FMC | Policy Summit 2006

About the Policy Summit	Francais

Photos from 2005 Policy Summit by Maria T. Sciarrino

Moving into its sixth year in 2006, the FMC Policy Summit is a forum for musicians, lawyers, academics, policymakers and music industry executives to come together to discuss and debate some of the most contentious issues surrounding digital technology, artists’ rights and the current state of the music industry.

Widely praised by advocates and industry alike, FMC’s Policy Summit has built a reputation as “a kind of Geneva where all sides in any number of contentious music industry fights can get together and play nice for a few days.” Even more importantly, the Policy Summits offer policymakers “a rare opportunity to hear musicians articulate their concerns in person instead of relying on competing lobbying groups that claim to espouse their interests” (Washington Post, May 6, 2004).

It is our continuing goal to bring the best and brightest people together to discuss the most critical issues impacting our community. The Summit’s events direct the agenda towards guarding the value of music for musicians, and guarding access to music for music consumers. In addition, we look to the future and discuss the various models the music industry might adopt in coming years.

It is our belief that by continuing to organize events such as this one we will help the media, citizens, creators and our elected officials and policy makers have a more sophisticated understanding of the opportunities and effects of these new technologies on guarding the value of music for musicians, and guarding access to music for citizens.

About McGill University, Schulich School of Music

With over 800 students, the Schulich School of Music has been named one of the top 12 music schools in North America. McGill has developed into Canada's artistic and academic leader for professional training and research in music. At McGill's Schulich School of Music, the art of music making and the science of music research work in tandem for the advancement of learning through musical experience. Building on these combined strengths, McGill's goal is to develop musicians who are as comfortable in the recording studio and research lab as they are on the performing stage, and scientific researchers in music who are as sensitive to artistic complexity as they are to scientific outcomes.

About Pop Montreal

Launched by friends and colleagues in 2002, Pop Montreal is an annual not-for-profit curated cultural event that champions independence in the arts by presenting emerging and celebrated artistic talents from Quebec, Canada and around the world. Set in a multi-lingual environment, each year this 5-day festival presents more than 400 artistic talents to over 37,000 fans, delivering a bold cross-section of art forms and events including symposium discussions, artisan and visual art exhibitions, and special immersive performances, providing a dynamic introduction to the next generation of musical talent and independent art forms.

Serving independent artists and cultural entrepreneurs, the festival stems from do-it-yourself Pop culture roots and connects with a young, media-immersed audience base to deliver art that is unexpected, engaging and boundary breaking. Challenging both existing industry-driven and niche-festival models, Pop Montreal has created a conduit for emerging talent to gain more popular acceptance and to strengthen the viability of long-term professional artistic careers. Pop Montreal encourages audiences to share in these events whereby they can experience something courageous and new. With a strong curatorial vision, Pop crosses genre and art-forms, seeking art that explores life and manifests the intangible.

"The most brilliant bit of festival programming ever."
-Now Magazine

“Outright inspirational”
-The Gazette

“If for only one week, Montréal truly lives up to its hype of being Canada’s musical mecca.”
-Eye Weekly

“Pop Montréal may just about be the best festival you’ve never heard of”
-Fused Magazine (UK)

“If you actually like watching music the way normal people do, Pop Montréal is a godsend.”
-National Post