Act Now to Support Music Funding in Canada - Canadian Independent Music Association

I write to you with an urgent message: $16 million of annual federal funding that enables FACTOR and Musicaction to invest in Canadian owned companies and Canadian artists is about to expire. If this money is not renewed then investments made in Canadian owned music companies and artists could be cut up by to 50%!! We need to act now. Just click on this link to send a message to our government decision makers that this investment is vital to the growth and success of Canadian artists and Canadian-owned companies here at home and on the world stage. And when I say we need to act now, I mean NOW, today. You can click on this link to send a message to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Stephen Guilbeault, the Minister of Finance François-Philippe Champagne, the Prime Minister Mark Carney and your local MP.

Spread the Word within your networks! Use these social media graphics to raise awareness about the #canadamusicfund and what’s at stake if the government cuts this investment!

Here is why we need to act so fast. CIMA and its many partner associations across the country were gearing up for a campaign to ensure that the upcoming Spring 2026 federal budget would contain measures to make this money a permanent part of the Canada Music Fund. It was initially announced as a temporary top up to the Canada Music Fund in the 2024 budget and set to expire on March 31,2026. Except that earlier this month, the federal government surprised everyone, including its own members by announcing that it will no longer be tabling budgets in the spring and that the budget for fiscal year 2026 will be tabled in a matter of weeks-on November 4!! So, we need to make sure this money gets renewed now. This moment couldn’t be more critical for the Canadian music sector. While the federal investment in music hangs in the balance, contributions from private radio broadcasting into FACTOR has plummeted from a high in the early 2020’s of $16 million down to approximately $2 million this year. On top of all that, funds that the government was hoping would flow from the digital streaming platforms due to Bill C 11 have ground to a halt after Spotify, Amazon, Apple and other tech giants took the government to court arguing that they shouldn’t have to adhere to Canadian regulations. Whether you are a large Canadian company, a new music start up, an established artist or fledgling musician, everyone in our sector benefits from the investments made by FACTOR and Musicaction. Let’s make sure our government gets this urgent message that the world’s most innovative and successful platform for investing in music is right here in Canada!! Now more than ever before we need to be strengthening the fabric of Canadian made culture. That means investing in FACTOR and Musicaction. Today!! What You Can Do: Let your voice be heard by sending an email to our government decision makers by using this action page, to quickly urge them to be Music Champions. Spread the Word within your networks! Use these social media graphics to raise awareness about the #canadamusicfund and what’s at stake if the government cuts this investment! Let’s Do This ! Andrew Cash (he/him) President and CEO Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA)