Can Canada's Music Industry Support "Urban" Artists to Global Success?

Canada is known for many things but arguably R&B/ Soul and Urban music are not any of them. The success that Pop artist Justin Bieber and Hip Hop artist Drake have had globally, highlights Canada as a source for music talent, but it has not been recognized as a country where its music industry infrastructure can handle or support these artists. Canadian R&B/Soul singers Melanie Fiona, Tamia, Glenn Lewis, Remy Shand and Deborah Cox are national treasures that have crossed the border to achieve success. Yet the R&B/Soul and Urban artists that have remained in Canada and continue to write, record and produce music have been struggling to find both national and International recognition and success.

Juno Award winning R&B/Soul vocalist, song-writer and producer, Carlos Morgan debut in the Canadian music industry in the 1990's with an independently released album entitled “Feelin' Alright” that reached #3 on the Canadian Independent Records Charts, with the help of released hit songs, “Baby C'Mon”, “Let Me Love Again”, “Give It To You”, and “Forever For You”. Morgan captured the attention of many fans, industry professionals and was rewarded for his music and talents with multiple national awards. Morgan's quick rise on the music charts was not enough for him to break globally and within a short period of time his success became overshadowed with professional and personal setbacks. Subsequently his musically acclaimed career took a 12-year hiatus.

Carlos Morgan is currently preparing for his return to the global music arena with the release of his sophomore album, “The Compilation” which features previously released and new unreleased music. "The Compilation" will re-introduce Morgan to Canadians and introduce him to International audiences, hoping to propel his music career to International status. Morgan's mandate is to advocate for Canadian R&B/Soul artists and their music.

Morgan explains his sentiments on the Canadian music industry, “There is lack of a infrastructure that supports artists who write, produce, record and perform any form of Black music (R&B/Soul, Gospel, Jazz, Reggae, Urban and Hip Hop), although Hip Hop has gained more recognition and support beginning with Maestro Fresh Wes, Choclair, Michie Mee, Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates, and recently Drake. There are a few R&B/Soul artists that have made a major impact on the Canadian music industry, but not to the extent where the Canadian music industry infrastructure supports them. In recognizing these following artists: Liberty Silver, Billy Newton Davis, Camille Douglas, Jamie Sparks, Chris Rouse, Denosh Bennet, Jully Black, Divine Brown, Ray Robinson, and Kim Davis to the emerging artists Shi Wisdom, Omar Lunan, and Gina Lee to name a few. They have all tried to break into the global music industry from Canada and have found it difficult. Although, Jacksoul, Jully Black and Divine Brown have had much success, they still have not to this day, received the International recognition they deserve from thriving careers in Canada.”

This article is not stating that Canada does not have a music industry platform that supports Canadian artists but it does highlight the lack of support for Canadian R&B/Soul and Urban artists and their music within the Canadian Music Industry. Morgan views the issue from a broader social perspective. “Record labels, Radio, Music Videos, Print, Award Shows and other forms of media are set up to promote all forms of Canadian music but there is a noticeable favourable bias to promote and highlight artists that write, record and perform Rock, Country and Pop music. Music that is seen and heard as 'Black' does not get the recognition and support in our Canadian music industry as "non-urban" music does. I feel that a lot of it is based on race and politics, as well as the lack of support within the black music community” states Morgan.

A broader discussion around the correlation between the music industry in Canada, and the African Canadian community should be explored, and should begin to investigate how African Canadians have influenced the music industry, how are they recognized, and what are the measurements of their success. There are a growing number of talents that dedicate their time to producing music independently, perform and self-promote their work; artists such as Saidah Baba Talibah, Shi Wisdom, and more.

We can provide federal grants all day, but if we do not fix the infrastructure we have to showcase Canada as one of the leading music industries in the world, our artists will always flock south to get the attention and financial rewards they deserve. Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, Nickelback, Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne and Drake are Canadian success stories. Though these artists express their pride in their Canadian heritage, we would could be more proud, if they were able to recognize Canada as being the base from which their musical journey and careers began, receiving recognition and providing the platform to global success.

Carlos Morgan's final thoughts are, “I want to be one of the many recording artists and representatives that helps puts Canada on the map for R&B/Soul. This is just one of the goals to my legacy."

Let's hope that Carlos Morgan and others will be given that opportunity to do so.