OMIF — Music Creation
Highlights
This program is designed specifically for businesses like yours in the music industry. It offers direct grants to support activities such as expanding artist rosters, professional recording and production, job creation, export market development, and enhancing business capacity. By participating, you can receive up to 50% of the costs for eligible activities, with a maximum cap of $200,000. This funding can significantly boost your business operations and growth potential.
Why apply?
- Financial Support: Up to 40% of your company's two-year average revenue.
- Flexibility: Use funds for recording, marketing, touring, and business development.
- Growth: Enhance your business capacity and increase diversity within Ontario's music industry.
Qualifying for this program is straightforward, and the application process is designed to be user-friendly. Approval can provide a substantial financial boost, allowing you to invest in new projects and talent, ultimately driving your business forward.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Direct Grant
Repayment Terms and Interest Rates:
- No repayment required.
- No interest rates apply.
Eligible Expenses:
- Expanding artist rosters.
- Investing in professional recording and production.
- Facilitating job creation.
- Undertaking export market development.
- Enhancing business capacity.
- Increasing and strengthening diversity within Ontario's music industry.
Ineligible Expenses:
- The funds cannot be used for non-business-related activities.
- Personal expenses or unrelated business costs.
Fees:
- No fees are associated with this program.
Qualifications
- Must be a domestic record label, multinational record label, or domestic music publisher.
- Eligibility as a domestic record label may extend to high potential self-releasing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) and Francophone artist-entrepreneurs.
- Must have minimum annual revenues of $25,000 from core business activities as a record label or music publisher.
Must be registered in Ontario and have a permanent office in Ontario.
Disqualifications:
- Domestic music promoters and presenters with revenues over $1M who meet the eligibility criteria of Experience Ontario.
- Individual artists (unless they qualify as high potential self-releasing BIPOC or Francophone artist-entrepreneurs).
Description
This program offers your business a great opportunity to grow and succeed. You can receive up to $200,000 in funding, which can cover up to 50% of the costs of eligible activities. The minimum funding request is $10,000.
You can use this money to:
- Expand your artist roster
- Invest in professional recording and production
- Create jobs
- Develop export markets
- Enhance your business capacity
- Increase diversity in Ontario's music industry
The funding comes as a direct grant, meaning you don't have to pay it back. However, you must match the grant amount with your own funds to ensure the best return on investment. You will need to show clear, measurable outcomes that align with the program's goals.
This is a fantastic chance to take your business to the next level while contributing to the growth and diversity of Ontario's music industry.
Program Steps
Register on the Online Application Portal (OAP):
- Go to Ontario Creates Online Application Portal.
- Click on "Register" to create a user account if you do not have one.
Attend an Information Session:
- Register for an upcoming Ontario Creates Information Session to understand the application process better. Complete the online registration form by 5:00 pm ET on the day prior to the session.
Prepare the Required Documentation:
- Business Plan: Include company history, team description, competitive strengths, artist development strategies, and a S.W.O.T. analysis.
- Financial Statements: Provide financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year and the previous fiscal year.
- Activity Budget Template: Complete the OMIF Music Creation - Activity Budget Template.
- Applicant Affidavit: Fill out the Applicant Affidavit.
- Certificate of Insurance: Acknowledge that you have or can obtain general liability insurance.
Contact Ontario Music Office (OMO):
- First-time applicants should contact OMO at least two weeks before the application deadline to discuss eligibility. Email inquiries to [email protected].
Compile and Review Your Application:
- Gather all necessary documents and information.
- Review the OMIF Music Creation Guidelines and Program Policies thoroughly.
Submit Your Application:
- Log in to the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal (OAP).
- Complete the application form and upload all required documents.
- Save your progress incrementally and review all information before final submission.
Wait for Application Review:
- Ontario Creates will review your application. This process may take up to 14 weeks after the application deadline.
Receive Funding Notification:
- If approved, discuss the specific 12-month activity window with a Program Consultant.
- Provide a Certificate of Insurance before the transfer payment agreement can be executed.
Execute Approved Activities:
- Begin your activities within the eligible activity window.
- Ensure all expenses are incurred and deliverables are provided by the final report date.
Submit Final Report:
- Complete and submit a final report detailing the outcomes and expenses of the funded activities by the specified deadline.
