Bryan Adams calls CanCon regulations an ‘archaic system’ that’s ‘really stupid’

By Canadian Press on May 6, 2025.

TORONTO — Bryan Adams is reigniting his calls to repeal Canadian content regulations that have dictated radio station playlists for more than half a century.

The Kingston, Ont.-born rock star repeated his long-standing disdain of the so-called CanCon rules, saying they are “really stupid” and part of an “archaic system” that props up subpar homegrown music.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission introduced CanCon laws in the 1970s, requiring radio to play a certain amount of Canadian music and offering guidelines on what would qualify.

Adams says he believes those rules actually punish Canadian musicians who choose to work with non-Canadian creators and thus don’t meet the points system that determines what is deemed Canadian.

He says CanCon laws serve little purpose today, especially in a streaming era where quality songs from across the globe can find their audience.

The “Summer of ’69” hitmaker offered his take during a fireside chat that helped launch the inaugural edition of Departure Festival, a Toronto event attended by musicians and other players from the Canadian music industry.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.

David Friend, The Canadian Press