Canada Post Celebrates Juno’s 50th
Canada Post has released a series of stamps celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Juno Awards, which will air on June 6th, 2021 on CBC TV, CBC GEM, CBC Radio One and globally on CBCmusic.ca/junos.
Ed The Sock Returns With New Channel
My Indiegogo for NewMusicNation is live! Help me launch the spiritual successor to Muchmusic, updated with a focus on independent music & artists! Here's the link: https://t.co/8s3xpR7rgp RT RT RT! pic.twitter.com/zGYCz7b9mI
— Ed the Sock (@EdtheSock) April 1, 2021
FYE Expands Into Canada
Entertainment retailer FYE has just opened a store in the Rideau Centre in Downtown Ottawa.
They offer film and music on various formats, as well as memorabilia from film, television and music. But it should be noted that FYE’s current American web site does not yet ship to Canada.
This American retailer had been purchased from Trans World Entertainment by Sunrise Records in February 2020 for 10 million dollars according to Billboard.
Great News For Newfoundland Collectors
Record Fair NL has been scheduled for May 16th, 2021. Click here for details.
The Taxman Cometh
The Canadian government is again considering a digital services tax on foreign services like Google Play, Netflix, Prime Video and Spotify, whose operations are not based in Canada.
Unlike Cineplex and Apple/iTunes, these companies are not compelled by law to collect taxes on their services because they have no physical presence in the country, no Canadian subsidiary, and simply broadcast services to Canada.
The CRTC had ruled against a Netflix Tax in March 2015 and in June 2018 the federal government had passed on implementing the tax. But the provincial governments of Quebec and Saskatchewan have collected provincial sales tax on these services since January 2019 and British Columbia followed suit in July 2020, setting a precedent that could ease the introduction of a federal tax.
Monthly subscriptions could get costly for some but I suspect these services will continue offering incentives and promotions to keep their clientele.
Discounts and bonus rewards are usually offered on gift card purchases throughout the year, some of which are considerable.
For example, Shoppers Optimum points users will get 7500 points when they purchase $50 iTunes cards from select Shoppers Drug Mart stores until December 11th, 2020. And the same offer will be made available to some users who purchase $50 iTunes gift cards at select Real Canadian Superstore locations from December 10th to December 16th, 2020.
I occasionally encounter similar offers for discounts and bonus points for Google Play, Netflix and Spotify gift cards. And in regards to Prime Video and Prime Music, these services are made available free to Amazon Prime members.
Apple TV is also offered free for a year on new Apple product purchases so some relief can be had on some digital purchases and subscriptions. But I don’t think the tax will be implemented for some time.
The provinces that have yet to implement a provincial sales tax on these services will likely wish to discuss the possibility of a Harmonized Sales Tax so I suspect our foreign digital services won’t be taxed until July 1st, 2021 or January 1st, 2022.
Fall Conventions Cancelled
Record conventions in Ontario that were scheduled for the Fall are being cancelled due to COVID-19. These include:
- The Guelph Record and Music Collectible show (09/20)
- Newmarket Vinyl Record & Collectibles Show (10/20)
- The St. Catherines Record Show (11/08)
- Toronto West Vinyl Record & Collectibles Show (12/8)
Unfortunately, these events are dependant on crowds and safety could therefore not be guaranteed at these events.
I suspect events outside of Ontario will also be concerned over these concerns. Please contact the convention operators for details.