The Canada Music Fund is receiving a new federal investment of $67 million. This article explains how the funding will be distributed and summarizes related news about Canadian music, live entertainment, music education and Sean Paul.

At the ADISQ Gala in Montreal on Nov. 8, Marc Miller, the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, announced that the federal government would invest $67 million in the Canada Music Fund. The amount forms part of the government’s promised $600 million investment in the cultural sector. First announced in June as “immediate relief” for Canada’s audio and audiovisual sector, the funding was confirmed for 2026-27 in the latest federal budget, tabled the previous week. Over the weekend, Ottawa outlined how the money would be allocated.

The music sector will receive its portion of the relief investment through the Canada Music Fund, which was renewed through 2028 the previous year. The $67 million will be distributed among five organizations supported by the fund:

• FACTOR (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings): $31.5 million.
• Musicaction, which funds and supports Francophone music and music companies: $21 million.
• Canadian Starmaker Fund: $5.7 million.
• RadioStar fund: $3.8 million.
• Indigenous Music Office (IMO): $5 million.

Together, the allocations account for the fund’s $67 million investment in Canadian music.

Last November, the Indigenous Music Office released a national report outlining ways the federal government could help Indigenous artists connect with larger audiences, including by improving discoverability on streaming platforms. The five organizations are intended to support emerging Canadian acts and help them compete internationally.

“Canada’s cultural sovereignty depends on our willingness to invest in our own voices,” says Meg Symsyk, president and CEO of FACTOR. “We have extraordinary talent in this country. Our responsibility is to give that talent the opportunity to be heard, to build lasting careers and to reach audiences here at home and around the world. This investment in the Canada Music Fund backs Canadian artists and the independent businesses that help bring their music to life. We thank Prime Minister Carney, Minister Champagne, Minister Miller and the Government of Canada for recognizing that investing in Canadian music is an investment in who we are.”

FACTOR, the Indigenous Music Office, CIMA, ADISQ, Bell Media, Spotify and other organizations took part in CRTC public hearings the previous year to discuss support for Canadian content.

FACTOR welcomed the government’s investment and described how it could support the Canadian music sector.

“Behind every dollar invested in Canadian music are artists taking the next step in their careers and Canadian companies helping them get there,” says Symsyk. “Sustained investment makes it possible to look beyond the next release or tour and build for the future.”

Other music organizations across Canada also welcomed the news. The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) said it was “thrilled to see government recognize the value that music brings to Canada, its businesses, and its communities.” The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) called the additional funding an “important step toward strengthening the industrial ecosystem that supports the development of great Canadian artists.”

“For years, CIMA has argued that the best way to ensure Canadians hear Canadian voices is to build a strong ecosystem of dynamic, globally competitive Canadian music companies serving excellent Canadian artists,” says Andrew Cash, president and CEO of CIMA. “These are the businesses that discover, develop and nurture artists, produce and promote Canadian music, help build audiences and create opportunities for Canadian artists to reach listeners both at home and around the world. This investment is an important commitment, and a clear indication that the government has listened to the music sector.”

The federal investment is intended to support stability in the cultural sector as longer-term policy, regulation and market conditions change. One debated issue is the implementation of the Online Streaming Act, involving the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), major streaming companies and the United States, where requirements for major foreign-owned streaming services to fund Canadian content have become a point of trade negotiations.

Read more here. — Stefano Rebuli

What did Canada’s Women in Music executive honorees share about their work?

The Billboard Canada Women in Music honorees work across live entertainment and music education. Their stories describe how leadership, concert venues and access to music programs shape the Canadian music industry.

Melissa Bubb-Clarke, chief commercial officer of Live Nation Canada, is helping the company expand its live music operations through collaboration and partnerships with corporate brands.

On Nov. 24, Bubb-Clarke was set to receive the Executive of the Year Award at Billboard Canada Women in Music. The award recognizes her work behind the scenes as Live Nation Canada scales its operations in a growing industry.

Live Nation Canada, a leading live entertainment company in the country, has reported record success and revenue in recent years. Bubb-Clarke and her team are also working on the company’s longer-term growth.

In its second season that summer, the 50,000-capacity Rogers Stadium hosted a record 20 concerts in Toronto, including tours headlined by Bruno Mars, BTS and Karol G. RBC Amphitheatre also began its first season under its new name and partnership with RBC, alongside plans to become a year-round venue by 2030. Bubb-Clarke said the aim is to create venues that serve both performers and fans as concert activity grows.

Preparing to accept the Billboard Canada Executive of the Year Award gave Bubb-Clarke an opportunity to reflect on changes she and her team have helped make in the live music sector over several years.

In an interview with Billboard Canada, Bubb-Clarke compared the music business with her previous work in sports at Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors.

“I can give you a million reasons why I think music is as much of a compelling offering, if not more, than sports. There are more concerts at Scotiabank Arena than there are [Maple] Leafs and Raptors games combined. From a demographic standpoint, we’re serving everything to everybody with our 4,000+ shows that we do across Canada here with Live Nation. We do every demographic, every age group, all sorts of styles of music, I think we are super fan-friendly in that way.”

“I think we have been able to understand what the fans have come to get, what they have been able to experience at a sports venue. They’re looking for a similar experience at a show. They want to be able to have nice food and go to a specific place post-show or pre-show and have a great overall experience.”

Read the full interview here.

In her dual role as president of MusiCounts and chief operating officer of CARAS, the organization behind the Juno Awards and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Kristy Fletcher works across multiple stages of Canadian musicians’ careers.

Through the music education charity MusiCounts, Fletcher helps provide young people with access to instruments and music education. At CARAS, she works to develop the industry and recognize artists through the Juno Awards and, later in their careers, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

On Nov. 24, Fletcher was set to receive the Impact Award at Billboard Canada Women in Music for her work with musicians onstage and students in classrooms, from Rush’s surprise performance at the 2026 Juno Awards to young people who may become future Canadian artists.

This year, MusiCounts announced a $1.4 million donation for music education in Canadian schools, the largest investment in the organization’s history. Through the MusiCounts School Music Funding Programs, 96 schools across the country will receive support for their music programs amid budget cuts and deficits in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.

“Music is such a foundational and fundamental part of development and growth for kids,” Fletcher says. “Think of all of the incredible benefits that music has on kids. It’s a way to sort out their emotions or express their feelings and thoughts, and it can improve mental health among youth. We have seen so many studies [showing how] music supports strong and healthy mental health, and develops positive self-esteem. There are studies showing improved cognitive abilities with playing music.

“MusiCounts has to be there to help fill in some of those gaps, and the gaps do grow. We’ve been doing this work for almost 30 years and we’ve allocated over $22 million to schools and community programs across the country. You would think we would maybe be nearing the end of the work we have to do, and that’s just not the case. We’re just scratching the surface. But that has allowed us to increase our programming.”

Read the full interview here. — Richard Trapunski

What does Sean Paul reveal about Canada’s influence on his music?

Sean Paul says Canada influenced his music in several ways. He discusses those connections in the first episode of Billboard Canada News, available to watch now.

The Jamaican star is the subject of the debut episode of Billboard Canada News, hosted by Alicia West.

In the half-hour interview, Sean Paul talks about the role Canada played early in his career. He appeared on “Money Jane,” a song by the Baby Blue Sound Crew featuring Toronto hip-hop and R&B artists Kardinal Offishall and Jully Black.

“I was just telling somebody last night. They asked me who was the first person to put you on, give you a collab? And I said Kardi. Kardi Offishall,” he says. “First person to pay me, first person to put me on a track, I always say.”

Paul also discusses making the breakthrough music videos “Gimme The Light” and “Get Busy” with Canadian director Director X, then known as Little X, and dancer and choreographer Tanisha Scott, both longtime collaborators. His connection to Canada reaches further back: his grandfather lived in Scarborough, Ontario, when Paul was young.

The conversation covers Paul’s career, including chart hits, collaborations with pop artists such as Rihanna and Sia, and his support for Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.

Watch the full interview on Billboard Canada News below. — Richard Trapunski

What is the Canada Music Fund investment for?

The Canada Music Fund investment supports five organizations that fund Canadian music, artists and music businesses. The announced allocation is $67 million for 2026-27.

The federal government is directing funding through organizations including FACTOR, Musicaction and the Indigenous Music Office.

How much will each Canada Music Fund recipient receive?

FACTOR will receive $31.5 million, the largest allocation among the five recipients. Musicaction will receive $21 million, while the other three organizations share the remaining $14.5 million.

The five listed amounts add up to the announced $67 million total.

What did Sean Paul say about his Canadian music connections?

Sean Paul credited Kardinal Offishall with giving him an early collaboration opportunity and discussed working with Canadian collaborators on music videos.

His interview also recalls the role of Toronto artists and his family connection to Scarborough.

What does MusiCounts support in Canadian schools?

MusiCounts provides support for school music programs through its funding programs. The article reports a $1.4 million donation supporting 96 schools across Canada.

The funding is intended to help schools sustain music education programs.