Music Recording Projects

This Ontario Arts Council grant pays for recording a demo, EP or full album: studio time, mixing and mastering, producer and engineer fees (and a step-up fee for your own playing on a live recording), copyright and royalty costs, packaging and artwork, manufacturing the first 1,000 units, and a contribution toward marketing the recording itself, including hiring an Ontario-based publicist. It won't cover songwriting or rehearsal time, touring, music videos, recordings made for film or games, or re-releasing material that's already out. It's open to professional musicians and composers living in Ontario, Ontario-based collectives and ad hoc groups, and professionally led community orchestras and choirs — recording studios, labels, managers and schools can't apply on their own behalf. Grants top out at $4,000 for a demo or EP and $10,000 for a full-length album, and because the program has limited funds, awards are sometimes smaller than what's requested; there's no stated match-funding requirement. You apply through OAC's online Nova system once the form opens, submitting your project details, a budget, two short audio or video examples (five minutes total at most), and a résumé or bio. Assessors use OAC's general evaluation rubric rather than one specific to this program, but the stated priorities favour Ontario composers and songwriters, projects that add something new to the recorded music available to the public, and projects that are genuinely ready to go into the studio. The next deadline is November 5, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET.