After announcing her desire to take over Dare to Care Records last summer, Montreal native Béatrice Martin, better known as Coeur de pirate, has sealed the deal to purchase the label from its founder and principal owner Eli Bissonnette, who stepped down after being accused of fostering a toxic workplace. Martin will now serve as the label's new president and artistic director.
"For 20 years, this record company has helped develop artists from here and has allowed me to become who I am today," Martin wrote of the acquisition. "This is the start of a whole new chapter for the record company and I am proud to carry the torch."
She added: "I have many ideas for the future of the label, but my priority remains to provide a healthy and inclusive environment for our employees to thrive as well as for our artists to develop and continue to share our culture."
Bissonette had previously been accused of turning a blind eye to allegations of abuse levelled against former label artist Bernard Adamus, who was eventually dropped from Dare to Care last year. The artist admitted to "vulgar, rude, arrogant and very drunk" behaviour in a response to the accusations against him, which included claims of sexual misconduct. At the time, Adamus apologized for his actions and announced he had quit drinking.
The incident led Bissonnette to step down from his position as president of Dare to Care, after many of the label's artists and staff went public with their anger over how the situation was handled.
See Martin's announcement about Dare to Care below.
"For 20 years, this record company has helped develop artists from here and has allowed me to become who I am today," Martin wrote of the acquisition. "This is the start of a whole new chapter for the record company and I am proud to carry the torch."
She added: "I have many ideas for the future of the label, but my priority remains to provide a healthy and inclusive environment for our employees to thrive as well as for our artists to develop and continue to share our culture."
Bissonette had previously been accused of turning a blind eye to allegations of abuse levelled against former label artist Bernard Adamus, who was eventually dropped from Dare to Care last year. The artist admitted to "vulgar, rude, arrogant and very drunk" behaviour in a response to the accusations against him, which included claims of sexual misconduct. At the time, Adamus apologized for his actions and announced he had quit drinking.
The incident led Bissonnette to step down from his position as president of Dare to Care, after many of the label's artists and staff went public with their anger over how the situation was handled.
See Martin's announcement about Dare to Care below.
