Closed
Source verified September 3, 2026
OMIF — Music Company Development
Develops sustainable music companies in Ontario
Get notified when OMIF — Music Company Development reopens
Funding available
$ 125,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
OMIF – Music Company Development provides direct grants covering up to 50% of eligible activity costs for eligible domestic record labels, multinational record labels, domestic music publishers, and music management companies in Ontario. It supports recording, promotion, artist development, business development, and capacity building to help companies discover talent and bring it to market.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- $ 125,000 minimum revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Recording, editing, mixing, and mastering of music performances at an Ontario facility by a Canadian artist signed to an Ontario-based, Canadian-controlled music company.
- Master licence fees for Ontario-based recordings and video production incurred in Ontario.
- Marketing and promotion activities for new recordings and/or online performances by Canadian artists signed to the applicant company.
- Direct tour costs for an artist signed to the applicant company.
- Artist development, business development, capacity building, and innovation activities.
Documents Needed
- Activity Budget template.
- Year-Over-Year Operating Budget.
- Business Plan for applicants requesting $50,000 or more, or the business-plan questions in OAP for requests under $50,000.
- Articles of Incorporation and Financial Statements for the two most recently completed fiscal years.
- Artists’ contracts/certificate and undertaking (if applicable); Back up confirmation to support confirmed or pending financing; Documentation indicating that eligibility requirements have been met (e.g., proof of release dates, proof of sales, management or recording/licensing agreements); Signed Related Party Transaction form; and Signed Applicant Affidavit.
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Domestic record labels.
- Multinational record labels.
- Domestic music publishers.
- Domestic music management companies.
- Companies deriving revenue from any combination of these three applicant categories.
Eligible expenses
- Costs for items such as staff salaries, office space and corporate services that are directly used in the delivery of the planned activities, to a maximum of 25% of the total activity costs.
- The cost of a new position that is being created as a result of the proposed activity.
- A portion of salaries or wages for existing staff or ongoing contract employees assigned to work on the proposed activities.
- Budget allocations towards capital expenditures such as the purchase of equipment, materials and/or software, if purchased as amortization value using the straight-line method with a prescribed useful life of 24 months, or actual rental cost if rented.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Expenses related to business travel and catalogue acquisition.
- Expenses incurred outside the approved activity period, and expenses not in the original budget and which did not receive pre-approval by Ontario Creates.
- Costs relating to international artists, foreign producer fees, manufacturing fees, staff and labour costs not directly related to the activity, and staff benefit costs.
- Real estate costs and leasehold improvements, or capital costs related to permanent structures, and cost of alcoholic beverages or cannabis-related products.
- Fees relating to the compilation engagement report, review engagement, or audit of applicant financial statements; fees relating to the procurement of services of grant writers for preparing government funding applications; cost of General Liability insurance; taxes that are recoverable by the recipient; and related party transactions which did not receive pre-approval by Ontario Creates.
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- Track record and organizational capacity, including financial and human resources, with diversity among senior leadership, staff, or contract employees and/or meaningful engagement with equity-seeking or underrepresented communities (15%).
- Financial capacity and stability based on the company’s financial statements (10%).
- Quality of the application, including business case, appropriateness and feasibility of activities, value of initiatives, clarity, and completeness (25%).
- Documented economic development results, measurable goals, ROI, broader impact for Ontario, and potential commercial and/or critical success (25%).
- Strategic long-term planning focused on growth, sustainability, and innovation (15%), and strength of the artist roster, including alignment with the business model and roster diversity (10%).
How to apply
- Submit applications electronically through the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal (OAP) at https://apply.ontariocreates.ca.
- If you do not have a user account on OAP, go to https://apply.ontariocreates.ca/ and click on Register.
- For assistance, please see Ontario Creates’ website for the OAP Quick Start Guide.
- To start the application, click on Start New Application and follow the directions through the five-step wizard to access the application form.
- For technical assistance, please contact the OAP Helpdesk at applyhelp@ontariocreates.ca.
Processing and Agreement
- Ontario Creates staff reviews applications for completeness and eligibility immediately following the deadline.
- A jury of industry professionals and Ontario Creates staff review and assess the eligible applications.
- Successful applicants will be required to deliver an interim report and final report through the Online Application Portal by the identified deadline(s).
- Payment milestones generally include execution of the Ontario Creates transfer payment agreement, delivery of interim report(s) and subsequent approval, and delivery of final report(s) and subsequent approval.
- A cost report is required as part of the reporting process, and recipients awarded up to $150,000 may be selected for a spot audit of the Final Cost Report and may be asked to provide invoices and proofs of payments.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the OMIF — Music Company Development Program
What is the OMIF — Music Company Development?
OMIF – Music Company Development provides direct grants covering up to 50% of eligible activity costs for eligible domestic record labels, multinational record labels, domestic music publishers, and music management companies in Ontario. It supports recording, promotion, artist development, business development, and capacity building to help companies discover talent and bring it to market.
How much funding can be received?
OMIF — Music Company Development Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $125,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the OMIF — Music Company Development program?
To be eligible for the OMIF — Music Company Development program, you must:
The applicant must be Ontario-based and have a principal place of business in Ontario for at least one year before the application deadline.
The applicant must have been in operation for at least two years, be Canadian-owned except for Multinational Record Labels, and be incorporated in Ontario or federally or prepared to incorporate immediately if successful.
The applicant must be in a sound financial position, be in good standing with Ontario Creates, and have minimum annual revenues over $125,000 from eligible music business activities.
What expenses are eligible under OMIF — Music Company Development?
Recording, editing, mixing, and mastering of music performances at an Ontario facility by a Canadian artist signed to an Ontario-based, Canadian-controlled music company.
Master licence fees for Ontario-based recordings and video production incurred in Ontario.
Marketing and promotion activities for new recordings and/or online performances by Canadian artists signed to the applicant company.
Direct tour costs for an artist signed to the applicant company.
Artist development, business development, capacity building, and innovation activities.
Who can I contact for more information about the OMIF — Music Company Development?
You can contact Ontario Creates by email at OMO@ontariocreates.ca or by phone at 416-642-6696.
Where is the OMIF — Music Company Development available?
The OMIF — Music Company Development program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the OMIF — Music Company Development a grant, loan, or tax credit?
OMIF — Music Company Development is a Grant and Funding