FACTOR

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FACTOR (the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records) is a private non-profit organization "dedicated to providing assistance toward the growth and development of the Canadian music industry". [1]

FACTOR was founded in 1982 by radio broadcasters CHUM, Rogers Radio Broadcasting, Moffat Communications, along with the Canadian Independent Record Production Association and the Canadian Music Publishers Association. FACTOR has been administering public money since 1986 when it began to grow significantly. [2] From an inaugural budget of $200,000 CAD, they now distribute over $11.5 million annually.

The merit-based approach of monetary distribution used by FACTOR and Canadian music video funding organization VideoFACT, is not without critics. In 2009, the organizations came under public scrutiny when a letter written by Unfamiliar Records founder Greg Ipp was republished on the internet [3] - in turn promoting the idea that bigger image-based bands shouldn’t be getting such a huge amount of those finite funds as it leaves relatively little, if any, funding for the smaller up-and-coming bands. [4]

Notable recording artists who have received FACTOR grants include:

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References

  1. "Grants and funding for Canadian Artists and Organizations" (PDF). MusicOntario. Canadian Independent Music Association. 2015. p. 1. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  2. LeBlanc, Larry (May 8, 2004). "Canadian Indies Hold Breath For FACTOR". Billboard . Vol. 116, no. 19. p. 52. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  3. www.thedailyswarm.com
  4. Exclaim! Exclusive: Unfamiliar Records Vs. the Canadian Grant System, Round 2 • News • exclaim.ca