A Prince Albert comedian reacts to the change and reversal of a satelite's radio station decision to move away from 100 per cent Canadian content. (Facebook/John Sutton)

By Ronald Quaroni

Comic Royalties

Local comedian reacts as satellite comedy channel reverses proposed change to line-up

Mar 7, 2019 | 12:07 PM

Last month’s proposed change to Sirius XM’s, Canada Laughs channel had Canadian comics taking to social media in angst and it appears to have worked now that the change was reversed.

Canada Laughs, a comedy channel on satellite radio underwent a change in management and announced a new format which would stream old material from Canadian and international comics.

The change meant a significant decrease in royalty payments for national comics who up to that point, enjoyed 100 per cent of the playtime on the channel.

Prince Albert Comedian, Kelly Taylor said the changes won’t alter his income.

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“I’m more of truck driver, grind it out on the road anyway (type of guy),” Taylor said. “It’s not affecting me, but it was going to affect me in the sense that if I was just bringing my album to Sirius right now, cause I realized how much money guys were making.”

Taylor said the comedy industry is already rough for up and coming comedians who often work unpaid for the first years of their career. He said a steady income is a struggle for most comics.

“You don’t know where you’re next paycheque (is coming from). I’m still at the point no matter what, that I have to hope people call me all the time. I’ve got four kids. There’s definitely stress to it,” Taylor said.

He added it’s also tough for comics in Canada’s bigger cities.

“In Vancouver and Toronto there’s a million comics and there all fighting over the same piece of the pie,” Taylor said.

Just For Laughs, released a statement on Feb. 27, apologizing for the stress felt by Canadian comics. In the statement, they announced Canada Laughs, would be renamed Just For Laughs Canada, and that it would showcase 100 per cent Canadian content.

Taylor, who originally hails from P.A. said his success came from his brand of comedy and his niche market in Saskatchewan.

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ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni