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Ontario Creates has opened new funding opportunities that could be useful to music businesses, promoters, presenters and festivals in London.

The Ontario Music Investment Fund has been updated for 2026–27, including a new Music Futures stream aimed at smaller, established music businesses with demonstrated growth potential. The programme supports Ontario record labels, music publishers, music management companies, live music promoters and presenters, including eligible festivals.

For London’s music community, the new stream fills an interesting gap. Eligible applicants generally need annual music-business revenues of between $25,000 and $125,000 and must have been operating for at least two years. Ontario Creates describes the programme as an economic-development investment intended to help music companies grow revenues, create and retain jobs, strengthen business capacity and increase opportunities for artists.

Successful applicants can request between $10,000 and $50,000. Requests of $25,000 or less can cover as much as 75 per cent of the approved project budget. Larger requests can receive up to 50 per cent, subject to the programme’s revenue-based funding limit.

For live music promoters, presenters and festivals, eligible expenses can include Canadian artist fees, venue rental, production and technical costs, marketing and promotion, audience development, business development and activities that strengthen organizational capacity. The programme also allows project-related administration and overhead within prescribed limits, and a new salaried or contract position created for the funded activity can be included separately in the budget.

The deadline for Music Futures is Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Live music promoters, presenters and festivals must apply to this intake, with funded live-music activities taking place between December 1, 2026 and November 30, 2027. First-time applicants are encouraged to speak with the Ontario Music Office at least two weeks before applying.

A second opportunity for larger organizations

Ontario Creates is also opening its Live Music stream during the week of August 24. It is intended for Ontario-based music businesses and organizations with revenues above $125,000 that produce or promote live music events featuring Canadian artists.

The deadline for that programme is October 22, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Updated 2026–27 guidelines will be released when the application period opens.

There are additional Ontario Music Investment Fund streams for music companies, international market development and industry-wide initiatives. The Music Industry Development stream, for example, is accepting applications until October 29, 2026 or until available funding has been allocated.

London has spent years building its reputation and capacity as a music city. Funding programmes like these provide an opportunity to translate that work into stronger music businesses, more live performance, employment, investment and opportunities for Canadian artists.

The London Chamber of Commerce is encouraging local music businesses and organizations to review the Ontario Creates programmes now rather than waiting for the application deadlines. In particular, businesses that fall into the $25,000 to $125,000 revenue range should look closely at Music Futures, while larger promoters and presenters should watch for the opening of the Live Music stream.

The Chamber does not administer these programmes and cannot determine eligibility or funding decisions. We are sharing the opportunity as part of our work to connect London businesses with programmes that can help them grow.

Learn more: Visit Ontario Creates and look for the Ontario Music Investment Fund and its Music Futures and Live Music streams.

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