News Updates

Manitoba Film & Music COVID-19 Strategic Music Program Updates

Posted on April 30, 2020

Recording Program Changes

Overview: Manitoba Film & Music is adjusting the recording program to have one additional program level. The intent is to meet the needs of the industry during the pandemic, and to foster the creation of intellectual property and economic activity. Manitoba Film & Music has also increased its percentage of investment per program and widened the window for eligible recording expenses.

Preproduction Level

This is a new program level which will support songwriters and producers by providing funds for active artists to create new intellectual property for future monetization. Songwriters and producers can apply to work on the creation of new material and develop songs to later record in the studio. The applicant must deliver rough demos of 2 new works at the end of the project. Available Funding is a $1500 flat fee award.

Eligible applicants must be Manitoba artists who have commercially released a minimum of one single in the past two years which is available on all streaming platforms at the time of application, and who has a professional track record in the field.

Level 1 Demo

Manitoba Film & Music’s funding for a Level 1 Demo is increased to an award of up to $2000 or 100% of the applicant’s budget, whichever is less. (Previously, the maximum award was up to $2000 or 75% of applicant’s budget). In addition, home recordings done in partnership with accredited local recording studios are eligible. Applicants must deliver the new recordings to Manitoba Film & Music at the end of the project.

Level 1 Commercial Release

Manitoba Film & Music’s funding for a Level 1 Commercial Release is increased to an award of up to $3000 or 100% of the applicant’s budget, whichever is less. (Previously, the maximum award was up to $2000 or 75% of the applicant’s budget). In addition, home recordings done in partnership with accredited local recording studios are eligible. Applicants must deliver the new recordings to Manitoba Film & Music at the end of the project and release the recordings to the public.

Eligible applicants to the Level 1 Demo and Level 1 Commercial Release must be Manitoba artists with a track record of released material. The program will allow for home recordings that can be produced or mixed by local engineers. Artists must pair with a Manitoba Film & Music accredited studio, producer, or mixer to create a recording for release (Commercial Release only). The accredited studio (producer, and/or mixer) must be in place at the time of application.

Level 2

Manitoba Film & Music’s funding for a Level 2 is increased to an award of up to $10,000 or 75% of the applicant’s budget, whichever is less. (Previously, the maximum award was up to $10,000 or 60% of the applicant’s budget).

Level 3

Manitoba Film & Music’s funding for a Level 3 is increased to an award of up to $20,000 or 60% of the applicant’s budget, whichever is less. (Previously, the maximum award was up to $20,000 or 50% of the applicant’s budget).

Additional Change to Recording Program (All Levels) – Manitoba Film & Music will allow expenses to be incurred up to 30 days prior to the application date. Expenses incurred more than 30 days before the application is submitted will not be accepted.

 

Tour Program Update

Online Concert Guideline Update

Overview: Manitoba Film & Music will allow applications for online concerts in the Recording Artists Touring Support Program. Artists can apply to perform a series of up to three online concerts supporting a current release. Available funding is an award of up to $1500, offered at a flat rate of $500 per concert for up to three concerts.

Eligible applicants must be Manitoba artists who have commercially released a minimum of one single in the past two years which is available on all streaming platforms at the time of application, and who has a professional track record in the field. Applicants must have a presenting partner in place for each concert or a PR person engaged to promote the concerts online through social media, etc. Priority will be given to artists with Manitoba Film & Music-funded releases. Applicants will be allowed a maximum of one grant every six months, with a maximum of two per fiscal year. Applicans must choose which program stream they are applying to on the application form, either the tour stream or the online concert stream.

Additional Change – Manitoba Film & Music is reducing the minimum number of required live tour dates to be two concerts outside of the artist’s hometown. The previous minimum was six concerts. This change is temporary until such time as regular touring can recommence.

Tour Program Open to Online Concerts Only

Due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, the tour program will only accept applications for online concerts. The program remains closed to applications for live concert tours.

 

Music Business Development Program Update

Overview: Manitoba Film & Music has adjusted the Business Development program to have two steams: Emerging Companies Level and Established Companies Level. The intent is to allow new companies to seek funding and to broaden the categories of companies supported by this program.

Emerging Companies Level

Emerging Companies program applicants must have been working professionally in the music industry for one year and have been registered as a business in Manitoba for that time. This program stream is intended for professional Manitoba music companies working as labels, artist managers or music publishers who represent a minimum of one Manitoba artist or who are Manitoba-based music presenters to apply for funding for special projects, development of new products, collaborations or new models for delivery of their business and/or products. Available funding for this level is an award of up to $3000, or 75% of the applicant’s budget, whichever is less.

Established Companies Level

Established Companies program applicants must have been working professionally in the music industry for two years, having been registered as a business in Manitoba for that time. The program stream is intended for professional Manitoba music companies working as labels, artist managers or music publishers who represent a minimum of two Manitoba artists to apply for funding for special projects, development of new products, collaborations or new models for delivery of their business and/or products. Available funding for this level is an award of up to $15,000 or 75% of the applicant’s budget, whichever is less.

Applicants can only apply to one stream of the Business Development Program per application deadline.

 

Marketing Program Tour Date Rule

Due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, the Record Product Marketing Support program guideline that requires applicants to have live concert dates in place at the time of application is suspended until further notice.

 

Music Video and Viral Video Program Clarification

Manitoba Film & Music has amended the guidelines for the Viral Video stream of the video program to clarify that non-Manitoba Film & Music-funded artists are only eligible to apply once per fiscal year. The guidelines previously stated that an artist could apply once per Album, Single, or EP.

 

Please see our website mbfilmmusic.ca for our updated application forms and complete music program guidelines.

Please contact Music Department staff with any questions at: music@mbfilmmusic.ca

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