OTTAWA – The federal broadcast regulator begins a hearing today to look at which Canadian content obligations should apply to music streamers like Spotify.

Streaming services argue their current efforts to promote Canadian culture — and the royalties they pay — are good enough. Radio broadcasters, meanwhile, say their sector is in serious decline and they want the CRTC to take a lighter regulatory touch for traditional players.

Both sides are set to make their arguments during five days of hearings in Gatineau, Que., between now and Sept. 29.

The hearings are part of a series of CRTC proceedings to implement the Online Streaming Act, legislation that updated broadcasting laws to capture online platforms.

The federal government is under heavy pressure from the United States to scrap the

See Full Page