DIMA Digest: Fall 2025
November 19, 2025 | DIMA Digest Newsletter
Pushing back on the Online Streaming Tax and Bill 109 in Canada
Fall has been a busy time for DIMA in Canada and Washington, DC, challenging the implementation of the federal Online Streaming Act legislation in Ottawa and proposed Bill 109 legislation in Québec.
In September, DIMA President and CEO, Graham Davies, appeared before the Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as part of the Commission’s audio policy consultation. Graham highlighted streaming’s role in transforming the Canadian music industry for the better and cautioned against adopting rules that make products worse for consumers and harm the Canadian music industry.
“Streaming fixed the Canadian music market; don’t let the CRTC break it.”
-Graham Davies, President & CEO, DIMA
In October, DIMA filed a brief with Québec’s Committee on Culture and Education, raising concerns about measures being considered in Bill 109, which proposes to affirm the cultural sovereignty of Québec and discoverability of French-language cultural content in the digital environment.
“We believe the most effective path forward is one focused on listener choice, not constraint. Québec artists and Francophone music are thriving on streaming services today because audiences are empowered to find and listen to music organically. By working together – combining the government’s cultural vision with streaming services’ reach, expertise, and innovation, we believe Francophone and music of Québec can continue to thrive both at home and on the global stage.”
-Graham Davies, President & CEO, DIMA
- Music Streaming Services Call on National Assembly of Quebec to Forego French-Language Quotes | Billboard Canada
- Quebec’s Bill 109 on French-language content draws concerns from streaming services | Montreal Now with Aaron Rand Podcast
- Feed.fm secures Warner Music catalogue for launch of licensed song clips tool
| MusicWeek - Your World Tonight (begin timestamp 11:31) | CBC News (radio)
- The National (begin timestamp 24:07) | CBC News (TV)
DIMA Makes Inaugural Visit to Mexico
Earlier this fall, DIMA President and CEO, Graham Davies, and DIMA Senior Vice President of Government and External Affairs, Sally Rose Larson, traveled to Mexico for an inaugural visit to the country. Meetings were held with key policymakers and music industry stakeholders to introduce DIMA and explain how streaming has a positive impact for Mexican consumers, creators, and the economy.
During the productive visit, DIMA staff met with a number of individuals, including Karina Luján Luján, Director General, INDAUTOR; Members of the Senate of the Republic of Mexico, Beatriz Mojica, Eruviel Ávila Villegas, and Rolando Zapata Bello; and Kenia López Rabadán, President, Mexican Chamber of Deputies.
New Research Shows Americana Fans Embracing Superfan-Level Spending and Streaming
To coincide with AmericanaFest, DIMA released new data on Americana listeners, demonstrating their embrace of streaming and their love of the genre. DIMA’s research found that on average, Americana fans spend twice as much annually as the average U.S. streamer, spending on average $837 annually on recorded music, live, and merchandise. Americana fans also spend 24% more time listening in an average week that regular music fans. Streaming has deepened the engagement – and helped it grow – of the Americana community.
DIMA Files Trade Comments
DIMA has been busy filing comments in response to USTR’s call for submissions to the Trade Policy Staff Committee on significant foreign barriers to, or distortions of, US exports of goods and services and US foreign direct investment for inclusion in the National Trade Estimate. We have highlighted concerns around the Online Streaming Act and Bill 109 in Canada as running contrary to the principles of non-discrimination, national treatment, and most-favored nation commitments. We have also used the opportunity to raise concerns with Digital Services Taxes and levies in other territories.
DIMA has also filed comments in the US, Canada, and Mexico on the public consultations taking place in each country ahead of the joint review of the USMCA (also referred to as CUSMA and T-MEC).
A key theme from DIMA in the comments has been the importance of the principles of non-discrimination, national treatment, and most-favored nation commitments.
