Program Overview & Deadlines for 2016-2017

Read up on the new Artist Development program and mark you calendars with the application deadlines for 2016-2017. Keep scrolling for a summary of significant policy changes that will come into effect as of 1 April 2016.

2016-2017 Programs Overview

Artist Development

This new juried program offers a $2000 subsidy toward a year of artist development activities including sound recording, touring, showcasing, video production, marketing and promotion. FACTOR will reimburse 75% of your eligible costs up to $2000. You do not have to use this funding to produce a sound recording. However, at the end of the Artist Development year, in addition to a report on all your artist development activities, you must deliver to FACTOR one new, previously unreleased, professional quality sound recording (which you can make for as much, as little, or no cost, at your option). Only artists rated General Artist and Artist 2 may apply.
Deadlines: May 26, 2016; September 29, 2016; January 26, 2017.

Business Development

The Business Development program supports Eligible Music Companies by funding corporate development projects. Funding is available for initiatives that are not artist-specific, but that support the marketing and promotion of the company and its services. Only Music Companies rated 3, 4, or 5 can apply. MEC companies are ineligible.
Deadline: April 28, 2016.

Business Travel

The Business Travel program supports Eligible Music Companies by contributing to the costs of participating in domestic and international music industry conferences, trade fairs and business trips. Only Music Companies rated 2, 3, 4, or 5 may apply. MEC companies are ineligible.
Rolling deadlines.

Collective Initiatives

The Collective Initiatives program supports projects that increase the national and international profile and commercial potential of multiple Canadian artists and music entrepreneurs. The program includes four components: Industry Events, Showcase Production for Artists from Official Language Minority Communities (Anglophone Artists residing in Quebec), Showcase Production for Export-Ready Artists, and Digital Marketing. Applicants must be pre-approved to apply.
Deadlines for each component vary; see the Program Guidelines (pdf) for details.

Comprehensive Artist

The Comprehensive Artist program contributes to the cost of producing or acquiring an original full-length sound recording, as well as marketing and promotion through six components: Sound Recording, Marketing, Radio Marketing, Tour Support, Showcase, and Video. Only unsigned artists rated 3, or their approved Canadian record label (any rating, including MEC companies) may apply.
Rolling deadlines.

Comprehensive Music Company

The Comprehensive Music Company program contributes to the cost of producing or acquiring an original full-length sound recording, as well as marketing and promotion through six components: Sound Recording, Marketing, Radio Marketing, Tour Support, Showcase, and Video. Only Record Labels rated 4 and 5 may apply.
Rolling deadlines.

Juried Sound Recording

The Juried Sound Recording program contributes to the cost of producing or acquiring an original full-length sound recording, as well as marketing and promotion through six components: Sound Recording, Marketing, Radio Marketing, Tour Support, Showcase, and Video. Applications are juried. Only unsigned artists rated General and 2, or their approved Canadian record label (any rating, excluding MEC companies) may apply.
Deadlines: May 26, 2016; September 29, 2016; January 26, 2017.

Live Performance

The Live Performance program assists Canadian artists by subsidizing a portion of the cost of live performance in Canada and abroad, through two components: Tour Support and Showcase. Canadian artists rated General, 2 or 3 may apply for the Showcase component. Only artists rated 2 or 3 may apply for the Tour Support component.
Rolling deadlines.

Marketing and Promotion for Non-FACTOR-Funded Sound Recordings

This program contributes to the cost of marketing and promotion of a full-length Canadian sound recording that was not funded by FACTOR, and has met a sales threshold. The program has five components: Marketing, Radio Marketing, Tour Support, Showcase, and Video. Only unsigned Canadian artists (any rating), or their approved Canadian record label (any rating including MEC companies) may apply.
Rolling deadlines.

Songwriter’s Workshop

The Songwriter’s Workshop Support program offers a grant to Canadian professional songwriters to attend workshops and seminars that help develop their careers as professional songwriters writing primarily for performers other than themselves. Only professional songwriters may apply.
Rolling deadlines.

Sponsorship

The Sponsorship program supports worthy music-related events that are looking for a smaller amount of support, or that do not quite fit other program mandates. New and genre-specific music festivals, broadcaster conferences, workshops, industry association events, and international showcases are examples of eligible projects. Applicants must be pre-approved to apply.
Deadlines:

March 1, 2016 for events occurring between April 1 – June 30 2016
June 1, 2016 for events occurring between July 1 – September 30, 2016
September 1, 2016 for events occurring between October – December 31, 2016
December 1, 2016 for events occurring between January 1 – March 31, 2017

Video

The Video program helps finance original music videos by Canadian artists. The sound recording does not need to be FACTOR-funded. Only unsigned Canadian artists rated 2 or 3, or their approved Canadian record label (any rating excluding MEC companies) may apply.
Rolling deadlines.

Significant Changes for 2016-2017

All completion reports must now be accompanied by full expense documentation, including the Cost Report, and scans of all invoices, receipts and proofs of payment.
Streaming data as a category in the artist profile and a criterion for the artist rating will be introduced in time for the August semi-annual review.
Tour and showcase subsidy base rates for international performances have been increased by about 20%.
Press history was removed as a category in the artist profile.
Letters from approved international record labels and distributors will be recognized as Proof of Sales. Providers must be approved by FACTOR in advance.
A schedule of allowable musicians’ fees replaces the reference to AFM/CFM scale.
The minimum period for which we expect applicants to maintain control of the exploitation rights in a sound recording has been reduced from five years to the duration of the Loan Repayment Period (two years past commercial release).