and Folk-oriented, and the Jazz and Jazz-oriented subcategories;
and a broadened definition of world beat music.
|
|
This document concludes the review
announced in Public Notice CRTC 1999-76. The content categories and subcategories appended
to the present notice, including the revised definitions for Category 2 and
Category 3 (Special Interest Music), will replace those set out in the appendix to
Public Notice CRTC 1991-19. In the following sections of
this notice, the Commission outlines the changes it has made to the definitions as
originally proposed, and examines the implications of the revised music definitions for
the radio industry.
|
|
Changes made in response to comments
received
|
1.
|
The changes proposed by the Commission to the
music definitions in Public Notice CRTC 1999-76 include placing all folk and
folk-oriented music into Category 3 (Special Interest Music); placing all jazz and
jazz-oriented music into Category 3 and; adding World beat and international music as a
new subcategory of Category 3. |
2.
|
In the Commission's view, it is appropriate to
place World beat and international music in its own subcategory of Special Interest Music
for three main reasons. First, the inventory of world beat and international music is vast
and its popularity is growing in Canada. In addition, although PN 1999-76 included world
beat music in the Folk and Folk-oriented subcategory, much of the world beat music that is
programmed by radio and sold in stores is not folk music, but popular music and music from
the classical music traditions. Further, the creation of the World Beat and International
Music subcategory may be helpful to ethnic stations in describing their music programming.
|
3.
|
The Commission has considered a proposal that
the number of music genres identified in the definitions be expanded, and acknowledges
that some music genres have been omitted from the revised musical categories.
Nevertheless, the Commission is satisfied that the revised categories provide a
comprehensive and flexible framework for identifying the music genres that are generally
played by radio stations. Moreover, the Commission is confident that these new definitions
will solve many of the difficulties that broadcasters have encountered in determining
whether selections fall into Category 2 or Category 3.
|
4.
|
Whether from a musicological or programming
perspective, it is inevitable that some selections will not fall clearly into a single
category. In such cases, as proposed in PN 1999-76, the Commission will consider factors
such as the context of the program within which a selection is played to determine whether
it falls into Category 2 or Category 3. For example, a musical selection that does not
fall clearly into either Category 2 or Category 3, but which is played during a block
program that features a specific Category 3 genre such as Jazz, would generally be
considered to be a Category 3 selection. |
|
Implications of the revised
music definitions
|
5.
|
The Commission considers that the revised
definition of Category 2 music will not significantly alter the number of Canadian
selections that are available to commercial broadcasters that program pop, rock, dance or
country music. In this regard, the Commission notes that only minimal changes have been
made to the Pop, rock and dance subcategory, the Country and country-oriented subcategory,
and the Easy listening subcategory - these being the three music subcategories that
commercial broadcasters program almost exclusively.
|
6.
|
On the other hand, the transfer from the
Popular Music category (Category 2) to the Special Interest category (Category 3) of some
music genres that broadcasters generally do not program will result in an increase in the
number of both Canadian and non-Canadian musical selections available
to broadcasters that program Category 3 music.
|
|
Implications for campus and
community stations
|
7.
|
In separate notices issued today (Public
Notices CRTC 2000-12 and 2000-13)
the Commission sets out its revised policies for campus radio and for community radio.
Both policy documents take into account the various changes to the music definitions set
out in the present notice. |
8.
|
As noted above, the changes to the music
definitions will result in an increase in the number of selections, both Canadian and
non-Canadian, in a variety of subcategories, that will now fall into Category 3. Campus
and community stations should thus be able to meet their Category 3 requirements more
easily.
|
|
Implications for stations
operating in the Specialty format
|
9.
|
Musical subcategories are currently used to
define the Specialty station format. Accordingly, the definition of the Specialty format
will be changed to reflect the new music categories. In particular, the third criterion
will be changed to read: "less than 70% of the music broadcast is from Category 2
(Popular Music)."
|
10.
|
The Commission is satisfied that the proposed
changes to the music categories should not affect the ability of a licensee operating in
the Specialty format to meet its commitments. Accordingly, commercial stations whose
commitments include the programming of more than 30% Category 3 music will not be invited
to submit revised commitments during their existing licence term.
|
|
Implications for ethnic
stations and ethnic program periods
|
11.
|
As noted above, the Commission considers that
the creation of a subcategory for world beat and international music will enable ethnic
stations, or stations programming ethnic program blocks, to describe their music
programming with greater ease.
|
12.
|
The Commission notes in this regard that,
while the Canadian content requirement for Category 3 music in each broadcast week is 10%
(12% in the case of campus and community radio stations, in accordance with today's
revised policies for those types of stations), the Canadian content level for an ethnic
programming period is 7%. World beat and international music selections will be considered
in most instances to be Category 3 music and subject to the weekly Canadian content
requirement. Nevertheless, stations that broadcast ethnic programming periods will
continue to have the option to program Canadian content at the lower level of 7% during
ethnic programming periods. Further clarification of the Canadian content requirements for
ethnic broadcasters and others broadcasting ethnic program periods is contained in the
Commission's Ethnic Broadcasting Policy (Public Notice CRTC 1999-117).
|
13.
|
The Commission considers that the changes to
the music definitions should not affect the abilities of ethnic stations and stations that
broadcast ethnic program periods to meet their existing commitments. Accordingly, they
will not be invited to submit revised commitments in these areas during their existing
licence term.
|
|
Changes to the Regulations
|
14.
|
The content categories and subcategories
contained in the appendix to this notice, including the revisions to Category 2 and
Category 3 music discussed herein, will replace the content categories set out in the
appendix to Public Notice CRTC 1991-19 entitled Implementation
of an FM Policy. The Commission will propose amendments to the Radio Regulations,
1986 for the purpose of removing all references to the appendix to Public Notice CRTC 1991-19, and replacing them with references to the appendix
to the present notice. The new music categories will apply once the proposed regulatory
amendments mentioned above come into force.
|
|
Related CRTC documents Public
Notice CRTC 1991-19 - Implementation of an FM Policy
Public
Notice CRTC 1998-41 - Commercial Radio Policy 1998
Public
Notice CRTC 1998-80 - Proposed Regulations Amending the
Radio Regulations, 1986 -Commercial Radio Programming
Public
Notice CRTC 1999-30 - Call for comments on a proposed
new policy for campus radio
Public
Notice CRTC 1999-75- A proposed policy for community
radio
Public Notice CRTC 1999-76 - Call for comments on proposed revised music
categories
Public Notice CRTC 1999-117 - Ethnic
broadcasting policy
|
|
Secretary General
|
|
This notice is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be viewed at the
following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca |
Appendix / Annexe
|
Content categories and subcategories
|
|
Category 1 - Spoken Word
|
|
This category includes the following two
subcategories:
|
|
Subcategory 11: News
|
|
The recounting and reporting of local,
regional, national and international events of the day or recent days, with particular
emphasis on the topicality of the events or situations selected, or on the constant
updating of information, or both as well as background material about current events when
included in newscasts but excluding weather, traffic and sports and entertainment reports.
|
|
Subcategory 12: Spoken
word-other
|
|
All programming with the exception of material
falling under subcategory 11-News and categories 2, 3, 4 and 5 (Popular Music, Special
Interest Music, Musical Production and Advertising).
|
|
Category 2 - Popular Music
|
|
This encompasses musical selections in the
genres or groups of genres set out below:
|
|
Subcategory 21: Pop, rock and
dance
|
|
This refers to music from the entire pop, rock
and dance music spectrum. Examples include all types of rock music, including soft rock,
hard rock, classic rock, heavy metal, modern rock, alternative rock, jazz rock, folk rock,
and blues rock. It also includes pop, rock & roll, rhythm & blues from the fifties
and sixties, soul, dance, techno, rap, hiphop, urban, and contemporary rhythm & blues.
This includes musical selections listed in charts such as AC (Adult Contemporary), Hot AC,
Pop Adult, AOR (Album-Oriented Rock), CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio), Alternative, Modern,
Adult Alternative, Active Rock, Dance, R&B, Urban, and Techno, compiled and published
by music trade publications.
|
|
Subcategory 22: Country and
country-oriented
|
|
This includes country & western, country
music recorded since the 1950s, new country, and other country-oriented styles. It
includes musical selections listed in Country charts compiled and published by music trade
publications.
|
|
Subcategory 23: Acoustic
|
|
This refers to music performed in an acoustic
style that draws largely from Category 2 Popular music genres.
|
|
Subcategory 24: Easy listening
|
|
Easy listening includes easy listening
instrumentals, adult standards, middle-of-the-road and beautiful music.
|
|
Category 3 - Special Interest
Music
|
|
This encompasses musical selections in the
genres or groups of genres set out below:
|
|
Subcategory 31: Concert
|
|
Concert music includes the whole spectrum of
the "classical" music traditions, including opera and operetta. It also includes
extended dramatic excerpts of popular musical theatre when performed in a full-cast
version. It does not include orchestrations of "popular music", however
classical in form.
|
|
Subscategory 32: Folk and
folk-oriented
|
|
This genre includes authentic, traditional
folk music, as well as contemporary folk-oriented music, that draw substantially on
traditional folk music in style and performance. It includes old-time country music
recorded before the 1950s, and traditional bluegrass.
|
|
Subcategory 33: World beat and
international
|
|
This genre includes world beat music that
draws heavily from the traditional music styles of countries throughout the world. It also
includes music from the popular, folk and classical music traditions of countries
throughout the world that are played in instrumental form or sung in languages other than
English and French.
|
|
Subcategory
34: Jazz and blues |
|
This includes both historic and contemporary
music in the jazz and blues traditions. Examples of music in the jazz tradition include
ragtime, Dixieland, "golden age" swing, modern swing, bebop, "cool"
jazz, modern, avant-garde, Latin-oriented jazz, jazz-funk, soft contemporary jazz,
contemporary jazz fusion and other contemporary and emerging jazz styles. Examples of
music in the blues tradition include classic blues, delta blues, Chicago blues, and
contemporary blues music.
|
|
Subcategory
35: Non-classic religious
|
|
This refers to music of religious faiths. It
also includes gospel music, hymns, and contemporary Christian music.
|
|
Category 4 - Musical
Production
|
|
Musical matter broadcast by a station to
identify itself or any of the components of its programming, including musical linking
devices used to highlight elements of the broadcast service. For greater particularity,
this category includes the following five subcategories:
|
|
Subcategory 41: Musical
themes, bridges and stingers
|
|
Musical selections used to identify particular
program segments, or to extend programming segments to the end of their allotted time as
well as applause, brief musical and other sound effects intended to punctuate the
presentation of other broadcast matter, where this matter is less than one minute in
duration.
|
|
Subcategory 42: Technical
tests
|
|
Broadcast matter intended to be used for the
purposes of technical tests by the station or its listeners. |
|
Subcategory 43: Musical
station identification
|
|
Short musical selections designed to identify
the station by call letters or frequency.
|
|
Subcategory 44: Musical
identification of announcers, programs
|
|
Musical material identifying and accompanying
the use of specific announcers, programs or programming elements.
|
|
Subcategory 45: Musical
promotion of announcers, programs |
|
Musical material promoting increased listening
to specific announcers, programs or programming elements. |
|
Category 5 - Advertising |
|
Broadcast matter intended to promote services
or products offered to the public by persons normally advertising in the course of their
business. For greater particularity, this category includes the following three
subcategories:
|
|
Subcategory 51: Commercial
announcement
|
|
A commercial announcement for a business,
product or service, presented in return for consideration. |
|
Subcategory 52: Sponsor
identification
|
|
Identification of the sponsor of a program or
program segment other than under subcategories 51 and 53.
|
|
Subcategory 53: Promotion with
sponsor mention:
|
|
Verbal or musical material promoting increased
listening to the station or to specific announcers, programs or programming elements, when
accompanied by the identification of a sponsor. |
|