Ontario Creates — OMIF Global Market Development – Music

Program Description

Ontario-based domestic record labels, music publishers, music management companies, and live music promoters and presenters can receive up to $12,500, covering a maximum of 50% of eligible expenses, to participate in national and international market events and targeted business travel that expand international market share.

Eligibility Requirements

• Ontario-based domestic record label, music publisher, music management company, or live music promoter/presenter (including festivals)
• Companies deriving revenue from any combination of those four applicant categories are also eligible, and need only meet the requirements of one category
• Must be Ontario-based and Canadian-owned
• Must have been in operation for at least two years prior to the application deadline
• Must demonstrate that the company's principal place of business has been in Ontario for at least one year prior to the deadline
• Must be incorporated in Ontario or federally, or prepared to incorporate immediately if the application is successful
• Must be in a sound financial position
• Must have minimum annual revenues of $25,000 from eligible music business activities
• Must be in good standing with Ontario Creates at the time of application submission
• Record labels must have two or more artists signed to their roster, derive the majority of revenue from master recordings they own or license, hold the master copyright or licence for at least three Canadian-artist releases by different artists, and have released at least one Canadian-artist recording in the last 12 months
• Music publishers must have an active roster of at least two Canadian songwriters, be primarily engaged in acquiring and registering copyrights, derive the majority of revenue from authorizing use of those compositions, and own at least 100 original works in the catalogue
• Music management companies must manage at least two artists (exceptions possible for a single artist at an advanced international level), have a roster that is at least 50% Canadian, and manage at least one artist with a commercial release in the last 24 months
• Music promoters and presenters must develop and deliver live music events and programme and promote live acts at two or more separate performance venues in Ontario; entities that solely self-promote their own events are not eligible
• Music festivals qualify in the promoter/presenter class if independently incorporated or if the festival is the applicant's primary activity, the festival has operated more than one year, and the applicant takes the primary operational and financial risk
• Activities must correspond to a strategy for company growth and produce measurable business and market development results
• Supported activities are market event attendance and targeted business travel supporting an international market development strategy; activities must take place outside Canada, though domestic activities may be considered where a clear international objective is present
• The number of eligible program activities is capped at five per application
• Applicant must contribute at least 50% of eligible expenses (OMIF funds up to 50%, to a maximum of $12,500)
• All travel must originate in Ontario unless otherwise approved by Ontario Creates
• Successful applicants must carry Commercial General Liability Insurance of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence, naming Ontario Creates and His Majesty the King in right of Ontario as additional insureds