The Weakerthans, Billy Talent and Sum 41 are some of the newest artists signing up for the Canadian Music Creators Coalition. The 180-member group seeks to keep Canada from adopting laws that will allow companies and government to embark on lawsuits against music fans.

Their claims are apparently falling on deaf ears as politician Jim Prentice is currently in the process of pushing through an aggressive new copyright bill that will increase penalties and do away with simple concepts like “format shifting.” The latter right allows people to move their CDs onto MP3 players like iPods.

The whole situation is curious as one of the most common arguments presented by the pro-copyright agencies is that they seek to help and nurture artists. With so many major Canadian artists – like the Barenaked Ladies and Avril Lavigne – already signed on to the CMCC, one begins to wonder who the bill and the government are actually interested in supporting.
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With the new that they haven’t been nominated for a Grammy this year, Fall Out Boy‘s Pete Wentz has posted a reaction the nominees:

It shouldnt mean much. (Almost) no one in this industry has vision beyond the fear that this week is their last paycheck. We want our songs to be immortal and a statue doesnt do anything to help them live forever. It is the people that live and die with them in their ears and throats that give them life. We won’t lie to you, accolades from our peers feel great.

However, a fifty year old white man shouldnt decide whether we are relevant or not- and he doesn’t.

Wentz does raise an important point though. Are the Grammy’s relevant? Do the awards represent anything more than the opinion of an elite set of rock critics or are they meaningful as something beyond a boost in album sales?
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Pennsylvania-based hardcore act The Minor Times have called it a day. The band, who issued material on Level Plane and Prosthetic made the announcement:

We’re sad to announce today that the band is coming to an end. No bad blood or anything of that nature was involved in this decision; it’s simply time for us to move on. We’d like to thank everyone who was kind enough to support us through this amazing six year run. The last two songs we wrote as a band will be available early next year via a split 12″ with Rosetta on Relapse Records. We’ll also be playing one final show in our hometown of Lansdale, PA. Details for that should follow shortly.

The band released Making Enemies in 2004 and their final record, Summer of Wolves, this year.
Source Continue reading The Minor Times (2001-2007) →

It looks like the recently announced Bad Religion dates are unlikely to stretch into a full tour. Some astute readers of The Bad Religion Page found frontman Greg Graffin’s course load and it looks like the good Professor will be quite busy teaching through the Winter semester at UCLA.

Dr.Graffin is a Life Sciences professor at the university, having received his Ph.D. from Cornell University.
Source Continue reading Bad Religion unlikely to tour extensively in early 2008 →

There has been quite a bit of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones news lately, but considering they were on hiatus forever, consider this making up for lost time.

Today, it was announced that Mi145.com, the site that has been hosting the Throwdown video series, will also be making the performance available in its entirety on Mi145 in February.

Along with the broadcast, the video channel is documenting the Bosstones as they headline five nights at the Middle East in Cambridge from December 26 to December 30 with episodes to be shown in January 2008.
Source Continue reading Mi145 to broadcast Bosstones reunion… in 2008 →

After a period of inactivity, NJ hardcore act Ensign will be headed out to California for the first time since 2002. The band adds:

We’re still putting the finishing touches on this, I can honestly say that we are really excited about this and aren’t exactly sure how in the hell so much time has slipped by since we were last out there. an obvious oversight on our behalf and we’re looking to make up for it.

Source Continue reading Tours: Ensign (California) →

The Red Chord, Job For A Cowboy and Skeletonwitch will be touring together in early 2008.

Source Continue reading Tours: The Red Chord / Job for a Cowboy →

Bedouin Soundclash have announced a US tour set to kick off in late January. The band will be supporting Street Gospels on the run which will also include Hellcat act Westbound Train and the UK’s Beat Union.

Source Continue reading Tours: Bedouin Soundclash / Westbound Train / Beat Union →

With their 4th Annual Countdown to St.Patrick’s Day tour set to kick off in February, Flogging Molly have also announced a release date for their next studio record. It is titled Float and is due out March 04, 2008.

It is the follow-up to the Whiskey on a Sunday CD+DVD which was released in 2006 and their last studio album, Within A Mile Of Home released in 2004.
Source Continue reading Flogging Molly plan “Float” for March →

Power-pop/pop-punk outfit Karmella’s Game have joined Insubordination Records. The label will begin by re-releasing KG’s debut EP What He Doesn’t Know Won’t Hurt Him as well as the band’s last album, The Art of Distraction. In 2008, the band will also be issuing a new full length.

You can check out songs from their past releases on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading Karmella’s Game join Insubordination Records →

Toronto’s Hostage Life will be releasing a new 7-inch single titled White Jesus in early 2008. The four song disc includes three new tracks, “White Jesus,” “New Drugs” and “Young Wards” and adds a cover of Wire‘s classic “Mr.Suit” from Pink Flag.

You can check out the a-sides on their myspace page.

The disc will be available via Black Pint Records.
Source Continue reading The Hostage Life: “White Jesus” →

Underground Operations has signed Cobourg, Ontario’s These Silhouettes. The band will be releasing their first record on December 18th, 2007 entitled, The Thomas EP.

The disc will only be made available through Underground Operations’ online merchandise store in digital and limited disc form, and at the band’s merch table when they hit the road with Protest the Hero.

You can check out some music on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading These Silhouettes join Underground Operations →