Various Canadian organizations offer grants and programs tailored towards the development, marketing and overall production of music for independent artists.
Written by Isaac Fontes
An at-home setup for the recording of music. Photo taken by Bru-nO on Pixabay.com.
In one way or another, the ongoing global pandemic has taken a toll worldwide. According to the World Economic Forum, the music industry has become one of the most affected with streaming numbers declining at the start of the pandemic and tours being forced to cancel. Independent artists may feel especially impacted by this with many struggling to afford their own careers regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Canada specifically provides a lot of resources for upcoming independent artists trying to make a name in the industry in the form of various grants and programs. Below is some information on some of the most notable assistance available to independent Canadian artists.
Ontario Creates is a platform aiming to make it easier for Canadian creatives to apply for career-boosting programs through their secure Online Application Portal. You can easily register here to receive more information about their services.
Ontario Creates also offers the Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF), which provides economic development investment and assistance to Ontario’s music industry and aims to maximize independent artists’ return on investment while creating more recording and performing opportunities for them. This program’s objective is to help artists optimize revenue, profits, job creation, private investment, and even tax revenue. The program is split into three categories in order to tailor to the different parts of the industry; Music Creation, Music Industry Initiatives and Live Music. Independent artists can apply for the Live Music program up until Dec. 16, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. EST, which produces and promotes live music events featuring Canadian artists. While the deadlines for applications for funding in Music Creation, Global Market Development for Music Managers, and Music Industry Initiatives have already passed, their website encourages artists to still apply as they are being flexible due to the many complications surrounding the pandemic.
The SOCAN Foundation is a program that aims to sustain and promote Canadian music. Canadian creators, artists, and music publishers can become members by registering here. Members can currently apply for two financial assistance programs through their website. The Foundation Relief Fund is being offered in order to provide financial assistance to independent artists and publishers throughout the pandemic. It is open to all SOCAN members who have earned more than $500 in royalties in the four most recent SOCAN distributions and is estimated to be valued at around $250 per artist. The Professional Development Assistance Program provides SOCAN creatives with opportunities to upgrade their skills and knowledge about the industry through conferences, courses, seminars, and workshops to assist in the development of their career. Eligible applicants must have received two SOCAN royalty payments in each of the previous three calendar years, and the maximum grant amount is allocated to be $1500. The deadline to apply for this grant and program is currently ongoing.
The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR), is a private non-profit organization that provides members of the Canadian music industry with assistance in the growth and development of their careers. They offer an extensive list of programs providing financial support and assistance to independent Canadian musicians, which can be found here. Their Artist Development Program offers artists up to $2,000 towards a year of artist development through recording, touring, marketing, video production; whichever is provided by the applying artist in their development plan that is incorporated in the application. Their Juried Sound Recording program aims to provide artists with financial assistance towards all of the costs associated with the creation and promotion of a full-length album. Their Songwriter Development program offers artists financial assistance for songwriting initiatives through co-writing sessions, camps, and workshops, in which FACTOR will reimburse 75 per cent of the total eligible costs up to $2,000. These programs and grants provide Canadian artists with financial assistance for various aspects of their careers, in order to develop their talents and careers. Applications for these currently remain open!
Another great resource for independent Canadian artists is Music Grants Canada, a funding and development agency that provides personalized management services for artists and companies. They offer consulting and project services such as grant research, grant revision services, track selection consultation, and marketing plan services. These services can help artists in various ways; their grant research service allows them to track down the most suitable grants available for artists based on their needs, while their track selection consultation is for artists to get a better idea of which of their songs are the strongest. Their marketing plan helps in creating a custom marketing plan for artists and their music, which can often be the biggest struggle for independent artists. They provide a complimentary initial consultation to assess artists’ needs, but their consulting services are billed at $45/hour or on a monthly basis. While this agency does not provide grants for independent artists, they do offer many beneficial services that could help artists turn their music into profit through marketing and their other services.
Getting adjusted to the new normal inflicted upon us due to the pandemic has been no easy task, and independent artists continue to suffer to keep their careers afloat. Luckily, there are many different resources available within Canada that can provide financial assistance for the development of their careers in these unprecedented times.