Canadian Government Renews Canada Music Fund in 2025 Budget

The Canada Music Fund has been renewed.

After a few weeks of uncertainty from independent Canadian music industry groups, yesterday (Nov. 4), the government officially renewed and allocated $48 million to the fund, in the first federal budget tabled by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne — it will be distributed over the next three years, beginning in 2026.

The decision serves as a moment of celebration for Canadian music organizations. Québec music organization ADISQ shares that it’s a relief for the industry.

“This renewal was essential for our companies to continue investing fully in the career development of local artists, and thus maintain the sector’s competitiveness,” says Eve Paré, executive director of ADISQ, in French. “Public funding provides leverage for our industry. It plays a vital role in reaching the full potential of our cultural vitality.”

For over four decades, the Canada Music Fund has been a cornerstone of Canada’s music economy, supporting FACTOR and Musicaction, two of the country's biggest and most important music grants.

The Canada Music Fund’s $48 million renewal extends the $16 million annual boost that was announced as a temporary two-year top-up in 2024, with another $16 million for the next three years.

Securing stable funding will enable music orgs to meet the challenges they face, such as declining contributions to private radio broadcasting, and will serve as a boost after the paused 5% revenue funds for major foreign-owned digital streaming platforms under Bill C-11.

The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) notes that the renewal is a sign of recognition and validation for homegrown artists and organizations.

“Canadian music companies and the artists they work with represent a dynamic economic engine powering the growth of Canada’s cultural economy. This budget announcement is an encouraging step forward,” says Andrew Cash, president and CEO of CIMA.

The renewal will benefit live music organizations, too. The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) enthusiastically welcomed the federal government’s continued investment in Canada’s cultural sector, “including the commercial live music infrastructure of venues, festivals and promoters that connect artists to audiences across the country.”

“The CLMA looks forward to continuing to work with government and its agencies to ensure that the true power of live music is fully harnessed — for our artists, our communities, and our country,” says Nate Sabine, chair of the CLMA Board of Directors and director of business development at Blueprint.

In addition to the renewal, the government has announced a $150 million funding increase for CBC/Radio-Canada, with hopes of the country securing a spot on Eurovision’s international song contest.

Lines in the tabled budget say the government is working with the public broadcaster to explore participation in the song contest and modernize CBC/Radio-Canada’s mandate to strengthen independence.

“Public funding preserves a dynamic local ecosystem that values what makes us unique. We must now work to guarantee the sustainability of this funding and thus ensure the future of our music,” says Paré.