Province and Creative BC announce $4.41 million in funding for music industry

VICTORIA — Today the Province of British Columbia and Creative BC announced the allocation of $4.41 million from the BC Music Fund.

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, and Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, alongside Prem Gill, CEO of Creative BC and industry representatives, made the announcement today at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, with an acoustic set performed by Jasper Sloan Yip, a B.C. musician who has received support from the BC Music Fund.

A total of $1.41 million has been allocated to Music BC to support the expansion of the association’s activities in the areas of export and professional development, touring and expanded showcase opportunities for B.C. artists. Music BC plays an integral role in delivering projects that develop B.C.‘s music industry, and will be essential in connecting musicians with the BC Music Fund and its suite of programs.

Sound recording plays a vital role in the overall music ecosystem and today, Bond and Gill congratulated thirty-five successful applicants who received grants from the previously announced $500,000 Sound Recording Pilot Program.

Further to applicant and industry feedback, Creative BC has extended the Sound Recording Program providing an additional $3 million in funding. The expanded application criteria reflects increased access for unincorporated recording studios and artists. The announcement today brings the total investment in sound recording to $3.5 million.

Applications for the Sound Recording Program will be accepted by Creative BC as of today, and on a first come, first served basis until funds have been allocated. Successful recipients will receive grants to record at B.C.-based recording studios.

From December through March, the BC Music Fund will launch additional programs to support B.C.’s diverse music industry. The seven programs will be: sound recording, live music, industry initiatives, research, careers of B.C. artists, music company development, and innovation.

Additional information, including backgrounders, can be found online at:
www.bcmusicfund.com

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour —

“B.C. is one of Canada’s leading centres for music with talented musicians in every corner of the province. This funding will help Music BC to continue to train and develop music professionals, in addition to the expanded Sound Recording Program, which will support the creation of original new content. We know a strong music sector develops our culture, promotes creative talent and diversifies our strong and growing economy.”

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport, and Cultural Development —

“Investing in touring, professional development and sound recording helps B.C. musicians stay at the top of their field, delighting their listeners and strengthening our creative economy. Thank you to Creative BC and Music BC for raising the profile of our outstanding music sector.”

Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC —

“Creative BC has worked diligently for months with the BC Music Fund Advisory Committee and a wide variety of industry stakeholders to analyse where and how funding will be the most beneficial. Today marks the first of many grant rollouts, with more planned for December 2016 and early 2017.”

Bryan Adams, musician and BC Music Fund Advisory Council member —

“The BC Music Fund is focused on supporting B.C. artists and the industry that develops them right here in our province. The programs being created through the BC Music Fund and Creative BC will strengthen and give opportunities to everyone in B.C.͛s music industry.”

Alex Grigg, executive director, Music BC —

“As the voice of British Columbia’s music industry, we continue to provide funding to support the growth and sustainability of the province’s music community — artists, music professionals, and other creators. This additional $1.41 million will allow us to provide greater support for our industry partners and expand our own network to reach more of the province’s artists and industry professionals. We applaud and thank the support from Creative BC and the Province for this opportunity and partnership.”

Jasper Sloan Yip, sound recording pilot program funding recipient —

“We are so grateful to be one of the first groups to receive support through the BC Music Fund. Local artists continue to seek out innovative ways to expand their community and have their music heard. This gives us more opportunity to develop quality music that we’re proud to share.”

Quick Facts:

• B.C. has the third-largest concentration of independent labels, sound recording studios and other music businesses in Canada.
• B.C.’s music industry includes over 80 independent record labels, 123 sound recording studios and hundreds of music publishers, managers, talent agencies, marketing and other businesses that support the development and delivery of music.
• There are more than 6,400 artists in B.C.: these include 600 conductors, composers or arrangers and 5,825 musicians or singers.
• B.C.’s music industry contributed over $400 million in revenue to the provincial economy.
• The industry generates revenue from multiple streams that include record label production and sound recording ($52.7 million) live music performances ($87.8 million), music publishing ($13.7 million) and artist income ($255 million).

Learn More:

To apply for funding from the BC Music Fund, please visit:  www.bcmusicfund.com

To find out more about Creative BC, please visit:  www.creativebc.com

To find out more about Music BC, please visit:  www.musicbc.org

For a full list of funding recipients, please click here:  http://ow.ly/d6cS306GOl7

Twitter: #BCMusicFund / @BCMusicFund / @CreativeBCs / @MusicBC / @BCGovNews

Facebook: /creativebcs

Instagram: @creativebcs

Two backgrounders follow.

Media Contact:
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Backgrounders

Backgrounder 1: Music BC Funding

Backgrounder 2: Sound Recording Program

Background 3: Sound Recording Pilot Program Recipients

Backgrounder 1

Music BC Funding

Funding allocated to Music BC will be used to support:

Training and Professional Development:

• Music BC will expand its “How-To Series” of workshops/panels educating artists and industry professionals in all aspects of the music industry.
• Events will feature local and international industry professionals speaking on a wide variety of topics, and encourage networking, mentorship, and community building.
• Online resources will be developed and accessible to those working in the music industry across the Province and several events will be delivered in B.C.’s regional centres.
• Through the PEAK Performance Project, Music BC built a successful artist development program that made significant impact on the careers of B.C. artists. Music BC will continue offering an annual artist boot camp with Creative BC͛s support, serving a diverse group of artists covering multiple genres.
• Music BC will also offer a new industry boot camp, to support the growth of record labels, managers, publishers, booking agents and other industry professionals.

Export, Showcasing & Touring Initiatives:

• Music BC will expand its domestic and international export initiatives, and showcase B.C. artists at international festivals and industry events.
• Music BC will research and explore new markets for export, including India, Southeast Asia, China and Mexico.
• Music BC will provide additional tour support for bands performing in those export markets. This will strategically leverage the presence of BC artists at those events, build audiences in those countries and solidify relationships with venues, booking agents and other industry professionals in those areas.
• Funding for Music BC’s music travel grant program (MITAP) will be increased, providing additional support for touring bands and business travel.
• Music BC will expand its inbound trade initiatives, encouraging international industry representatives to build relationships with B.C. artists and professionals. Seven inbound trade initiatives will include artist showcases, networking opportunities and business-to- business meetings. Events will expose international guests to our local industry, and create export opportunities for artists and companies unable to travel to international markets.
• Music BC will partner with out-of-province and U.S. festivals to create B.C.-branded stages, developing audiences for B.C. artists in other markets.

Media Contact:
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Backgrounder 2

Sound Recording Program

This program supports sound recording projects at B.C.-based studios, and is designed to attract domestic and international business to BC recording facilities.

Applicant Eligibility:

• Music companies commercially releasing sound recordings, such as record labels or artist entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for this program.
• Applicants must be incorporated companies or B.C. registered businesses with primary business activities in the music industry.
• Applications for the Sound Recording Program will be accepted by Creative BC as of Dec. 1, 2016, and on a first come, first served basis until funds have been allocated.

Eligible Recording Studios:

• Under this program, recording facilities no longer need to be incorporated, but may also be B.C. registered businesses. The B.C. residency ownership requirement has been removed from the eligibility criteria, and replaced with the condition that all recording facilities submit an annual B.C. tax return.

Guidelines and application forms are available at:  www.bcmusicfund.com

Media Contact:
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Backgrounder 3

Sound Recording Pilot Program Recipients

Final List of 35 Funding Recipients from the Sound Recording Pilot Project: