Source: Winnipeg Free Press

TORONTO - Outgoing MuchFACT chairman Bernie Finkelstein says he can't support MuchMusic's move to decrease funding for independent Canadian artists.

Finkelstein announced Tuesday that he's stepping down as chair of MuchFACT — which gives money to Canuck musicians to help them produce music videos and websites — after more than 26 years.

Over the past year, MuchMusic has campaigned to the CRTC for changes to its licence. The network wants to air fewer music videos in favour of more teen-focused "lifestyle" programming, and it wants to cut the amount of money owed to MuchFACT in half.

While Finkelstein says his decision to step down has nothing to do with those changes, he's also clear that he doesn't agree with Much's decision.

"I can't support the idea that they're going to fund (MuchFACT) less just because they want to play less videos," Finkelstein said in a telephone interview.

Many of the licence changes initially requested by MuchMusic were struck down by the CRTC in November, but the network has applied again and is seeking the same alterations.

MuchFACT is funded entirely by MuchMusic and MuchMore, and provides grants for Canadian artists, independent record labels and artist management companies. Applications for funds are judged by the organization's six-person board of directors, which currently includes Farley Flex as well as executives from MuchMusic.

The type of licence Much holds with the CRTC — called a "Category A" — is rarely granted anymore. Such a licence essentially guarantees distribution of the network across all cable and satellite firms in Canada.

Because of that, Finkelstein says the network has an obligation to give back.

"My opinion is that MuchMusic has a privileged position in the marketplace," Finkelstein said.

"And in return for those privileges come responsibilities. And it's my sense that one of those responsibilities is to support the Canadian music business, and one of the major ways they do that is through funding MuchFACT."

Brad Schwartz, senior vice-president of Much MTV Group, says the network will still be contributing millions of dollars to MuchFACT even with the proposed changes. But the rest of the funds should be directed toward "music content that actually rates," he said.

When MuchFACT launched, it was designed to help artists and create content for Much, which needed new videos from Canadian artists. Now that videos are becoming a smaller part of Much's programming, Schwartz says it makes sense to focus that money elsewhere.

"As MuchMusic's revenues have fallen over the past five years, our contributions to MuchFACT fall with it," he said. "Although we're saying we'd like to spend less on MuchFACT, we're hoping that less will actually start growing."

Finkelstein, a 66-year-old music manager who has steered the careers of Murray McLauchlan, Barney Bentall and Dan Hill, co-founded MuchFACT with former Much honcho Moses Znaimer in 1984, when it was called VideoFACT.

He's the only chair the organization has ever had. MuchMusic says Finkelstein's successor will be named soon.

The Toronto native is a member of the Order of Canada and has been inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. He founded True North Records in 1969 but sold the label in recent years.

Finkelstein will continue to serve as manager for folk singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, and he says he's working on a memoir for McClelland and Stewart. He'll also look to spend more time now on his farm in scenic Prince Edward County, Ont., a popular region for wine-growing.

"There are 33 vineyards there — by the time I'm finished tasting all their vintages every week I can barely stand, so how can I chair a meeting?" he said with a laugh.

During Finkelstein's reign, MuchFACT provided more than $63 million to Canadian artists including Arcade Fire, Sarah McLachlan, Broken Social Scene, Nelly Furtado, k-os, k.d. lang, Great Big Sea, Kardinall Offishall and Celine Dion.

He called the decision to walk away "bittersweet."

"I love MuchFACT and it's been a big part of my life," he said. "It's always sad to leave something, but on the other hand, 26 years is a long, long time. And it just felt to me like it was time for me to step down, so I did."

© Winnipeg Free Press