Canadian Startups Pioneered Digital Music Streaming Before Apple's iTunes

Canadian technology companies developed digital music streaming services long before Apple's iTunes platform claimed to revolutionize music consumption. These innovative startups operated north of the United States border, creating early streaming infrastructure that predated mainstream adoption. The Walrus publication documented this overlooked history of technological innovation in Canada, highlighting how these companies built foundational streaming technology. Their work established critical precedents for how music would be distributed and consumed digitally in subsequent decades. These pioneering efforts occurred during the early development phase of digital music distribution, positioning Canada as an unexpected hub for streaming innovation. The article specifically references MapleMusic as one example of these early Canadian digital music platforms. This historical narrative challenges conventional Silicon Valley-centric innovation stories by documenting parallel developments in Canada.