Music Recording Projects

The program supports the recording of music by Ontario-based musicians including composers, songwriters and beat producers.

Grant Deadline

2025-11-06

Funding Amount

$10,000

Type of Grant

Grant, Funding

Sectors

Arts & Culture, Music

Demographics

Incorporation

For Profit, Non Profit

Perks

Region Restriction

Keywords

arts, art, music, Artists

Age Restriction

This grant is age restricted from 18 to 100

Eligibility and Requirements

Purpose

The program supports the recording of music by Ontario-based musicians including composers, songwriters and beat producers. The program has two categories:

• Demo/EP recordings:
• EP recording of a series of songs that may be released individually or as a short album, less than 25 minutes, intended for public release
• Demo recordings for the purpose of demonstrating newly developed work for labels, funders, presenters, promoters, festivals, etc. These recordings may or may not also be intended for public release
• Full-length album: a single work or collection of compositions, 25 minutes minimum, recorded for public release in physical format or an online platform. The album is only considered complete after it has been publicly released.

Note: Projects are only considered complete once the recording is publicly available (except for demos not intended for release).

Priorities

The program’s priorities are to support:

• music created by Ontario composers/songwriters as well as works by other Canadians. If your project features non-Ontario composers, a compelling case should be made for how the project will add to what is currently available to the public (for example, currently unrecorded, rare music, or a foremost performer of the music of a specific composer)
• projects that enhance the range of recorded music available to the public (locally, nationally and internationally)
• projects that are ready or nearly ready to begin recording

Deadline date(s)

May 22 and November 6, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

• The application form will be available in Nova about two months before the deadline.
• You will find out whether you got a grant about four and a half months after each deadline.

Grant amount(s)

• Demo/EP recordings: maximum $4,000
• Full-length album: maximum $10,000

Important: Due to the number of applications received and the limited funds available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested.

Recent changes

• The application questions and evaluation rubric have been reworked to better align with OAC’s current strategic plan.
• Individual applicants must be 18 years of age or older to apply.

Eligible applicants

• professional musicians and composers who are Ontario residents
• professional music ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations based in Ontario
• Ontario-based, professionally led community orchestras and choirs, as well as choral training groups whose project includes fees to professional musicians or composers

Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for more eligibility information.

Ineligible applicants

• recording studios
• record companies, record labels, managers, agents and lawyers
• municipalities, colleges, and universities
• schools
• religious institutions
• organizations that receive a grant in the Music Organizations: Operating program
• organizations that receive an operating grant in other OAC programs, with the exception of organizations mandated to serve one or more of the OAC priority groups.

What this program funds

• recording, mixing, mastering
• artist and producer fees, including fees to the applicant. For live recordings, additional artist fees for recording (step-up fees) are eligible, but not the fee for live performance itself
• copyright and royalty fees
• studio and recording location rental
• recording media, such as tapes and hard drives
• packaging artwork and design
• a contribution towards marketing or promotional costs specific to the recording, including the hiring of an Ontario-based marketing manager or publicist
• manufacturing, up to the first 1,000 units
• equipment rental
• purchase of small-scale equipment, software, electronics and similar materials required to carry out the project
• childcare and other dependant care fees enabling individuals to take part in the project (this does not include regular, ongoing expenses)
• expenses related to making the project accessible to audience members and project participants (other than the applicant) who are Deaf or have a disability
• Note: Applicants to this program who identify as Deaf or as having a disability may apply for supplementary funds for their own accessibility expenses through Accessibility Fund: Project Support.

What this program does not fund

• expenses for activities that take place outside of Ontario
• school projects
• compilation projects (that is, albums that are exclusively re-releases of previously recorded material that has been made public)
• video production, including of promotional and music videos
• recordings produced as part of projects in other media, such as television and radio shows, commercials, films, videos, installations and video games
• recordings of incidental music for dance or theatre productions
• composition or songwriting
• rehearsal
• live concert production costs
• touring and travel related to promotion or marketing
• major capital expenditures, including buying, leasing or renovating buildings and purchase of major equipment
• fundraising activities
• administrative costs (except for marketing of the recording)

Activity timing

The activities for which you are requesting funding:

• cannot start before the deadline
• cannot finish before you receive your grant results
• must be completed no more than two years after you receive the grant results

Grant Application website

https://www.arts.on.ca/grants/music-recording-projects

Contact

For more information, please contact

Derek Daniher

Interim Program Administrator

ddaniher@arts.on.ca

416-969-7451

Toll-free in Ontario: ​​​​​1-800-387-0058