In This Issue:
Keychange Open Call for Canada: returning for 2024 is the six-month bespoke talent development program for women and gender-diverse artists and innovators. Complete details may be found here and deadline for submissions is March 7. Apply to the 2024 artists and innovators cohort at this link.
2024 JUNO Nominations: As announced last week: 74 #FACTORfunded artists received 99 nominations across 34 categories for the 2024 JUNO Awards! Congratulations to all artists and special nod to multiple nominees Alexandra Stréliski, Allison Russell, Aysanabee, The Beaches, Charlotte Cardin, Daniel Caesar, Haviah Mighty, LU KALA, Shawnee Kish, TALK, TOBi, Walk Off The Earth, and William Prince. JUNO week takes place in Halifax, NS, with the broadcast awards on air Sunday, March 24. Performances announced include #FACTORfunded artists The Beaches, Charlotte Cardin, and TALK.
Jeremy Dutcher Bis de Nantes: As part of our Collective Initiatives program component Showcase Production for Artists from Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC), FACTOR was able to support the inclusion of Jeremy Dutcher as part of Musicaction / SODEC mission to Bis de Nantes / BIS 2024 last month. Along with artists Kanen and Natasha Kanapé-Fontaine, Dutcher performed at the January 17 showcase at Bis de Nantes and January 18 at the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris. Marking their 20th anniversary edition, Biennales Internationales de Spectacle is an event dedicated to the live performance industry, entertainment professionals, and cultural actors. The Canadian showcase theme was “Journey to Canadian Territory: The Effervescence of Indigenous Music.”
Deadlines:
February 29: Artist and Applicant profiles – all artists, companies, and organizations must update their Additional Information and demographic page for rating review ahead of April 1 start of program year.
March 31: JSR: Single/EP program completion deadline.
Women in the Studio: Music Publishers Canada (MPC) is now accepting applications for their 2024 Women In The Studio National Accelerator. In its sixth year, this program will offer a series of curated production and songwriting related opportunities and networking experiences to women-identifying, gender-fluid, non-binary, and gender non-conforming producer-songwriters from across the country. Application deadline is February 27 and full details may be found here.
Black History Month Artist Spotlight: Happy Black History Month! All month long we are featuring Black #FACTORFunded artists on our Instagram and Facebook. Stay tuned on our socials for more. Our first feature below is Leila Dey.
Leila Dey, a rising star in the R&B world, captured hearts with her 2021 album ‘DETOUR,’ a reflective project born from the challenges of the pandemic. This album was accompanied by an innovative Visual EP, merging music and film to bring her songs to life.
Adding to her impressive repertoire, Leila has recently released the ‘Dreams Turn Into Reality’ documentary, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at her journey and experiences during the North American leg of Jessie Reyez’s ‘YESSIE’ tour. This documentary highlights Leila’s dedication, talent, and the raw energy she brings to every performance, providing fans with an intimate glimpse into the life of a rising R&B sensation.
Call for applications: Mundial Montréal returns for its 14th edition, November 19 to 22. If you would like to be considered for an official showcase performance opportunity, apply before midnight, March 1, at this link.
Are you staying updated with our #FACTORFundedFriday playlist? Don’t forget to check back every Friday for more new releases from #FACTORFunded artists! View the playlist here.