TORONTO,  ON (November 9, 2026) — The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) welcomes the federal government’s announcement of $67 million in funding through the Canada Music Fund to support the production and promotion of Canadian and Indigenous music. The announcement, made yesterday by the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, represents a significant investment this year in Canada’s music sector and an important step toward strengthening the industrial ecosystem that supports the development of great Canadian artists. 

The funding will be distributed among five organizations:
FACTOR: $31.5 million
Musicaction: $21 million
Canadian Starmaker Fund: $5.7 million
Fonds RadioStar: $3.8 million
Indigenous Music Office: $5 million
CIMA has long called for a substantial increase to the Canada Music Fund, recognizing that sustained investment is essential to the health, growth and international competitiveness of Canada’s independent music sector. This announcement represents an important response to that advocacy and an acknowledgment of the critical role that music businesses play in Canada’s cultural and economic landscape.

“For years, CIMA has argued that the best way to ensure Canadians hear Canadian voices is to build a strong ecosystem of dynamic, globally competitive Canadian music companies serving excellent Canadian artists. These are the businesses that discover, develop and nurture artists, produce and promote Canadian music, help build audiences and create opportunities for Canadian artists to reach listeners both at home and around the world,” says Andrew Cash, President and CEO of CIMA. “This investment is an important commitment, and a clear indication that the government has listened to the music sector.”

While this investment is an important milestone CIMA looks forward to a new ministerial policy direction to the CRTC as part of the modernization of Canada’s broadcasting system. A clear policy framework is essential to ensuring that the system evolves to reflect the realities of Canada’s place in the global music market, its proximity to and the market pressure from the largest producer of anglophone content in the world and the shifting geopolitical dynamics affecting all aspects of the Canadian economy, including that of the Canadian-owned music sector. 

CIMA looks forward to working with the federal government, Canadian Heritage and our sector colleagues as we continue to build a dynamic, globally competitive and equitable Canadian-owned independent music sector. 
                                                          – 30-

ABOUT CIMA: 
Founded in 1975, the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) is the national not-for-profit trade association representing more than 650 Canadian-owned music companies connected to over 6,000 artists and music industry workers in every province and territory in Canada. CIMA’s membership ranges from Canadian-owned global music labels to individual artists, managers, publishers, agents, live presenters, industry-adjacent service companies, including digital marketing, public relations and content creation as well as other national and provincial industry associations. 

CIMA Media Contact:
For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information please contact:
Jenia Schukov (Manager of Communications & Export Programming)
P: 416-998-3705
E: jenia@cimamusic.ca