Federal Budget Promises $60M More For Music Programs
Yesterday’s 'Investing In the Middle Class' budget tabled in the House of Commons promises an additional $60-million in funding over two years for programs that will boost talent marketing and tour
By David Farrell
Yesterday’s 'Investing In the Middle Class' budget tabled in the House of Commons promises an additional $60-million in funding over two years for programs that will boost talent marketing and tour funds,and increase money available for festivals and cultural events.
Specifically, the Canada Music Fund is promised an additional $20M, for a total of $40.7M in recent funding increases, that will significantly enhance the effectiveness of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) and the Foundation To Assist Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) which, collectively, underwrite and sponsor a wide range of Canada’s entrepreneurial music initiatives.
The Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF) budget will be increased by $16M to support festivals, presenter support orgs and some assistance for supporting Canadian artists working in international markets.
Another $24M over two years is pegged to go to the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program fund.
Reaction from the music biz to the promised additional funds, hinging on the Liberals maintaining a majority government in the Oct. 21 election, has been swift and substantially enthusiastic.
CIMA President Stuart Johnston stated, in part: “This is fantastic news for Canada’s commercial music industry,” adding that the not-for-profit is “incredibly grateful to the Federal government and specifically our dedicated advocate, Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, for showing their support of our industry.” Johnston says that CIMA plans “to work closely with government to ensure that these dollars are invested in the most impactful way, such as providing additional support for sound recording, international export opportunities, promotion, marketing, touring and showcasing, and the domestic development of our great artists.”
Addressing new funding for the performance industries, Canadian Live Music Assoc’s president Erin Benjamin issued a statement applauding the Heritage Minister for his commitment to live music in Canada, adding that the sector shows significant economic impact, noting that research pegs Ontario revenue at $1.2B and the creation of 20,000 jobs, and in BC, $815M and over 7,000 jobs. “And, it is growing,” she says, projecting that “by 2021, live music is predicted to represent 62-percent of the total music market revenue in Canada.”
Graham Henderson, President and CEO of Music Canada, said his org “welcomes the Government of Canada’s increased funding to the Canada Music Fund and Canada Arts Presentation Fund…but there remains much work to be done to address the Value Gap hurting the music sector. For labels and artists to be competitive and financially successful, they need a sustainable business framework.”
In a statement that can be viewed on Music Canada’s website, Henderson went on to say that “the United States and the European Union have (recently) taken steps to address the Value Gap (and that) Canada has an opportunity to join the community of nations in protecting and fostering the careers of creators. During the Copyright Act review, the creative community was virtually unanimous in urging the government to repeal decades-old subsidies through which individual creators enrich billion-dollar technology and broadcasting platforms (such as the Alphabet nest of companies).”
Canadian Arts Coalition co-chair Kate Cornell said yesterday that the “strategic investment in Canadian festivals and presenters is pivotal to ensure that diverse and innovative works created by Canadian artists can reach Canadian audiences.” She added that the CAC “is pleased to see $1 million allocated over two years to gender-based analysis and the collection of disaggregated data at the Department of Canada Heritage.
