Grant
Provincial
Active
Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Company Development
Ontario Creates (Ontario Music Office)
Maximum Funding
Eligible applicants may request up to 40% of their two-year...
September 10, 2026 (Intake 2 — 2026-27); Intake 1 was April 23, 2026
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Company Development provides up to Eligible applicants may request up to 40% of their two-year average annual revenue, to a maximum of $125,000 per funding cycle and $250,000 over three consecutive cycles; OMIF covers up to 50% of eligible activity costs. A grant stream within Ontario's Music Investment Fund (OMIF) that supports Ontario-based record labels, music publishers, and music management companies to develop competitive, sustainable businesses. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted September 10, 2026 (Intake 2 — 2026-27); Intake 1 was April 23, 2026.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
A grant stream within Ontario's Music Investment Fund (OMIF) that supports Ontario-based record labels, music publishers, and music management companies to develop competitive, sustainable businesses. Provides up to 50% of eligible activity costs to a maximum of $125,000 per funding cycle, with a rolling three-year cap of $250,000. Eligible companies must have revenues exceeding $125,000 annually and provide matching contributions. Two intake deadlines per year.
Eligibility Requirements
- Ontario-based domestic record labels (majority Canadian ownership and control)
- Multinational record labels with Ontario operations (exempt from the Canadian-ownership test)
- Ontario-based domestic music publishers
- Ontario-based domestic music management companies
- Companies deriving revenue from any combination of the above categories
- Must have been in operation for at least two years prior to the application deadline
- Must be able to 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 be in good standing with Ontario Creates at the time of application submission
- Minimum annual revenues over $125,000 from eligible music business activities
- Requests are capped at 40% of the company's two-year average annual revenue (NEW for 2026-27), to a maximum of $125,000 per cycle
- Must provide matching contributions (OMIF covers up to 50% of eligible costs)
- Must not have received $250,000 cumulative OMIF MCD support in the most recent three consecutive program years
- Two years of financial statements required; dated within 6 months of fiscal year-end
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Eligible applicants may request up to 40% of their two-year average annual revenue, to a maximum of $125,000 per funding cycle and $250,000 over three consecutive cycles; OMIF covers up to 50% of eligible activity costs
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- September 10, 2026 (Intake 2 — 2026-27); Intake 1 was April 23, 2026
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Sep 10, 2026
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Company Devel...
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- 8-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
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- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipTwo caps bind, and the newer one usually binds first: your request cannot exceed 40% of your two-year average annual revenue (new for 2026-27), and OMIF cannot exceed 50% of eligible activity costs.
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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6 steps
8 docs
Application Steps
1
Register on the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal Create or log into your account at apply.ontariocreates.ca — the Intake 2 portal opened the week of July 27, 2026. First-time applicants must also contact [email protected] at least two weeks before the deadline.
Required Documents 8
✓ Application submitted through Ontario Creates Online Application Portal (apply.ontariocreates.ca)
✓ Two years of financial statements (audited or reviewed, dated within 6 months of fiscal year-end)
Eligible Expenses 9
Ineligible Expenses 6
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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3 partners
Compatible Programs
FACTOR (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings)
Canada Music Fund (CMF) — Music Entrepreneur Component
Export Development Canada (EDC) — Export Financing
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
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How Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Company Devel... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Company ... | Eligible applicants may request up... | Moderate | Reimbursement | September 10, 2026... |
| FACTOR — Canada Music Fund (Artist Pr... | Up to $67,500 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Multiple annual intake... |
| Creative Industries Funding | Varies | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing (multiple... |
| SSHRC Partnerships | Up to $2.5M | Hard | Advance Payment | Partnership Grants:... |
| Creative Export Canada | Up to $2,500,000 | Hard | Varies | Annual Calls |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Company Devel...
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What companies are eligible — do I need to be a registered label?
Domestic record labels, multinational record labels, domestic music publishers, and domestic music management companies are all eligible. You can also qualify if you derive revenue from any combination of these (e.g., a company that both manages artists and operates a small label). You must have been in operation for at least two years, with your principal place of business in Ontario for at least a year before the deadline.
How much can I actually request?
New for 2026-27: up to 40% of your two-year average annual revenue, to a maximum of $125,000 per cycle. A company averaging $300,000 in revenue can request at most $120,000; one averaging $150,000 can request at most $60,000. OMIF still cannot exceed 50% of your eligible activity costs.
What is the rolling three-year cap?
In any consecutive three-year period, a company cannot receive more than $250,000 total from OMIF MCD. For example: $100K in 2024-25 + $100K in 2025-26 = only $50K available in 2026-27.
Can I include international touring in my budget?
No — international business travel is explicitly ineligible. Domestic travel is eligible. For international development, explore FACTOR's Global Market Development and OMIF's separate Global Market Development stream.
I'm just below the $125K revenue threshold. Can I still apply?
No — the minimum revenue threshold is a hard gate: revenues must be OVER $125,000 from eligible music business activities. Companies at or below that should look at Music Creation or, if they're very small, the Music Futures stream (designed for companies with revenues from $25K to $125K).
Why do applications fail?
Most common reasons: revenues too low, under two years in operation, a request exceeding 40% of two-year average revenue, rolling three-year cap already reached, insufficient matching contribution making the OMIF share exceed 50%, weak or non-measurable outcomes, and capital equipment costs included as eligible expenses.
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Full Playbook: Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Company Devel...
6 steps · 8 docs · reviewer insights