The website for the Radio Starmaker Fund is now back on-line and ready to accept applications. Below you will find information on our next application deadline. We encourage you to begin the application process as early as possible to avoid filing incomplete applications. The Vice-President of Programs & Applications, Jerry Leibowitz (jerryleibowitz@starmaker.ca), will be happy to help you with your questions should you need assistance. You can send him an email before you submit your application and time permitting, he will review your work and provide feedback. Please keep in mind that once an application is submitted, it can’t be changed.
New Details for Round 80:
The Orion Program
The Orion program is a funding stream dedicated to supporting music creation by members of the Canadian music industry who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.
The Radio Starmaker Fund distributes private funds that provide “substantial incremental investment where the artist has established a proven track record.” However, racism and other systemic barriers may prevent applicants from qualifying for the established Starmaker programs. The Orion program was established to distribute these funds in a manner that lowers the barrier to entry for eligible Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour who have not yet met Starmaker sales criteria.
Orion is a “stepping stone” program. It will fund a broad range of activities to support racialized artists as they continue to develop and increase the audience and industry reach needed to apply to other Starmaker programs.
Orion is also a ‘living program’ made to be able to adapt to and reflect the Board’s collective learning, community feedback and industry change.
The program is comprised of the following elements:
- Qualifying applicants are identified as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour – if you are a band rather than an individual, the majority of the band must be identified as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.
- You must show full-length or bundle sales of at least 1,500 units to qualify. A full-length release contains at least 6 unique studio recordings – not including acoustic re-recordings, remixes, versions, etc. – and at least 25 minutes of music. A bundle contains at least 3 unique, previously unreleased studio recordings – not including acoustic re-recordings, remixes, versions, etc. – and at least 9 minutes of music. They can be either physical, digital or equivalent streams (750 single track streams from a full-length release or bundle will constitute one sales unit toward the achievement of the minimum sales threshold, as will 5 downloaded tracks from a release constitute one sales unit). We will accept proof via Soundscan/Music Connect, manufacturing invoices and net sales reports from distributors. International sales, streams and downloads will be counted towards eligibility. Multiple releases from the previous 5 years leading up to the deadline for the round can be combined to show eligibility. Alternatively, if you have been nominated for a Juno, Grammy or the Polaris prize shortlist for a release from the last 5 years, you will be considered qualified for this program. You can just enter the release which was nominated, list the sales as 1,500 units and attach proof of the nomination.
- Applicants with no previous approvals for this program or those that had their eligibility lapse will need to show current eligibility to our Manager, Finance & Administration, Michelle Farres (michellefarres@starmaker.ca) at least a week in advance of the deadline for the round in which you apply.
- The application process will be as follows: you will enter your artist information into the Starmaker website. Those details are provided on the right side of our homepage under the links for “Getting Started”. After completion, you will then have the option to be redirected to this program where you will submit a one-page business plan/proposal. You will be able to include attachments to the proposal, elaborating on proof of eligibility, breakdowns of expenditures or other key information. Brief details on domestic or international activity and momentum should be included in the proposal to illustrate why your request should be funded.
- Money can be requested for any music related expenses – recording, promotion, publicity, advertising, digital marketing, touring, videos, etc. The maximum overall request must be capped at $25,000 and artists will only be considered for one of these grants per calendar year. Please be sure to make the actual request in your application as opposed to just putting together a budget. We need to know exactly what you’re asking us to consider funding. Letters of support are not necessary to include. Also, if you apply and are approved for recording costs, you will not need to show release of the recording within 6 months of the deadline for the round for the first approval.
- Artists who eventually qualify for the main Starmaker programs will still be able to apply for this annual $25,000 grant.
- All other Starmaker rules will apply.
- Start your Application by signing in to your existing Artist profile or starting a new Artist profile.
The Orion Program Going Forward
After this round, we will be opening the Orion Program to eligible applicants twice a year due to budgetary and administrative considerations. Beginning 2022 and thereafter you will be able to submit applications for the Program for the February and August deadlines only.
Keep in mind that when you enter the sales, stream and download information for this program into our system, you should include the worldwide figures – not just the Canadian figures.
Also, all users must have their own account and use their account when working on applications. Users cannot share account information or use other people’s log-ins/passwords under any circumstances.
In-Person Performances
The minimum capacity we will consider for ticketed, in-person performances will return to 100 from the temporary number of 50 we had been allowing during the last few rounds.
All applications must be filed online prior to the next deadline of Thursday, August 19th, 2021 at 5:00 PM EST. The ability to file an application will automatically be shut down at that time. Please ensure your application has been completed and submitted before this deadline. Thank you in advance.