DIMA Digest: March/April 2026
May 5, 2026 | DIMA Digest Newsletter
DIMA Attends Key Industry and Cultural Events in Canada
March was a busy month in Canada, with DIMA President and CEO, Graham Davies attending a government-hosted AI Summit in Banff, Alberta, and the JUNO Awards in Hamilton, Ontario.
The National Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Culture was hosted by Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, and Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, at the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity. The three-day summit featured representatives of cultural bodies, academia, and technology and created space for critical dialogue on three key themes: build; protect; and empower. DIMA was honored to participate and share the perspective of music streaming.
Later in the month, Graham represented DIMA at various events surrounding the JUNO Awards, meeting up with DIMA members and attending the Chair’s Reception and the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award reception, among other events. JUNOs week is always a great time to celebrate Canadian creators and reflect on the importance of industry collaboration.
Robert Kyncl tells WMG shareholders: AI is music’s next growth engine, not its downfall | Music Business Worldwide
Loud & Clear 2025 | Spotify
Trump administration targets Quebec streaming law | The Gazette
DIMA Urges Georgia Legislature to Oppose HB 566
DIMA weighed into the debate around HB 566, legislation under consideration by the Georgia state legislature, in early March. In a letter shared with members of the legislature, DIMA made clear that while we share the goal of protecting individuals from the harm of unauthorized digital replicas, we had significant concerns with the legislation under consideration.
The legislation attempted to solve a national issue with an unworkable, and state-specific, mandate. By establishing a new state property right, imposing a complex state-level notice and takedown mechanism, and setting disproportionate statutory damages, the bill threatened to fragment the digital ecosystem.
DIMA urged Georgia lawmakers to reconsider the approach, providing details around our concerns and pointing to legislation under consideration at the federal level.
DIMA Adds Voice in Support of the “Protecting American Streaming and Innovation Act”
Canada continues to implement the Online Streaming Act in a manner that targets American businesses and employers, and U.S. Members of Congress have taken notice. In response to Canada’s implementation of the law, U.S. Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) introduced the “Protecting American Streaming and Innovation Act.” Rep. Smucker explained in his press release that the legislation is meant to “counter Canada’s digital barriers targeting American streaming companies and content producers.” He also highlighted digital trade’s critical role in the U.S. economy.
Following the bill’s introduction, DIMA President and CEO offered the following statement:
“DIMA applauds Congressman Smucker’s introduction of the ‘Protecting American Streaming and Innovation Act.’ Implementation of Canada’s Online Streaming Act continues to be a significant source of concern to our members, as it discriminates against non-Canadian, and especially U.S. companies, jeopardizes investments, and imposes new and undue burdens on music streaming services. DIMA appreciates Congressman Smucker’s leadership on this issue, including his commitment to ensuring compliance with the terms of the USMCA and discouraging copycat efforts by other countries.”
DIMA Joins Discussion on Mexico in AI Dubbing Law
Earlier this year, the Mexican Federal Executive introduced a bill that amends the Federal Copyright Law (Ley Federal del Derecho de Autor – LFDA) and the Federal Labor Law to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in dubbing and voice reproduction.
While DIMA supports efforts to address genuine harms posed by deepfakes and unauthorized digital replicas, we have significant concerns with the law in its current form. To highlight these concerns, DIMA met with INDAUTOR, and in April, DIMA joined a government-hosted roundtable to share our concerns regarding the bill’s risks to innovation and to provide feedback on ambiguous language.
As the government considers implementation of the law, DIMA will continue to engage to discourage policies that would chill innovation and local investment.
