Frequently Asked Questions

OMIF - General

• 1. 

  What Is the Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF)?

  The Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF) is an economic development investment fund designed to support Ontario-based music businesses and organizations in maximizing growth, increasing return on investment (ROI), and fostering a balanced, vibrant and diverse music ecosystem.

  
  

  IMPORTANT: Updates have been made to OMIF parameters for the 2026-27 program year that may impact eligibility. Please review program guidelines thoroughly prior to starting an application.

  
  

  Key Program Goals:

  • Provide targeted investment to increase revenues and support job creation, retention and growth
  • Maximize ROI and enhance opportunities for innovation & competitiveness (domestically and internationally)
  • Optimize support for new, emerging and diverse companies across the province’s music ecosystem

  
  

  The OMIF has five program streams:

  • Music Company Development
  • Live Music
  • Music Futures *New*
  • Global Market Development – Music
  • Music Industry Development
• 2. 

  Who is eligible to apply to the OMIF?

  The program provides support through five program streams.

  
  

  Music Company Development: Eligible domestic record labels, multinational record labels, domestic music publishers, and domestic music management companies, in addition to companies deriving revenue from any combination of these three applicant categories with revenues over $125K.

  
  

  Live Music: Eligible domestic music promoters and presenters (including festivals) with revenues over $125K.

  • Domestic music promoters and presenters with revenues under $1M who meet the eligibility criteria for OMIF as well as Experience Ontario may not receive funding from both programs for the same event in the same activity window. Domestic music promoters and presenters (including festivals) with revenues over $1M who meet the eligibility criteria of Experience Ontario are NOT eligible to apply for OMIF.

  
  

  Music Futures *New*: Eligible domestic record labels, domestic music publishers, domestic music management companies, and domestic music presenters and promoters (including festivals), in addition to companies deriving revenue from any combination of these four applicant categories with revenues from $25K up to $125K.

  • Domestic music promoters and presenters (including festivals) with revenues who meet the eligibility criteria for OMIF as well as Experience Ontario may not receive funding from both programs for the same event in the same activity window.

  
  

  Global Market Development – Music: Eligible domestic record labels, music publishers, music management companies, and live music promoters and presenters, in addition to companies deriving revenue from any combination of these four applicant categories.

  
  

  Music Industry Development: Eligible music industry trade associations and music service associations.

• 3. 

  What is the definition of a "Canadian" artist?

  A “Canadian artist” must be a Canadian citizen or have landed immigrant status. A Canadian group is defined as having more than one member, at least half of whom are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

• 4. 

  Is business travel an eligible expense?

  Eligible domestic record labels, music publishers, music management companies, and live music promoters and presenters may apply to the Global Market Development – Music stream for funding to participate in national and international activities that correspond to a strategy for international business development and growth.

  
  

  Companies eligible under the Music Company Development and Music Futures streams may apply for domestic business travel not related to international business development within those streams. Note: International business travel expenses are ineligible for funding through the Music Company Development, Music Futures, and Live Music streams.

OMIF - Music Creation

• 1. 

  I’m an artist, am I eligible to apply directly?

  The OMIF is designed to complement other existing provincial and federal funding programs. Record labels and music publishers may apply for activities that support artists i.e. recording, marketing & promotion, touring etc. Individual artists may be eligible for Ontario Arts Council funding www.arts.on.ca. In addition, the federal government provides direct support to artist through FACTOR www.factor.ca. Eligibility as a domestic record label may extend to high potential self-releasing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) and Francophone artist-entrepreneurs. Potential applicants to which this situation applies are strongly encouraged to contact Ontario Music Office at least two weeks ahead of application deadline to discuss.

• 2. 

  Are Artist Managers eligible in the Music Creation stream?

  Music Managers are eligible to apply for the Global Market Development for Music Managers which provides eligible music management companies with funding to participate in national and international activities that correspond to a strategy for company growth. These activities must produce measurable business and market development results for the participating company (sales, financing, licensing and/or publishing deals, audience awareness, media coverage, partnership development, etc.). Primary activities supported are market event attendance and targeted business travel activities that support the market development strategy.

• 3. 

  How does OMIF define “core business revenue” for the Music Creation stream?

  Appendix 1 of the Music Creation Guidelines outlines the eligible applicant types. Core business revenue for record labels refers to revenue from physical products (CD/DVD/vinyl/merchandise); revenue from digital sales and streaming services; revenue from licensing and sale of rights and permissions (domestic and international); and revenue from commissions and fees from related activities. Core business revenue for music publishers refers to revenue from licensing and sale of rights and permissions; and revenue from commissions and fees from related activities.

  
  

  While applicants may apply for up to 40% of their average revenue figure for the purpose of the “OMIF amount requested” in their activity budget, please keep in mind that this percentage is intended to reflect the company’s core business revenues as described above. The Ontario Music Office may seek further information should an applicant’s financial statements not clearly show a revenue breakdown that provides clarity regarding the sources of revenue that comprise the total revenue figure.

• 4. 

  What’s the best way to structure my application activities? Should I submit all recording activities as one, and then all marketing, then all the business development, etc. or project by project?

  Activities in the Music Creation template for music companies mirror those in the guidelines i.e. recording and production, marketing and promotion, touring and showcasing, and business development. Information can also be entered on a by-project basis, as long as each project documents the relevant activities.

• 5. 

  How does the eligible activity window work?

  The Music Creation stream has two deadlines for the 2025-26 program year: April 30, 2025 and September 11, 2025. Recipients will have a flexible 12-month period to execute their activities, as is outlined by the examples below.

  
  

  Applicants may begin incurring expenses related to their activities no earlier than April 1, 2025 (for the April 30 deadline) or August 1, 2025 (for the September 11, 2025 deadline), and must commence their activity spending no later than 90 days following the date of funding approval. The 12-month activity window for recipients will commence on the date that the first expenditure is incurred for any activity within the application.

  
  

  The eligible activity window for the April 30 deadline is a maximum 12-month period between April 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. The eligible activity window for the September 11 deadline is a maximum 12-month period between August 1, 2025 and January 15, 2027.

  
  

  Upon receiving a funding notification, recipients will have the opportunity to discuss their specific 12-month activity window with a Program Consultant prior to the execution of their agreement with Ontario Creates.

  
  

  For repeat applicants that have an existing Music Creation funding approval, the onus is on the applicant to demonstrate that the activities and costs being submitted for the new application do not overlap with activities supported by the previous application (if they are choosing an earlier start date for their 2024-25 activities than the end date for their 2023-24 approved activities). Ontario Creates reserves the right to request invoices and proofs of payment to verify the eligibility of expenses.

  
  

  Outlined below are examples to demonstrate the options available to applicants in terms of the starting and ending dates for their activities.

  
  

  
  

  EXAMPLE 1:

  
  

  Company A wants to start its eligible activity window on April 1, 2025. Company A must apply to the April 30, 2025 deadline (for activities taking place between April 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026). Company A understands that this decision to commence their eligible activity window as of April 1 is at their own risk, as there is no guarantee that their application (or the specific proposed activity) will receive funding when decisions are announced approximately 14 weeks after the April 30, 2025 deadline.

  
  

  Company A may commence incurring costs for the proposed activity as of April 1*, and will have a maximum time window of 12 months starting from the date the company commences their eligible activity window (i.e. April 1, 2025). Company A’s 12-month eligible activity window would expire on March 31, 2026.

  
  

  EXAMPLE 2:
  

  Company B wants to start its eligible activity window on July 1, 2025. Company B must apply to the April 30, 2025 deadline (for activities taking place between April 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026).

  
  

  Company B understands that they will not receive notification regarding their application until approximately 14 weeks after the April 30 deadline (somewhere between late July and mid-August).

  
  

  Company B will have a maximum time window of 12 months starting from the date the company commences their eligible activity window* (i.e. July 1, 2025). Company B’s 12-month spending window would expire on June 30, 2026.

  
  

  EXAMPLE 3:

  
  

  Company C applies to the September 11, 2025 deadline. As Company C has flexibility with respect to the starting timeframe for their activities, they choose to wait until receiving notification of whether or not their application has been approved before they commence their activities. Company C is informed in mid December, 2025 (approximately 14 weeks after the September 11, 2025 deadline) that their application has been approved.

  
  

  Company C may choose a start date anytime up to 90 days following this funding notification to commence spending on their approved activities (which would take them to mid-March 2026), however, the latest date by which spending can be incurred is January 15, 2027. If Company C decided to not commence their spending until mid-March 2026, they would have a compressed eligible activity window that would end January 15, 2027.

  
  

  Activities for the 2025-26 program cycle must be completed with all expenses incurred and all deliverables provided by the applicant’s recipient’s final report date, and no later than September 30, 2026 (for recipients from the April 30, 2025 deadline) or February 15, 2027 (for recipients from the September 11, 2025 deadline).

  
  

  * Any activity spending incurred prior to funding approval is applicants’ risk, and a valid certificate of insurance must be in place as of the time of the expenditures.

• 6. 

  Can a company reapply to the second deadline if their application to the first deadline was not approved for funding?

  Yes, an eligible applicant that was not approved at the first application intake may submit an application to the second application intake. Unsuccessful applicants that wish to reapply are strongly encouraged to request a feedback call well ahead of submitting another application.

OMIF - Technical

• 1. 

  How many years’ worth of financial statements am I required to submit?

  Financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year and the previous fiscal year, for a total of two sets of financial statements are required. Financial statements must be current and dated within six months of the applicant’s fiscal year-end.

• 2. 

  At the time of application my company will have just reached its fiscal year end, and audited financials will not be ready for a couple of months. Are we ineligible?

  Financial statements must be current and dated within six months of the applicant’s fiscal year-end.

  • Internally prepared statements (profit & loss statement and balance sheet) will be accepted for applications requesting $15,000 or less.
  • A compilation engagement report, review engagement or audited financial statements will be accepted for requests of more than $15,000.
  • A compilation engagement report must be prepared and signed by an accountant who is a member in good standing of a provincial branch of the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA).
  • Review engagement or audited financial statements must be conducted by an independent public accountant who is a member in good standing of a provincial branch of the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA).
• 3. 

  What is the definition of a “Canadian-controlled corporation”?

  A “Canadian-controlled corporation” is generally a corporation that is more than 50% owned by Canadians, as determined under sections 26 to 28 of the Investment Canada Act (Canada).

• 4. 

  What are the criteria that a company needs to meet in order to be an Ontario-based music company?

  To be considered Ontario-based, the applicant company must have a principal place of business* in Ontario which serves as head office and base of operations. The applicant must meet the following:

  • applicant must be eligible to pay corporate income taxes in Ontario
  • Ontario address is listed as head office in T2 filing; and,
  • Ontario address must be a stable and non-temporary establishment where the applicant can demonstrate that the location is under the corporation’s control and the space can be objectively identified with the corporation. For example:
    • maintenance of an office for which the corporation pays rent or compensates employees
    • presence of office equipment
    • the place of business is listed as the corporation’s residential address in the telephone directory
    • substantial quantities of the corporation’s goods are kept on the property
    • residents or employees of the corporation working at the property devote all their working hours to the corporation’s interests
    • have key management personnel who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada living in Ontario
    • substantial usage of owned/rented machinery or equipment that is used to carry out the corporation’s business

  *If the applicant is a successful funding recipient, the applicant must continue to have a principal place of business in Ontario for the duration of the funding.

• 5. 

  Can I include the cost of capital expenditures (purchase of equipment, software, etc.) in my activity budget?

  As outlined in the OMIF Guidelines, costs related to capital expenditures (i.e. equipment, software) are restricted to specific circumstances. In the circumstances where costs related to capital expenditures are permitted to be included in the activity budget, an applicant can only include the “amortization expense” related to the cost of the capital expenditure. Where a capital asset has been rented, the actual rental cost is permitted for inclusion.

  
  

  The amortization expense for each capital expenditure must be calculated using the prescribed amortization method outlined in each program stream guideline (i.e. straight-line method, % of cost). See the applicable guidelines to determine the maximum amount of amortization expense that is eligible to be included in the activity budget.

• 6. 

  Do the expenses listed in the activity budget and cost report include sales taxes (GST/HST, PST, VAT)?

  No. Taxes that are recoverable by the applicant may not be included in the Activity Budget or claimed as an eligible cost in the Final Cost Report.

• 7. 

  What is a Related Party Transaction?

  Related parties exist when one party has the ability to exercise, directly or indirectly, control, joint control, or significant influence over the other. Two or more parties are related when they are subject to common control, joint or common significant influence. Related parties also include management and immediate family members.

  
  

  A related party transaction is a transfer of economic resources or obligations between related parties, or the provision of services by one party to a related party, regardless of whether any consideration is exchanged. The parties to the transaction are related prior to the transaction. When the relationship arises as a result of the transaction, the transaction is not one between related parties.

  
  

  Control of an enterprise is the continuing power to determine its strategic operating, investing, and financing policies without the cooperation of others.

  
  

  Joint control of an economic activity is the contractually agreed sharing of the continuing power to determine its strategic operating, investing, and financing policies.

  
  

  Significant influence over an enterprise is the ability to affect the strategic operating, investing, and financing policies of the enterprise.

  
  

  [This definition is quoted directly from the CICA Standards & Guidance Collection paragraph 3840.03.]

• 8. 

  What is an Associated Corporation?

  One corporation is associated with another in a taxation year if, at any time in the year:

  • One of the corporations controlled, directly or indirectly in any manner whatever, the other;
  • Both of the corporations were controlled, directly or indirectly in any manner whatever, by the same person or group of persons;
  • Each of the corporations was controlled, directly or indirectly in any manner whatever, by a person and the person who so controlled one of the corporations was related to the person who so controlled the other, and either of those persons owned, in respect of each corporation, not less than 25% of the issued shares of any class, other than a specified class, of the capital stock thereof;
  • One of the corporations was controlled, directly or indirectly in any manner whatever, by a person and that person was related to each member of a group of persons that so controlled the other corporation, and that person owned, in respect of the other corporation, not less than 25% of the issued shares of any class, other than a specified class, of the capital stock thereof; or
  • Each of the corporations was controlled, directly or indirectly in any manner whatever, by a related group and each of the members of one of the related groups was related to all of the members of the other related group, and one or more persons were members of both related groups, either alone or together, owned, in respect of each corporation, not less than 25% of the issued shares of any class, other than a specified class of the capital stock thereof.

  [This definition is quoted directly from Subsection 256(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)].

• 9. 

  My company receives funding from FACTOR. How should I state it in the activity budget, financing plan tab?

  OMIF recognizes all FACTOR funding as 100% public.

• 10. 

  What are you looking for in my company business plan?

  A Business Plan is required for applicants requesting $50K or more – but it is optional for those requesting under that amount. If you are requesting less than $50K and do not have a business plan, the application schema will direct you to answer specific questions reflecting key elements of a traditional business plan. Specifically, we are looking for detail regarding:

  • Applicant track record, including profile(s) of key personnel;
  • Company strategy and business model (revenue model);
  • Market overview;
  • Overview of general business activities and short/long-term goals;
  • Company SWOT analysis; and
  • Case for OMIF support.

  For applicants requiring a full business plan, you have the flexibility to structure your plan as it best suits your business. Essentially, we’re looking for you to speak to the elements listed above and provide us with a strong business case for funding. We recommended that this document range between 10-25 pages.

  
  

  Please do not include financial statements in your business plan since this information already resides in your required financial statements. This detailed financial statement information is only reviewed by the Ontario Music Office team as part of Ontario Creates' assessment process. As such, this information should be kept distinct from the business plan, which is reviewed by external jurors.

• 11. 

  Are there specific dollar amounts that I should submit in the budget for travel, accommodations and meals?

  Air travel should be budgeted at economy rates and should reflect the costs of booking at least 30 days in advance of travel. Accommodation expenses should be at moderate per night rates and should reflect the average for the travel destination/activity, and per diems are capped at C$75/day for domestic travel and C$100/day for international travel (including daily meals and incidentals).

• 12. 

  When do I need to provide a certificate of insurance and what are the requirements?

  At the time of the application, eligible applicants are only required to acknowledge they have or can obtain general liability insurance.

  
  

  Successful funding recipients must provide a Certificate of Insurance before the transfer payment agreement can be executed and it must contain all of the following criteria:

  • Commercial general liability insurance on an occurrence basis for third-party bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage, to an inclusive limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence
  • Ontario Creates and His Majesty the King in right of Ontario as additional insureds with respect to liability arising in the course of performance of the Recipient’s obligations under, or otherwise in connection with, the Agreement (Address: 175 Bloor Street East, South Tower, Suite 501, Toronto, ON M4W 3R8)
  • Cross-liability clause
  • Contractual liability coverage
  • 30-day written notice of cancellation, termination, or material change

  
  

  Please note the eligibility activity window will reflect the first day that you are insured until the last date of the activity window.

  
  

  Any activity spending incurred prior to funding approval is applicants’ risk, and a valid certificate of insurance must be in place as of the time of the expenditures.

• 13. 

  What is considered in-kind services?

  Select programs allow in-kind services of up to 10% of total eligible activity expenses.

  
  

  In-kind contributions must be supported by clear documentation showing their fair market value. For example, if a venue rental fee is waived, the in‑kind amount must match the venue’s published rate or standard pricing.

  
  

  Volunteer time is not considered an in-kind service.