Canada’s indie distributors start their own label:

Recent arrivals have included Toronto-based Koch Entertainment Canada’s imprint Koch Records (rock, country and urban music); Hamilton, Ont.-based Sonic Distribution’s joint venture with EMI Canada, Labwork Music (alternative); and Montreal-based Distribution Fusion III’s Secret City Records (roots/alternative).
Interesting factoid: According to Nielsen SoundScan, independently distributed labels have collectively accounted for 19.1 per cent of Canada’s retail sales so far this year, ahead of every major except Universal (37.5 per cent).

Mardeen on ChartAttack:

Halifax alternative rock band Mardeen have a handful of tour dates to showcase songs ahead of the release of their full-length debut, Read Less Minds.

The album will be available digitally through Zunior.com on June 7 and will come out on CD on July 24 via In-Between and Collegen Rock Records.

Stopping fans from sharing music is doomed to failure: EFF

“The ’social’ ripping and burning of CDs among friends — which takes place offline and almost entirely out of reach of industry policing efforts — accounted for 37 percent of all music consumption, more than file-sharing, NPD said.”

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