v. 32 no. 3 November / novembre 2004
Library and Archives Canada Launches RPM Web Site
On Oct. 1, in celebration of International Music Day and in partnership with the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada, Library and Archives Canada launched the RPM Web site. The new site is based on the weekly trade magazine RPM that was instrumental in putting Canadian music on the map.
Introduced in 1964, RPM was dedicated to promoting Canada's musical talent. It featured articles, radio programming surveys, play lists and top 40 charts. Under the direction of Canadian music icon Walt Grealis and his business partner Stan Klees, the publication became an indispensable guide to the music industry and to record buyers. It ceased publication in 2000.
Library and Archives Canada's RPM Web site has over 10,000 charts, searchable either by date, chart type or artist. The process of digitizing all of RPM's charts began over a year ago, following the acquisition of RPM's collection of magazines, photos and correspondence.
"Searching through these charts will give music lovers as well as music historians a comprehensive picture of the changing musical tastes in this country," says Ian E. Wilson, Librarian and Archivist of Canada. "We are proud to have had the opportunity to partner with AV Trust in a project preserving a heritage which was and continues to be the heartbeat of a generation."
"Nowadays, Canadians simply assume talented musicians will find audiences thanks, in great measure, to radio airplay," adds AV Trust President Sandra Macdonald. "RPM's core message was that public airwaves must be available to our artists. I hope this online partnership will help Canadians appreciate the role played by committed individuals in shaping the Canadian music industry of today."
The Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada (www.avtrust.ca/rpm/en/) is a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the preservation of Canada's audio-visual heritage, and to facilitate access to and usage of regional and national collections through partnerships with members of the audio-visual community.