Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording
Deadlines
1 April or 1 October
Program Description
The Canada Council for the Arts administers this program on behalf of the Department of Canadian Heritage. Funds for this program are provided by the Canadian Musical Diversity Program of the Canada Music Fund.
This program supports the recording of Canadian “specialized music” by Canadian artists, ensembles, bands, record companies and independent producers. The intent of this program is to ensure the production and availability to the public of a diversity of artistically driven Canadian music.
Due to the objectives of the program, not all forms of music are eligible for support. Please refer to the section on Eligibility (in particular Eligible Genres of Music and Ineligible Genres of Music) for details.
Eligibility
“Specialized music” is defined as music whose intent and/or content is not shaped by the desire for wide market appeal but which instead places creativity, self-expression and/or experimentation above the current demands and format expectations of the mainstream recording industry. Specialized music has a significance that extends beyond being solely a form of entertainment and is usually identified with the parallel market and alternative distribution systems.
Specialized music is primarily artistic in intent. It is understood that the definition of what is considered to be “specialized” music is changeable, depending on current public tastes and the resulting market share of various musical genres. As such, forms of music eligible for support through this program may change over time.
Eligible Genres of Music
This program funds specialized music (defined above). Eligible practices include, but are not limited to:
- contemporary Canadian composition or songwriting in classical music of all world cultures, new music (as defined in the Music Section’s New Music Programs) jazz, electroacoustic, folk, world music, Canadian Aboriginal music and musique actuelle
- original interpretations of traditional music, where the applicant is significantly interpreting or arranging existing works
- fusion of specialized music and spoken word, where the music is of primary or equal importance to the text.
In some cases, it may be difficult to determine if a particular music is eligible for this program. Where a determination of eligibility is required, the Music Section will make the determination based on the definition of specialized music, the intent of the project, the career history and objectives of the applicant, and the genres of music currently eligible for the program. Potential applicants seeking a determination of eligibility should contact the responsible Music Section officer well in advance of the program deadline, and should be prepared to submit examples of their work.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are Canadian music professionals who are:
- individual music artists (or their designated agents or representatives)
- ensembles, groups and bands (or their designated agents or representatives)
- independent record producers
- record companies that are at least 51 percent Canadian owned.
Individual applicants must have completed their basic training and be recognized as professional artists by other artists working in the same artistic tradition. They should also have demonstrated commitment to the development of their craft and career through ongoing career activity, and have a history of public presentation of at least three years for full-length recordings, and two years for demo recordings. Basic training may include training provided by a post-secondary academic institution, and may also include mentorships, private instruction, workshops, and periods of self-study.
Ensembles, groups and bands must be made up of professional artists.
Managers or agents applying on behalf of an artist or ensemble, group or band must provide evidence of authorization to submit the application, such as a letter of agreement or management contract. Leaders of ensembles, groups or bands are not required to submit evidence of authorization.
Record companies applying on behalf of artists must have been involved in the production of records for at least two years and have released a minimum of three full-length recordings. They must also have a distribution agreement with an established distribution company. Record companies will be required to submit copies of articles of incorporation as well as letters of agreement with the artist they plan to record. The letters must indicate royalty arrangements and contractual details.
All Canada Council for the Arts programs are accessible to Aboriginal artists and artists of diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.
Individual artists and ensembles may submit only one application under their own name to this program per fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). Record companies and independent producers may submit more than one application per year, but may apply on behalf a particular artist only once per year. Please note that applications by record companies or producers on behalf of artists or ensembles that have already applied in a given fiscal year will be disqualified.
Ineligible Applicants
Non-Canadian artists or entities cannot be direct beneficiaries of this program. Projects including non-Canadian artists may be eligible for this program, provided that the majority of artists in the project are Canadian and a Canadian artist provides the artistic leadership. However, costs related to the participation of non-Canadians are not eligible expenses and should be reported separately from the budget, on a separate sheet of paper.
Non-Canadian record producers, manager or labels may not submit applications to this program.
Eligible Recording Projects
This program will fund either:
- the production of a full-length recording of a compact disc or DVD (audio elements only) by an eligible applicant as indicated above
OR
- the production of a demo recording containing a maximum of four works, by an eligible applicant who has not previously recorded.
At least 50 percent of the running time of the proposed recording project must be Canadian-composed music or Canadian interpretations of traditional music.
All elements of the project, from recording to manufacturing to launch, must take place in Canada. If the album is released through a label, the label must be at least 51 percent Canadian-owned.
Ineligible Activities
Ineligible Genres of Music
Music that is created to meet current market expectations and for which an established music industry infrastructure exists are ineligible for support through this program. At this time, ineligible music to this program includes, but is not limited to:
- pop, rock, heavy metal, country, adult contemporary and new age
- urban music, including rap, r & b, soul, new soul, hip hop, garage, soca and reggae
- electronica, including house, techno, down tempo, commercial dance, drum and bass, electro, jungle, ambient and trance
- commercially oriented forms of folk, jazz, world music, Aboriginal music, children’s music, classical music and gospel.
The above list is intended to be broadly descriptive and does not specifically name all genres and sub-genres of music that are ineligible for this program. When considering their eligibility, applicants should consider whether their music, their practice and intent, and their desired audience is generally consistent with the definitions or genres listed above.
The Music Section reserves the right to determine the eligibility of each applicant based on the audio sample they submit.
Musicians working in forms of music that are ineligible for support from this program should explore the possibility of support from other programs of the Canada Music Fund, administered by FACTOR (the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records) and Musicaction.
Ineligible Projects
The following types of recordings are ineligible for support through this program:
- recordings being created as a fundraising project
- recordings that are already completed.
Grant Amount
For full-length recordings, this program may cover up to 60 percent of the eligible costs listed below, to a maximum of $20,000.
For demo projects, this program may cover up to 60 percent of the eligible costs listed below, to a maximum of $3,000.
Eligible Costs
This program funds the following types of costs:
- recording costs, including studio expenses and artistic fees for the principal performers, producer and guest artists
- production costs, including editing, mixing and mastering
- post-production costs, including package design, liner notes and artwork
- manufacture of 1000 units
- some initial marketing expenses.
For full-length recording projects involving large ensembles, a higher maximum grant may be approved. Applicants must contact the responsible Music Section Officer before applying for an amount that exceeds the program maximum. In all cases, grant recipients may receive full or partial funding.
Projects must begin after the deadline date. Retroactive funding is not available. All expenses incurred prior to the deadline date are ineligible for support. Applicants who begin their project before receiving the results of their grant application undertake the project at their own risk.
Assessment of Applications
For each competition, a national peer assessment committee, composed of musicians and music professionals working in specialized music, is convened. Decisions regarding committee make-up are made by the Music Section Officer responsible for the program. In addition to being chosen for their expertise, committee members are chosen to ensure fair representation of gender, regional and cultural diversity, Aboriginal peoples and both official languages. New committees are set up for each competition.
The decision to award a grant is based on the relative merit of your application compared with all others received at each deadline, and upon available funds.
Applicants will be notified of the results of the competition in writing within three to four months of the application deadline.
The Canada Council for the Arts does not release results by telephone.
Application Form
Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording (pdf, 196 KB)
This form can only be printed and cannot be filled out on-line.
Further Information
For further details or to obtain an application form, contact Gerri Trimble, Music Section Officer.
Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4103
TTY (TDD) machine, for hearing impaired callers: (613) 565-5194
Fax: (613) 566-4409
Music Section
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa ON K1P 5V8
January 2006