What happens when Canadian artists are underfunded, burnt out, and fighting against the algorithmic push of tech giants?
A Nova Scotia filmmaker is exploring those questions, and looking for extra funding to get his project in front of more Canadians.
SOUNDCHECK is a theatrical documentary from Nova Scotia’s John Butler. Butler previously served as art director on Little Lorraine, the award-winning film about drug smugglers in Cape Breton.
Now he’s directing SOUNDCHECK, a documentary following Canadian musicians in their daily lives.
The documentary is anchored by acclaimed singer-songwriter Dan Mangan, and captures candid conversations about creativity, vulnerability and resilience. It explores the realities of working musicians and is both a celebration of live music and a conversation about the future of Canadian culture.
“Live music changed my life. This film is a love letter to the artists and communities that create those moments of connection we cannot replicate online,” said Butler. “We want audiences to leave remembering not just why music matters-but why the people who make it matter and deserve our support.”
Funding and Canadian arts
Butler and the SOUNDCHECK team are looking to fundraise $161,500 by Aug. 19. They say the Kickstarter campaign will help complete production and post-production while ensuring participating artists are compensated through artist fees and licensed music, something they say is an important reflection of the film’s commitment to supporting the very community it celebrates.
“Mental health is a massive component of this, and that has to be a value and priority in our production as well,” said Butler. “Taking care of the crew that I’m bringing or hiring locally, taking care of the artists.”
The realities of the often overworked and underpaid Canadian musicians are central themes in SOUNDCHECK. Butler said he’d like to change the conversation about how people spend their money when they’re supporting the arts.
“Lots of us are interested in going to see really big stadium concerts, and we might save lots of money to go to a certain concert that’s across the country,” said Butler. “What that does is leaves us thinking that when there’s a local show at a bar, I don’t have $20 for the cover because I just went to this big live music event.”
Algorithms, engagement and burnout
As more listeners move to social media and streaming platforms, Butler said musicians have to focus more on engaging with their audience online, self promoting and navigating algorithms.
“The algorithm is so vital, if you want to be on the top you have to be paying to play,” said Butler. “You need agents and music industry experts that are making deals with Spotify. They’re making sure you have a top spot or you’re getting on the playlist that you want to increase your streams.”
Butler stressed the impact of having to cater to an algorithm to be seen isn’t just antithetical to the uniqueness of art and artists, but actively harmful to their mental health.
“Even my personal experience with this Kickstarter, Dan (Mangan) actually sent me a text like 2 days before launching the campaign,” said Butler. “He was like ‘hey buddy, I think you need to do a video where you’re looking at the camera and doing an ask,’ I don’t like being in front of the camera, you know, I hold the camera.”
According to a 2022 International Federation of the Phonographic Industries (IFPI) report, algorithmic playlists account for 61 per cent of programmed listening, and Spotify controls nearly one-third of the global market for streaming distribution services.
Butler said that artists are still making important work, but that modern limitations are making it harder for emerging artists to connect with their audience. He said SOUNDCHECK is a story about the dangers of Canadian culture drying up.
“To get on social media and do something that’s reflective of what’s inside of them… It’s a bold move.. But it’s not what social media and the algorithm is looking for” said Butler. “It’s looking for something that’s very disconnected and that is not grounded. It’s looking for mania, it’s looking for ego… I think that’s the antithesis of art.”
To support SOUNDCHECK you can donate to the Kickstarter campaign here.
