As a musician just beginning their career, finding funds to finance your work can be a struggle and a factor that can hold you back from breaking through in your career.
Thankfully, in Canada, support exists for musicians to fund their creative endeavors.
Government Funding
To support musicians, the Canadian government introduced the Canada Music Fund in the late 1990s. Approximately $27 million is available annually though this fund which is spread across five components.
Creator’s Assistance Component
Administered through SOCAN, these funds are made available to composers and songwriters in an effort to assists in business development. The main use of this fund is aimed at nonprofits in developing workshops and conferences.
New Musical Works Component
Administered by FACTOR, this fund aims to assist artists with costs associated with recording music.
Collective Initiatives Component
This fund, administered by FACTOR and Musication aims to support industry events.
Music Entrepreneur Component
This fund, administered by the Department of Heritage, is aimed at supporting established Canadian music entrepreneurs and music labels.
Canadian Music Memories Component
This fund goes towards supporting libraries and archives in preserving and digitizing music.
While these five components go towards supporting five diverse areas of the music business, it can be helpful to know that government support is available to assist you and your growing career and business within the music industry.
Grants
Each year, FACTOR awards approximately $18 million in grants to up-and-coming Canadian musicians spread across 15 diverse programs. These programs provide support in a multitude of fields ranging from recording costs, tour support, and marketing. FACTOR also holds industry conferences and workshops across the country throughout the year to provide further support to musicians.
Similar to FACTOR, the Radio Starmaker Fund distributes funding (approximately $8 million per year) to up-and-coming artists. Funding for the Radio Starmaker Fund is 100% funded by private radio broadcasters and aims to be completely artist-centered and to make a difference in artists’ careers.
The MEC program is a partnership through the Department of Heritage and Canada Music Fund which distributes funding (approximately $7.5 million per year) to independant Canadian labels.
The main initiative of SOCAN is to “foster musical creativity.” They do this by supporting events hosted by not-for-profit organizations. Their funding also goes towards providing education and residencies to individuals.
The Canada Council is a program sponsored by the Minister of Heritage and the Canadian Parliament. They provide funding and resources to artists in many fields including music, theater, dance, writing, and visual arts. They typically provide funding to professionally trained musicians/ However, they have a wide range of programs and forms of support that could apply to you and your work.
Provincial Funding
- NFLD www.musicnl.ca
- PEI www.musicpei.com
- NS www.musicnovascotia.ca
- NB www.musicnb.org
- QC www.adisq.com
- ON www.omdc.on.ca
- MB www.mbfilmmusic.ca
- SK www.saskmusic.org
- AB www.amia.ca
- BC www.musicbc.org
- YK www.yukonmusic.com
- NWT www.nwtarts.com
As you can see, In Canada there exists a multitude of resources to help support you and your burgeoning music career. With some research, you can find a program that best suits your needs as an artist and will help you get to the next step in your career.
