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FYI

New Canada Music Fund $s Expected In Budget

The annual $24-million budget is expected to be topped up with fresh funds that will target the realities Canada's music industry in the digital age.

New Canada Music Fund $s Expected In Budget

By FYI Staff

The federal government is expected to make long-sought changes next year to the $24-million Canada Music Fund (CMF) that hasn’t seen a funding boost in over a decade.


The Liberal government has been telling music biz insiders that it will enrich the fund, although by how much isn't clear, according to a news report widely circulated by Canadian Press reporter Jordan Press.  The same story suggests the government also plans to change how the money is distributed, in light of fading sales and the growth of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.

Industry officials, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private conversations, told Press that changes to CMF will be part of next year's budget–the last before the 2019 general election.

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A spokeswoman for the department said in an emailed statement that the government was working with industry experts to ensure the overhaul is "done with diligence and will provide Canadian musicians with the support they need to thrive in the current environment."

The statement goes on to say that officials are still developing recommendations for specific changes to the fund.

Money through the fund is aimed at helping Canadian companies involved in recording, promoting, and distributing music at home and abroad, and helps mitigate a critical financial issue in the industry: access to capital.

Read the complete story here.

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Classified receiving an ECMA award on May 11 in St. Johns, Newfoundland.
DC Mills Photography

Classified receiving an ECMA award on May 11 in St. Johns, Newfoundland.

FYI

Music News Digest: Classified Leads East Coast Music Awards Winners in a Controversial Year

Also this week: Canada House's mission to The Great Escape, Steven Guilbeault becomes Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, a musical tribute to Toronto musician and sound engineer Al Miller & more.

Here is some Classified info we can share: Over the weekend, the East Coast hip-hop star emerged as the big winner at the annual East Coast Music Awards, held in St. John's, Newfoundland. He took home five trophies, followed by folk music group Vishtèn with three awards and acclaimed singer-songwriters Kellie Loder and Maggie Andrew with two wins each. The first batch of ECMA Award winners was announced May 8, during the 37th annual East Coast Music Awards. Two classical awards were given out on Saturday at the Classical Showcase and the remaining awards were presented May 11 at the East Coast Music & Industry Awards.

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