The Edmonton International Airport (EIA) has announced that it will begin compensating the performers that take part in its music program after local alt-pop artist VISSIA brought the issue to light on social media.
Over the weekend, VISSIA shared screenshots of an email she had received from EIA. The airport had invited her to apply for the music program — which it announced it was bringing back last week — because she had taken part in it in 2019.
"I knew it wasn't paid but I thought I would give it a shot and see if it was worth it, if you can make enough money in tips then maybe I can do it a few times and take it from there," the singer-songwriter told CityNews. Ultimately, VISSIA felt like the experience wasn't worth going against her values.
"I felt frustrated, a bit of rage even," she told the outlet of the recent email invitation, which doubled down on tips being the only compensation and revealed that the program was even getting rid of any previous hospitality measures for musicians. "For sure, it's your choice what sort of opportunities you want to take, but I think this is a much more deeply rooted issue than one instance.
"Musicians and arts workers are constantly having to fight for what they deserve in terms of compensation," VISSIA continued, "and it just seemed mind-boggling to me that another big corporation would think that this is OK to request for artists to come and work for free." She added in an Instagram Reel, "You're a corporation. Not a street corner."
Two days after VISSIA called EIA out on Twitter, the airport responded, saying it would temporarily pause the program ahead of relaunching it with compensation for performers.
"First, we want to thank you for being such a champion for the arts community," EIA tweeted. "We have heard you & everyone else, and we will be compensating performers moving forward. We are taking the time to review and improve the program to best support artists in our community."
Steve Maybee, the airport's vice president of operations, infrastructure and corporate communications, confirmed the decision in a statement. "We value the artists' contributions to our airport and recognize their music brings joy, peace and comfort to passengers," he wrote.
"I think it's difficult for individuals and independent artists to step forward because they might be worried that their reputation will be at stake or they might lose out on opportunity," VISSIA explained. "So I would really like to see some of our organizations step up and do a better job of advocating for artists and musicians."
In an already near-impossible touring landscape, it's the least they can do.
Over the weekend, VISSIA shared screenshots of an email she had received from EIA. The airport had invited her to apply for the music program — which it announced it was bringing back last week — because she had taken part in it in 2019.
"I knew it wasn't paid but I thought I would give it a shot and see if it was worth it, if you can make enough money in tips then maybe I can do it a few times and take it from there," the singer-songwriter told CityNews. Ultimately, VISSIA felt like the experience wasn't worth going against her values.
"I felt frustrated, a bit of rage even," she told the outlet of the recent email invitation, which doubled down on tips being the only compensation and revealed that the program was even getting rid of any previous hospitality measures for musicians. "For sure, it's your choice what sort of opportunities you want to take, but I think this is a much more deeply rooted issue than one instance.
"Musicians and arts workers are constantly having to fight for what they deserve in terms of compensation," VISSIA continued, "and it just seemed mind-boggling to me that another big corporation would think that this is OK to request for artists to come and work for free." She added in an Instagram Reel, "You're a corporation. Not a street corner."
Two days after VISSIA called EIA out on Twitter, the airport responded, saying it would temporarily pause the program ahead of relaunching it with compensation for performers.
"First, we want to thank you for being such a champion for the arts community," EIA tweeted. "We have heard you & everyone else, and we will be compensating performers moving forward. We are taking the time to review and improve the program to best support artists in our community."
Steve Maybee, the airport's vice president of operations, infrastructure and corporate communications, confirmed the decision in a statement. "We value the artists' contributions to our airport and recognize their music brings joy, peace and comfort to passengers," he wrote.
Hi @VISSIA_3. First, we want to thank you for being such a champion for the arts community. We have heard you & everyone else, and we will be compensating performers moving forward. We are taking the time to review and improve the program to best support artists in our community.
— Edmonton International Airport (@FlyYEG) January 23, 2023
"I think it's difficult for individuals and independent artists to step forward because they might be worried that their reputation will be at stake or they might lose out on opportunity," VISSIA explained. "So I would really like to see some of our organizations step up and do a better job of advocating for artists and musicians."
In an already near-impossible touring landscape, it's the least they can do.
