Victoria is hoping to strike the right chord with B.C.’s music industry with additional funding.
The provincial government announced Thursday (December 20) it’s committing $900,000 in grants to 28 music companies.
Grants range from $5,000 to $75,000 and cover 50% of projects, which include anything from studio upgrades to software development
While Vancouver is the centre of B.C.’s music industry, funding is going to 10 projects outside the city proper.
Among the recipients is Clampdown Record Pressing Inc., which is using a $75,000 grant to purchase and set up vinyl record-pressing equipment ahead of a planned launch early next year in Vancouver.
Hipposonic Music Ltd. in Vancouver — known for clients such as Black Mountain, The Mars Volta, and Tegan and Sara — is taking $75,000 as well to add a second studio to its Mount Pleasant facility.
Mosa Music in Victoria will receive $35,000 to help with the development and marketing of its Mubric music-learning software.
Also on Vancouver Island is Tickit, a Courtenay-based company that’s receiving a $65,000 grant for its ticketing platform for live music.
The provincial funding comes via the one-year, $7.5-million Amplify BC program announced in March.
The previous BC Liberal government rolled out a similar two-year, $15-million music fund in February 2016 following recommendations from a Music Canada report.
Amplify BC is administered by Creative BC, the province-funded non-profit that promotes the entertainment sectors such as film and TV.
Creative BC said in an email to Business in Vancouver that it would not speculate on future funding beyond the $7.5 million granted for one year.
But Creative BC CEO Prem Gill told BIV in March that her organization would be providing the government with all the material needed to evaluate whether the Amplify BC fund would support the industry beyond March 2019.
In addition to the 28 music businesses that have received funding, Creative BC’s website indicates it has funded an additional 75 music projects focused on artists through Amplify BC.
Those grants range from $1,680 to $35,000, with about $880,000 distributed so far from that specific funding program.
Amplify BC has distributed $1.78 million out of $7.5 million since the one-year fund launched just over eight months ago.
Updated with an additional statement from Creative BC and additional figures
