Posted by: Unison
New to funding? Or just looking for some tips to spruce up your application… We’ve got a check list of how you can put your best foot forward when preparing your application to either a Canadian national or provincial funding organization. Below we’ve also included a list of funding sources, with some upcoming deadlines.
TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU PREPARE YOUR FUNDING APPLICATION
- Give yourself time to prepare your application at minimum 4-6 weeks out from a deadline
- Make a realistic plan and consider at least a year out
- Plan to submit your application before any activity starts
- Call the program administrator for the program you want to apply to and review your check list, with what is mandatory to accompany your submission
- Create a list of who you are working with, who do you want to work with and how you’re going to pursue a career and/or maintain a career
- Set your recording/project start date and write down a list of each track you intend to record, with who, when and how you will distribute it
- Make your goals clear, concise and realistic/ obtainable
- Set your goals and expected results based on your plan
- Prepare a detailed marketing/business plan – here’s some suggestions how to do this
- Create a budget for who you want to work with and what it will cost for production and marketing/promotion, advertising plans
- Organize your lyric sheets to support each track you intend to record and include all writers and publishing information
- Choose 2 songs to showcase your work for assessment
- Gather letters of support to use for reference purposes – when applicable
- Get your work proof read by someone to make sure your submission is focused and organized.
HERE’S A LIST OF MUSIC FOCUSED PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
This program offers a $2,000 subsidy toward a year of artist development activities such as recording, touring & showcasing, video production, and marketing. Next Deadline: October 15, 2020
JURIED SOUND RECORDING
The JSR program contributes toward the cost of acquiring, producing and marketing a full length album. Submissions are assessed by an independent jury of industry professionals.
Next Deadline: October 29, 2020 at 5:00pm ET.
Components for this Program:
MARKETING AND PROMOTION FOR NON-FACTOR-FUNDED SOUND RECORDINGS
This program supports the marketing of commercially released full-length sound recordings that were not acquired or produced with FACTOR funding. The sound recording must have been commercially released and achieved a qualifying sales threshold or had a track charting on commercial radio.
Artists may apply on their own behalf if they retain the exploitation rights to the sound recording. If a record label controls the exploitation rights to the sound recording, the record label must apply. Artist applicants must have an approved applicant profile. Record labels including MEC-supported companies must have a reviewed and rated applicant profile.
This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply as soon as the qualifying sales threshold or radio chart position has been achieved, but no later than 12 months after commercial release.
COMPREHENSIVE ARTIST
The Comprehensive Artist program contributes toward the cost of acquiring, producing and marketing a full-length album.
Artists may apply for this program on their own behalf if they are unsigned. Such artists must have an approved applicant profile as well as an artist profile with an Artist 3 rating. Canadian record labels of all ratings, including MEC-supported companies may apply, provided the Artist is rated 3. Record labels including MEC-supported companies must have a reviewed and rated applicant profile. Recipients of Envelope Funding may apply provided that the artist is rated 3.
Artists are ineligible (regardless of artist rating) if they have ever had: a Platinum Album Certification in Canada; and/or worldwide sales of any one album of 100,000 units or more; and/or worldwide sales of all album releases equalling 200,000 units or more.
Application can be submitted any time; project expenses will be eligible from date of Application. May apply for Component funding up to 24 months after first Application.
SUPPORT FOR ELIGIBLE MUSIC COMPANIES
The Support for Eligible Music Companies Program provides funding for business development initiatives that support the marketing and promotion of the company and its services, domestic and international travel to support the company’s development objectives, as well as funding to music publishers to support songwriting initiatives. This program consists of three components, Business Development, Business Travel, and Songwriter Support for Music Publishers.
Next Deadline: Round 2 – October 22nd, 2020
The SOCAN Foundation is dedicated to fostering musical creativity and promoting a better understanding of the role of music creators in today’s society. The Foundation is an independent organization guided by its own board of directors, which consists of composers, songwriters and music publishers. Both programs have on-going deadlines.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
Grants are provided to SOCAN composers, writers, and music publishers across all genres of music, for upgrading their skills and knowledge or acquiring new skills and knowledge to advance their careers.
WORK COMMISSIONING ASSISTANCE
Grants are provided to assist individuals, corporations, performers, ensembles, and presents in the commissioning of SOCAN members to create new works in all genres of music. The overall intent of this program is to reach beyond local, regional, provincial and federal arts council funding bodies, and encourage other members of our society (individual, organizations or companies) to commission new musical works.
Visit The SOCAN Foundation for more information, deadlines, and application forms.
RADIO STARMAKER FUND
The Radio Starmaker Fund supports emerging artists with star potential from every region of Canada. The aim is to allocate funding in such a way that it has a direct impact on artists and supports their marketing and touring initiatives both in Canada and abroad in a way that will make a difference. The Fund supports a variety of marketing and promotional initiatives related to eligible Canadian music recordings, including radio advertising, that are key to developing the star status of Canadian artists.
Next Deadlines: November 12, 2020, February 4, 2021 & May 20, 2021. Artists must meet eligibility requirements including sales minimums. Visit Radio Starmaker Fund for more information, deadlines, and application forms.
The Canada Council for the Arts provides support for the development of individuals, groups, small ensembles, orchestras and other professionals working in the Canadian music community. The Music Section funds a variety of related activities such as residencies and the commissioning of Canadian compositions.
EXPLORE AND CREATE
This program funds Canadian artists, artistic groups and organizations committed to the creation and dissemination of innovative, vibrant and diverse art.
This program advances Canadian artistic practices by encouraging artists to investigate creative processes and take risks that lead to the development of unique works destined to connect with the public. Explore and Create supports the research, development, creation and production of work, as well as professional development for artists.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ARTISTS COMPONENT
Next Deadlines: October 21st, 2020 / February 3rd, 2021
RESEARCH AND CREATION COMPONENT
Next Deadline: October 7th, 2020
CONCEPT TO REALIZATION – PROJECT COMPONENT
Next Deadline: October 7th, 2020
SUPPORTING ARTISTIC PRACTICE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ARTS PROFESSIONALS COMPONENT
Next Deadlines: October 14th, 2020 / February 3rd, 2021
For more programs and deadlines, please visit Canada Councils website.
This program support comes from the RBC Foundation, was established to promote the intersection of emerging Canadian Recording Artists and Filmmakers through Music Video Production Grants valued between $5,000 and $15,000. The Music Video Production Project, a joint RBCxMusic & Prism Prize initiative, is committed to supporting emerging artists. The MVP Project is administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.
Next Deadline: Applications open October 1st, 2020 @ 9AM EST and close November 1st, 2020 @ 5PM EST
PROVINCIAL FUNDING INCLUDES,
MUSIC INDUSTRY INITIATIVES
Opens July 15th, 2020 | Deadline: March 1st, 2021, or until funds are no longer available
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Opens September 2nd, 2020 | Deadline: October 14th, 2020
SOUND RECORDING
Next Deadline: November 18th, 2020 at 4:00pm
MAJOR MARKETING STREAM
Next Deadline: January 6th, 2021 at 4:00pm
MUSIC RECORDING PRODUCTION FUND
Next Deadline: January 21st, 2021
RECORD PRODUCT MARKETING SUPPORT PROGRAM
Next Deadline: Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year.
MUSIC VIDEO AND VIRAL VIDEO FUND
Next Deadline: Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year.
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
COVID-19 RESPONSE PROGRAM
Next Deadline: October 15th, 2020
CREATE
Next Deadline: October 10th, 2020
RECOGNIZE – COMPETITIONS
Next Deadline: November 15th, 2020
RECOGNIZE – PRIZES
Next Deadline: December 15th, 2020
ALBERTA FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
MUSIC INDIVIDUAL PROJECT FUNDING
Next Deadlines: March 1st, 2021 / September 1st, 2021
INDIGENOUS ARTS INDIVIDUAL PROJECT FUNDING
Next Deadlines: March 1st, 2021 / September 1st, 2021
OMIF – MUSIC INDUSTRY INITIATIVES
Next Deadline: October 29, 2020 by 5:00 PM EST.
(Activities must take place between August 1, 2020 – July 31, 2021)
Music Recording Projects
Next Deadline: November 18th, 2020