Industry Links
Canada’s music industry can be a bit overwhelming. FACTOR and other funders are only one piece of a big pie. Take a look through some of our partners and colleagues in the industry to find out how they can help you navigate the ins and outs of the business.
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ISRC
An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is the international identification system for sound recordings and music video recordings. Each code is unique and permanent to the specific recording and is assigned as its “digital fingerprint.” ISRCs are a way to identify and track how recordings are being used by digital services and/or retailers.
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Connect Music Licensing
View WebsiteCONNECT music licensing administers licences in Canada for the reproduction of sound recordings, and the reproduction and broadcast of music videos on behalf of the copyright owners (usually the record companies). A licence from CONNECT music licensing ensures that owners receive compensation for the use of their sound recordings and/or music videos.
National Advisory Board
FACTOR is committed to serving Canada’s regions from coast to coast to coast. This is why the National Advisory Board (NAB) was established in 1992.
The NAB’s purpose is twofold: to assist FACTOR in developing policies and procedures that remain responsive to the Canadian independent music industry on a national level, and to act as a regional resource for FACTOR’s programs to applicants across the country.
Regional Education Coordinators (RECs)
Did you know that in addition to the NAB, FACTOR works with 13 RECs across the country? With the exception of Quebec, each of the RECs is associated with a regional Music Industry Association. RECs provide consultation about FACTOR and its programs to local artists and music entrepreneurs by running local workshops and seminars, and consulting on a one-to-one basis.
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Music NL
View WebsiteMusicNL is a collective working to increase awareness locally, nationally and internationally of provincially produced music as an art form and as a viable industry with significant impact on the economy. MusicNL is dedicated to addressing key issues affecting the Newfoundland & Labrador music industry in order to implement positive change by presenting a strong voice to government, business and the community at large. MusicNL provides funding investment to its members, and facilitates outreach to schools across the province and ensures that its members are up to speed on any developments in the global music industry.
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Music Nova Scotia
View WebsiteMusic Nova Scotia exists to grow and nurture the Nova Scotia music industry, to retain our own natural resource and promote investment, by providing education, information and resources to our membership, acting as the advocate for the industry to all levels of a government and private enterprise, supporting membership in the promotion of the export of Nova Scotia music regionally, nationally and internationally. Membership is mainly made up of Nova Scotians but some join us from other regions of the East Coast as well as across Canada.
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Music New Brunswick
View WebsiteMusic/Musique NB (MNB) is a provincial music industry association that provides a support network for musicians, managers, and businesses that are involved in the creation of music within the province of New Brunswick. MNB is a non-profit association with ties on regional, provincial, and national levels with government agencies and departments who enable us to lobby and promote our industry and our artists whenever possible. MNB’s primary responsibility is to represent the interests of its members and foster the New Brunswick music industry.
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Music PEI
View WebsiteMusic PEI, founded in 2001 as the Prince Edward Island Music Awards Association, is a non-profit member services organization devoted to advancing careers of Island musicians and music industry professionals. Music PEI is actively seeking ways to promote, foster and develop artists and the music industry on PEI. The Association acts as an advocate for the Island music industry and a representative at the national table. Music PEI administers an annual Funding Program designed to encourage growth by providing financial assistance to the industry.
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Music Ontario
View WebsiteA division of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), MusicOntario is the hub of Ontario’s vibrant music community, the largest in all of Canada. As a member-based, not-for-profit industry association, MusicOntario is dedicated to providing education, professional development, and support to its members in order to nurture, develop and promote the growth and sustainability of the Ontario music industry.
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Cultural Industries Ontario North (CION)
View WebsiteCultural Industries Ontario North is dedicated to advancing the development and promotion of Northern Ontario’s music, film, television, and digital media industries, to attract investment in film and television industry projects and create new revenue opportunities for Northern Ontario communities, artists and production professionals.
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Music NWT
View WebsiteMusic NWT exists to develop, foster and promote the continued growth of the Northwest Territories music industry to its fullest potential. Music is an integral part of culture in the Northwest Territories, and by supporting performing and recording artists in the NWT, Music NWT aims to increase recognition of the music industry as a vital element of the economy and cultural identity of the Northwest Territories, both within the territory and abroad. Music NWT also provides training opportunities to musicians, and provides a voice to government and business and the communities at large regarding issues facing the music industry.
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Manitoba Music
View WebsiteManitoba Music is the hub of Manitoba’s vibrant music community. It is a member-based, not-for-profit industry association representing over 750 members in all facets of the music industry, including artists and bands, studios, agents, managers, songwriters, venues, promoters, producers, and beyond. Manitoba Music serves all genres, from rock to roots, hip-hop to hardcore, country to classical, and everything in between. Through its programs and services, Manitoba Music provides information, education, communication, advocacy, industry development, and networking opportunities to nurture, develop and promote the growth and sustainability of the Manitoba music industry.
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SaskMusic
View WebsiteSaskMusic is a non-profit association that stimulates growth and development in the commercial music industry of Saskatchewan through leadership, promotion, training, advocacy and partnership. SaskMusic offer programming including career consultations, workshops, marketing, legal services, funding assistance, artist listings, export assistance, networking opportunities and much more. It represents the four components of our industry: creative, interpretive, technical and administrative. Their artists and music professionals hail from across the province, and work in pretty much every genre you can imagine. SaskMusic is a source of information and resources for both the public, and the music industry.
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Music Yukon
View WebsiteMusic Yukon exists to help artists achieve their artistic, career and business goals including musicianship, professionalism, business success, economic self-sufficiency and cultural expression; develop and improve the market for Yukon musicians and northern music industry; enhance the presence of music and Yukon’s music sector in the community and the nation as a source of entertainment, cultural identity, economic opportunity and community quality of life; and represent the interests of the Yukon’s music sector locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
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Alberta Music
View WebsiteAlberta Music is a non-profit, service based association dedicated to helping professionals in the music industry succeed in their careers. Since 1984, Alberta Music has been committed to growing the Alberta music industry through education, communication, information, promotion and recognition of Alberta talent. The association provides professional development, educational support, mentoring and training opportunities for Alberta artists and those working within the Alberta music industry.
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Music BC
View WebsiteRepresenting the British Columbia music industry, Music BC is a non-profit society dedicated to providing information, education, funding, advocacy, awareness and networking opportunities to nurture, develop and promote the spirit, growth, and sustainability of the BC Music community. Music BC (formerly known as The Pacific Music Industry Association or PMIA) has been in operation for over 20 years, serving the music industry of British Columbia. Music BC is the only provincial music association that serves all genres, all territories and all participants in the industry from artists, to managers, agents, broadcasters, recording studios, producers and all other industry professionals.
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Music Publishers Canada (MPC)
View WebsiteSince 1949 the Music Publishers Canada (MPC) has ensured the views of music publishers working in Canada and its members are heard. It is our mission to promote the interests of music publishers and their songwriting partners through advocacy, communication, and education.
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Music Managers' Forum
View WebsiteThe MMF Canada is committed to ensuring that artists receive their fare share of remuneration from every possible income source. As the management sector’s voice in the industry, the MMF Canada acts as a lobbying force to various levels of the government on behalf of its members on key issues that affect managers and their artists.
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Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA)
View WebsiteCIMA’s mandate is to ensure the long-term development of the sector and to raise the profile of Canadian independent music both in Canada and around the world.
Industry Associations
From coast-to-coast-to-coast there are industry associations who work year-round to represent various members of the music industry. Find a bit more about them below.
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Songwriters Association of Canada
View WebsiteAn association led by active professional and amateur songwriters, the SAC is committed to the development and recognition of Canadian composers, lyricists and songwriters.
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Music Publishers Canada (MPC)
View WebsiteSince 1949 the Music Publishers Canada (MPC) has ensured the views of music publishers working in Canada and its members are heard. It is our mission to promote the interests of music publishers and their songwriting partners through advocacy, communication, and education.
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Music Canada
View WebsiteMusic Canada is a non-profit trade organization founded in 1964 that promotes the interests of its members as well as their partners, the artists. Music Canada works closely with recording studios, live music venues, concert promoters and managers in the promotion and development of the music cluster.
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Music Managers' Forum
View WebsiteThe MMF Canada is committed to ensuring that artists receive their fare share of remuneration from every possible income source. As the management sector’s voice in the industry, the MMF Canada acts as a lobbying force to various levels of the government on behalf of its members on key issues that affect managers and their artists.
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ADISQ
View WebsiteADISQ is a professional non-profit that defends the interests of its members and promotes the development of the music industry in Quebec. This includes consulting the government on policies and the financing of the music industry.
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Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA)
View WebsiteCIMA’s mandate is to ensure the long-term development of the sector and to raise the profile of Canadian independent music both in Canada and around the world.
Rights & Licensing
Wondering how you can get paid for your work? These organizations have your back.
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Connect Music Licensing
View WebsiteCONNECT music licensing administers licences in Canada for the reproduction of sound recordings, and the reproduction and broadcast of music videos on behalf of the copyright owners (usually the record companies). A licence from CONNECT music licensing ensures that owners receive compensation for the use of their sound recordings and/or music videos.
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Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA)
View WebsiteCMRRA is a non-profit music licensing agency, which represents the vast majority of music copyright owners (usually called music publishers) doing business in Canada.
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Independent Digital Licensing Agency
View WebsiteTwenty leading independent labels organized IDLA — The Independent Digital Licensing Agency to provide independent labels and artists more efficient and economic digital asset delivery to digital music services, royalty collection and administration through an organization whose financial interests are directly aligned with its independent artists and label members.
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SoundExchange
View WebsiteSoundExchange is a non-profit performance rights organization that collects statutory royalties from satellite radio (such as SIRIUS XM), Internet radio (like Pandora), cable TV music channels and similar platforms for streaming sound recordings.
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Musicians' Rights Organization of Canada (MROC)
View WebsiteMROC is dedicated to serving the performers it represents to make sure that they receive fair compensation for their performances on sound recordings.
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Artisti
View WebsiteArtisti is a collective management society created by the Union of Artists in 1997, which represents more than 2,500 artists. ‘s mission is to manage and distribute royalties to performers under the Law on Copyright and arising from the following rights: equitable remuneration (audio broadcast), private copying (copies of music made for the personal use of the copier) and right of reproduction (some copies only).
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ACTRA-RACS
View WebsiteThe Recording Artists’ Collecting Society (RACS) is a division of ACTRA that collects and distributes equitable remuneration (neighbouring rights and private copying) to eligible recording artists.
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Re:Sound
View WebsiteRe:Sound is the Canadian not-for-profit music licensing company dedicated to obtaining fair compensation for artists and record companies for their performance rights. On behalf of its members, representing thousands of artists and record companies, Re:Sound licenses recorded music for public performance, broadcast and new media.
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SOPROQ
View WebsiteSOPROQ collective management of rights of producers of phonograms and video recordings of Quebec allows producers of sound recordings and music videos to enjoy fully the benefits of the rights granted to them under Canadian law on copyright.
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SODRAC
View WebsiteSODRAC negotiates collective and individual agreements with users of their works, collects royalties and redistributes them to the rights holders it represents. It therefore controls all reproduction of its members’ works on any type of audio, audiovisual, visual or digital media, as well as the use of recordings on these media.
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Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
View WebsiteSOCAN is a not-for-profit organization that represents the Canadian performing rights of millions of Canadian and international music creators and publishers.
Musicians' Unions
For musicians looking for some assistance on a variety of issues, these unions can help represent you.
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Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM)
View WebsiteThe Canadian Federation of Musicians helps thousands of musicians who need assistance with any number of issues related to the recording and performing of their craft. With specialized services ranging from immigration, media recordings, symphonic and theatrical matters, touring, freelance musicians and membership services, contract negotiations and administration, royalty streams, and more, CFM helps its membership take best advantage of all career opportunities and optimize the level of their professional working environment.
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GMMQ
View WebsiteThe GMMQ, in partnership with the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, has defended the interests of over 3,300 professional musicians throughout Quebec in every facet of the music industry.