Music Managers Forum Canada
Travel Bursary for Ontario Managers
Guidelines
What is the MMF Canada
Travel Bursary for Ontario
Managers?
Who can apply?
Through the generous support of the Ontario Music Fund, MMF-Canada has secured
$40,000 in funding to aid Ontario’s Music Managers in developing international markets for their artists. The MMF Canada Travel Bursary will empower Ontario’s music
managers to expand into new markets by offsetting travel expenses.
• Managers who have been in business for over one year.
Apply by: May 27, 2015 - 5pm
How to apply:To request your copy of the application
package please email
[email protected]
• Ontario-based Music Managers representing Canadian artists.
• Ontario-based self-managed artists who meet eligibility criteria.
• Members of MMF Canada. (Applicants must be MMF members at the time of travel).
• Managers representing export ready artists.
What does this mean? The first thing you will be asked by anyone beyond
Canada’s borders is “What’s the story in Canada?” You’ve got to be able to
prove that your artist has traction in the Canadian market from sales, touring, social media metrics etc. If you can, your artist is likely “export ready!”
• Managers who meet ONE of the following:
- At least one artist must be signed to a label domestically or internationally;
- At least one artist has sold 2500 units/downloads; or
- Artists combined played minimum 50 shows over the last year.
• Applicants must have an HST number and be prepared to submit corporate financial
statements or tax returns to substantiate eligible revenue if the application is accepted.
Tip: The application can include up to three trips. If there is more than one manager
in the company, you can request travel for each manager on the one application.
Caution: As the Bursary is funded by the Ontario Music Fund, you will not be able
to receive funding from both the MMF Canada Travel Bursary and the Ontario Music
Fund for the same trip.
Not sure you are eligible? Please call or email us.
© Music Managers Forum Canada, April 2015.
Great, I’m eligible!
When do the trips have to take place?
How much can I apply for?
That means trips taken between February 1 and September 30 are eligible: as long
as the money is spent by September 30, 2015.
The amount that you can apply for is based on your average revenue from artist
commissions over the past three years. Please note, revenue earned from other
sources including consulting, grants, publishing, etcetera is not eligible.
If your management income averaged over three years is:
• between $35,000 to $75,000 then you are eligible for up to $2,500.
• over $75,000 then you are eligible for up to $7,500.
OR
You may also be eligible if you have deferred commissions as part of your artist
development strategy but can prove that the ARTIST has earned enough that a base
management commission of 10% would meet these same levels (see above.)
Example:
Artist has generated average 3-year gross revenue of $500,000 from album sales,
touring and publishing. Management commissions at 10% would equal $50,000.
The Manager would therefore be eligible for $2,500 from the MMF-Canada Travel
Bursary.
Tip: If you are approved for the Bursary, you will be asked to submit your artist’s
financial statements to prove revenue claims AND your tax returns or corporate
You can apply for a Bursary to cover trips that have already taken place! The Bursary
is retroactive from February 1, 2015 through to the end of September 30, 2015.
What expenses will the Travel Bursary cover?
The Travel Bursary will cover up to 75% of your:
• International travel to conferences, major festivals (if an artist
has been invited to perform), and targeted business trips; and
• Travel within Canada to conferences that have an official export
development component.
Eligible Costs
• Airfare
• Train and Ground Transportation
• Accommodation (up to $250/night)
• Per diems (up to $75/day)
• Registration fees
• Cell and Data packages
• Travel Insurance
• Marketing materials
Ineligible Costs
• Hospitality
• Festival tickets/passes
financial statements and a declaration of deferred revenue.
Tip 1: The Travel Bursary will pay up to a maximum of 75% of expenses. Keep in mind that other
funding added to this cannot exceed 100% of expenses. If you receive FACTOR or other funding
make sure that you request a Bursary for only the balance of the expenses. You will be asked to
declare any other funding on the application form and in the final report.
Tip 2: Each trip is capped at 75% government funding from any source.
© Music Managers Forum Canada, April 2015.
Yes, I want to submit
an application.
Hooray, I’ve been approved!
Tell me how!
You will be notified by June 8 of the decision. If your application is successful, you
will be asked to send proof of revenue (tax return, financial statements). Once that is
confirmed, you will sign a contribution agreement with MMF Canada. MMF Canada
will disburse 100% of the Bursary upon execution of the agreement!
First of all please email [email protected] to request your
application package. Then complete the Application Form and a Budget Template
outlining all of the various expenses of each trip. We will also ask for information
about your artist(s) and your plans for export development. We also want to know
what you hope to achieve for your company and artists.
How will the applications be reviewed?
Applications will be reviewed and adjudicated by a jury based on the following
criteria:
• History and success of the management company.
• Marketability of the artists.
•P
rojected Outcomes*. If you are applying retroactively, you will be asked for
Actual Outcomes.
• Suitability of the travel request.
• Viability of the budget.
*Projected/Actual Outcomes could include:
• the number of new contacts that you made
• t he number and dollar value of new deals that you will negotiate and/or sign
(deals = distribution, licensing, touring, merchandise, co-management, co-publishing, etcetera)
• the number of new tours/shows created for your artist
• the number of new territories that your company is doing business in
• the number of new territories where your artist is active
© Music Managers Forum Canada, April 2015.
Now what?
We will then send you a Final Report template. The Final Report will be due 30 days
after the last trip or by October 31, 2015 at the very latest. The Final Report will indicate results generated and include a completed cost report, and copies of receipts
(except per diems.)
Apply by 5pm on May 27th!
To request your copy of the application package please email:
[email protected]
MMF has contracted CultureCap Inc. as third party
delivery agent for this travel bursary.
Have questions?
Please contact:
Jordan Safer, Music Managers Forum Canada
Operations, Events, Sponsorship Manager
Tel: 416.462.9160
[email protected]
Made possible with the support of the
Ontario Media Development Corporation