This post about understanding MAPL and CanCon was written by our Campaign Manager and Christian Music Promoter, Loretta Slomp.
Many artists in Canada are confused about what qualifies for airplay on Canadian radio and the requirements stations must follow to remain compliant with the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission). This confusion is understandable, the language surrounding Canadian Content (CanCon) can be a little unclear.
Over the years, I’ve heard the frustrations of artists who aren’t sure whether their music qualifies, and I’ve also spoken with radio professionals who are frustrated when artists either don’t disclose their CanCon status or don’t actually know what’s required.
So, What Are the Requirements for CanCon?
The CRTC regulates who can broadcast in Canada and ensures stations comply with specific content rules. For mainstream radio, stations must ensure that a minimum of 35% of the popular music they play each week is Canadian.
Religious broadcasters, however, fall under a specialty license category that allows for a lower Canadian content requirement. This can be as low as 10%, though some stations have higher quotas due to commitments made during the licensing process. The lower baseline reflects the fact that there is less religious content available in Canada, whether you agree with that or not (I’ll save my thoughts for another post!).
How Does My Music Qualify as Canadian Content?
The CRTC uses a system called MAPL to determine whether a song qualifies as CanCon. Here’s how the MAPL system breaks down, as outlined on the CRTC’s website.
To qualify as Canadian content, a song must meet at least two of the following four conditions:
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- M (Music): The music is composed entirely by a Canadian.
- A (Artist): The music and/or lyrics are performed principally by a Canadian.
- P (Performance): The musical selection is:
- recorded wholly in Canada, or
- performed wholly in Canada and broadcast live.
- L (Lyrics): The lyrics are written entirely by a Canadian.
Let’s Break It Down Further:
Here’s a more practical interpretation based on real-world experience:
- M – Music: At least 50% of the music’s writers must be Canadian. This is based on the number of writers, not the percentage of the song contributed.
- A – Artist: The principal performer must be Canadian. This allows for collaborations or featured artists, as long as the main artist is Canadian.
- P – Performance: The song must be recorded entirely in Canada. Since recording is considered a form of performance, the location matters. (Real example: I once worked on a single recorded fully in Canada except for the keyboard tracks. After consulting with the CRTC, they considered it acceptable because the keys were a small portion. That said, this shouldn’t be taken as a rule — when in doubt, contact the CRTC directly for clarification.)
- L – Lyrics: Similar to the music requirement, at least 50% of the lyricists must be Canadian, based on the number of writers involved.
If You Meet Two or More MAPL Categories…
If your song meets at least two of the MAPL criteria, then congratulations, your song qualifies as CanCon! When submitting to radio, you should indicate which letters apply. For example, if your song qualifies under M, A, and L, but not P, you would note: “MAL”.
A Note on Potential Changes
In December 2022, proposals to modernize or update the MAPL system were introduced. However, as of now, no official changes have been implemented.
