RIP Pierre Juneau

I talk a lot about Canadian music on this blog, sometimes positively and sometimes negatively. But, Canada wouldn't even have its own music if it weren't for Pierre Juneau. Juneau died today at the age of 89.

Juneau was the first president of the CRTC and championed the idea of Canadian Content. For those not familiar, Canadian Content (or Cancon) laws dictate that a certain amount of Canadian content must be broadcast on Canadian stations, either radio or TV. It also concerned itself with the ownership of Canadian stations, ensuring that Canadian media would be created by Canadians for Canadians.

Under Juneau's watch, in 1970, Canadian music radio was required to broadcast at least 35% Canadian content. He was also an early supporter of the National Film Board, which produced a huge amount of Canadian-oriented short and long films. In 1982, he took over as president of the CBC, forming the cable news channel CBC Newsworld and mandating that 95% of CBC's radio content be produced in Canada. Juneau also held 4 honorary degrees and was an officer of the Order of Canada

Through Cancon laws, Juneau allowed the Canadian music industry to establish itself and to grow into what it is today. Without Cancon laws, we wouldn't have the thriving Canadian music industry, both the big names and the tiny bands working out of their garages. Nor would we have a Canadian movie or TV industry. There would be no chance to hear new Canadian music on a Canadian radio station.

I run down Cancon laws a lot, mostly in the way they are used to homogenize commercial radio. But, without Cancon laws, I wouldn't have any complaints about Canadian music. I'd likely be complaining about how many American artists are on our radio waves.

The Canadian music award, the Juno, is named after Pierre Juneau. There were few men more passionate about Canadian culture than Juneau. His presence in Canadian culture was towering and he will be sorely missed.