2020-21 Deadlines

Profile Review Deadlines

Artist Profiles

When you first create an artist profile, you will receive an artist rating of General Artist once you’ve submitted your Mandatory Information and requested review. You won’t need to do anything to maintain your General Artist rating as long as your artist profile is current and active.

You can choose to submit Additional Information once you have an artist rating.

FACTOR reviews all profiles with Additional Information twice annually, after the annual review deadline in February and the semi-annual review deadline in August (by request only). As a result of these profile reviews, your artist rating may:

stay the same (e.g. Artist 2 remains Artist 2, etc.);
increase (General Artist can become Artist 2 or Artist 3; Artist 2 can become Artist 3); or
only at the Annual Review in February can it decrease (Artist 3 can become General Artist or Artist 2; Artist 2 can become General Artist). Your artist rating cannot decrease at the Semi-Annual Review.

Remember: if your artist profile only has Mandatory Information, no action is required at profile review deadlines to keep your General Artist rating.

To learn more about Additional Information and artist ratings, visit our Profiles & Ratings for Artists page.

Applicant or Company Profiles

If you are applying to FACTOR as an artist, you do not need to take any action on your applicant profile once your profile is Approved.

Music companies who are creating applicant profiles for the first time should complete as much of the profile as you can and submit it for review. New applicant profiles can receive a company rating of Approved, 2 or 3.

After the annual profile review deadline in February, all music companies rated 2 or higher will be reviewed. You should make sure that you have updated your company profile with the required information before this deadline if you wish to maintain your existing company rating. If you have not updated your company profile with the required information, your company rating may decrease as a result of this review. Consequently, you may lose eligibility to apply to some programs.

If you wish to qualify for the Comprehensive Music Company program, the only time to do so each year is after the annual review deadline.

After the semi-annual profile review deadline in August, only companies who have submitted new information and requested review will be assessed. Any company that wishes to achieve a higher company rating should submit the required materials for review before this deadline.

For more information, visit our Profiles & Ratings for Music Companies page.

In 2020-21, these profile reviews will take place on:

Semi-annual review: Monday August 31, 2020

Annual review: Friday February 26, 2021

Which profiles do you need to apply?

Learn more about artist profiles

Learn more about music company profiles

Application Deadlines

Some programs in the FACTOR system have fixed deadlines, whereas others have rolling deadlines. For rolling deadlines, you may apply any time throughout the year, but for some programs your application may have to coincide with an activity related to your project.

Download all 2020-21 deadlines here (PDF).

Program	Deadline	Who can apply?
Artist Development	2021 deadlines to be confirmed.	General Artist Artist 2
Collective Initiatives	Each component has its own deadlines. Digital Marketing This component has been retired. Industry Events Application needs to be submitted at least 3 months before project start date. Rolling deadline. Showcase Production for Artists from Official Language Minority Communities Application needs to be submitted at least 3 months before event start date. Rolling deadline. For the purpose of this component, an OLMC artist includes: Artist’s first professional commercial release (album or single) that is supported by a team (label, manager, publisher, agent, or publicist) is no more than 4 years from the start of the fiscal year in which the applicant is seeking funding. Showcase Production for Export-Ready Artists Period One Deadline: June 1, 2020 for events occurring between August 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021 Period Two Deadline: September 1, 2020 for events occurring between November 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021 Period Three Deadline: December 1, 2020 for events occurring between February 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021 Period Four Deadline: March 1, 2021 for events occurring between May 1, 2021 – October 31, 2021 For the purpose of this component, an Export-Ready Canadian Artist is: (a) A Canadian Artist who has At least one sound recording of any format or duration that has been made commercially available to the general public in Canada; and At least one sound recording of any format or duration that has been made commercially available to the general public outside of Canada, or will be made commercially available to the general public outside of Canada within twelve months of the export showcase; or has a tour or showcase in the territory of export upcoming within twelve months of the export showcase; and A professional support team including a least one of the following: artist manager, record label, booking agent, publicist, publisher; and Public and industry recognition (via radio play, video play, web hits and streams, music press, blogs, awards, etc.). “Commercially available to the general public” in this component means the sound recording has been offered for sale or consumption to the general public through physical or digital retail distribution, for streaming or sale online whether through the artist’s own website, the record label’s website, or a third-party website, through authorized audio or video streaming services, or released to terrestrial, satellite, and/or digital radio. If the sound recording is only been made available at live performances of the artist, it will not be deemed to have been made commercially available to the general public.	Other Approved (CI)
Comprehensive Artist	Application can be submitted any time; project expenses will be eligible from date of Application. May apply for Component funding up to 24 months after first Application.	Record Label 2 Record Label (Approved) Record Label 3 Record Label 4 Artist 3 Recipients of Envelope Funding
Comprehensive Music Company	Application can be submitted any time; project expenses will be eligible from date of Application. May apply for Component funding up to 24 months after first Application.	Record Label 2 Record Label 3 Record Label 4
Envelope Funding for Music Companies	Application materials must be uploaded to the Applicant Profile in the FACTOR portal by January 28, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Envelope Funding for National Service Organizations	The deadline is November 2, 2020 for activities taking place from April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022.
Juried Sound Recording	2021 deadlines to be confirmed.	General Artist Record Label 2 Record Label (Approved) Record Label 3 Artist 2 Artist (Approved)
Live Performance	This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply multiple times throughout the year, up to the funding maximum. Applications must be submitted at least one day prior to the start of the trip.	General Artist Artist 2 Artist 3 Artist (Approved)
Marketing and Promotion for Non-FACTOR-Funded Sound Recordings	This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply as soon as the qualifying sales threshold or radio chart position has been achieved, but no later than 12 months after commercial release.	General Artist Record Label 2 Record Label (Approved) Record Label 3 Record Label 4 Artist 2 Artist 3 Artist (Approved) Recipients of Envelope Funding
Songwriter Development	Rolling deadline. Applications must be submitted at least one calendar day before travel departure.	Approved Songwriter
Sponsorship	This program has a rolling deadline. Applications must be submitted at least three months prior to the start date of the event.
Support for Eligible Music Companies	For Business Development, there are two rounds of application deadlines. Round 1 – May 21, 2020 Round 2 – October 22, 2020 Applicants must submit a Business Development Plan with the template provided by FACTOR, outlining the nature and scope of the project. All Business Development projects must be scheduled to take place within the FACTOR fiscal year (April 1 2020 – March 31 2021). Multiple Business Travel applications can be submitted throughout the year, subject to the Program and Component Guidelines. Multiple Songwriter Support for Music Publishers applications can be submitted throughout the year, subject to the Program and Component Guidelines.	Artist Manager 3 Music Distributor 3 Artist Manager 2 Music Distributor 2 Record Label 2 Record Label 3 Record Label 4 Music Publisher 2 Music Publisher 3
Video	This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply multiple times throughout the year, up to the funding maximum.	Artist 2 Artist 3

Program	Artist Development	Deadline	2021 deadlines to be confirmed.	Who can apply?	General Artist Artist 2
Program	Collective Initiatives	Deadline	Each component has its own deadlines. Digital Marketing This component has been retired. Industry Events Application needs to be submitted at least 3 months before project start date. Rolling deadline. Showcase Production for Artists from Official Language Minority Communities Application needs to be submitted at least 3 months before event start date. Rolling deadline. For the purpose of this component, an OLMC artist includes: Artist’s first professional commercial release (album or single) that is supported by a team (label, manager, publisher, agent, or publicist) is no more than 4 years from the start of the fiscal year in which the applicant is seeking funding. Showcase Production for Export-Ready Artists Period One Deadline: June 1, 2020 for events occurring between August 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021 Period Two Deadline: September 1, 2020 for events occurring between November 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021 Period Three Deadline: December 1, 2020 for events occurring between February 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021 Period Four Deadline: March 1, 2021 for events occurring between May 1, 2021 – October 31, 2021 For the purpose of this component, an Export-Ready Canadian Artist is: (a) A Canadian Artist who has At least one sound recording of any format or duration that has been made commercially available to the general public in Canada; and At least one sound recording of any format or duration that has been made commercially available to the general public outside of Canada, or will be made commercially available to the general public outside of Canada within twelve months of the export showcase; or has a tour or showcase in the territory of export upcoming within twelve months of the export showcase; and A professional support team including a least one of the following: artist manager, record label, booking agent, publicist, publisher; and Public and industry recognition (via radio play, video play, web hits and streams, music press, blogs, awards, etc.). “Commercially available to the general public” in this component means the sound recording has been offered for sale or consumption to the general public through physical or digital retail distribution, for streaming or sale online whether through the artist’s own website, the record label’s website, or a third-party website, through authorized audio or video streaming services, or released to terrestrial, satellite, and/or digital radio. If the sound recording is only been made available at live performances of the artist, it will not be deemed to have been made commercially available to the general public.	Who can apply?	Other Approved (CI)
Program	Comprehensive Artist	Deadline	Application can be submitted any time; project expenses will be eligible from date of Application. May apply for Component funding up to 24 months after first Application.	Who can apply?	Record Label 2 Record Label (Approved) Record Label 3 Record Label 4 Artist 3 Recipients of Envelope Funding
Program	Comprehensive Music Company	Deadline	Application can be submitted any time; project expenses will be eligible from date of Application. May apply for Component funding up to 24 months after first Application.	Who can apply?	Record Label 2 Record Label 3 Record Label 4
Program	Envelope Funding for Music Companies	Deadline	Application materials must be uploaded to the Applicant Profile in the FACTOR portal by January 28, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.	Who can apply?
Program	Envelope Funding for National Service Organizations	Deadline	The deadline is November 2, 2020 for activities taking place from April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022.	Who can apply?
Program	Juried Sound Recording	Deadline	2021 deadlines to be confirmed.	Who can apply?	General Artist Record Label 2 Record Label (Approved) Record Label 3 Artist 2 Artist (Approved)
Program	Live Performance	Deadline	This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply multiple times throughout the year, up to the funding maximum. Applications must be submitted at least one day prior to the start of the trip.	Who can apply?	General Artist Artist 2 Artist 3 Artist (Approved)
Program	Marketing and Promotion for Non-FACTOR-Funded Sound Recordings	Deadline	This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply as soon as the qualifying sales threshold or radio chart position has been achieved, but no later than 12 months after commercial release.	Who can apply?	General Artist Record Label 2 Record Label (Approved) Record Label 3 Record Label 4 Artist 2 Artist 3 Artist (Approved) Recipients of Envelope Funding
Program	Songwriter Development	Deadline	Rolling deadline. Applications must be submitted at least one calendar day before travel departure.	Who can apply?	Approved Songwriter
Program	Sponsorship	Deadline	This program has a rolling deadline. Applications must be submitted at least three months prior to the start date of the event.	Who can apply?
Program	Support for Eligible Music Companies	Deadline	For Business Development, there are two rounds of application deadlines. Round 1 – May 21, 2020 Round 2 – October 22, 2020 Applicants must submit a Business Development Plan with the template provided by FACTOR, outlining the nature and scope of the project. All Business Development projects must be scheduled to take place within the FACTOR fiscal year (April 1 2020 – March 31 2021). Multiple Business Travel applications can be submitted throughout the year, subject to the Program and Component Guidelines. Multiple Songwriter Support for Music Publishers applications can be submitted throughout the year, subject to the Program and Component Guidelines.	Who can apply?	Artist Manager 3 Music Distributor 3 Artist Manager 2 Music Distributor 2 Record Label 2 Record Label 3 Record Label 4 Music Publisher 2 Music Publisher 3
Program	Video	Deadline	This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply multiple times throughout the year, up to the funding maximum.	Who can apply?	Artist 2 Artist 3

Program

Artist Development

Deadline

2021 deadlines to be confirmed.

Who can apply?

General Artist
Artist 2

Program

Collective Initiatives

Deadline

Each component has its own deadlines.

Digital Marketing

This component has been retired.

Industry Events

Application needs to be submitted at least 3 months before project start date.

Rolling deadline.

Showcase Production for Artists from Official Language Minority Communities

Application needs to be submitted at least 3 months before event start date.

Rolling deadline.

For the purpose of this component, an OLMC artist includes:

Artist’s first professional commercial release (album or single) that is supported by a team (label, manager, publisher, agent, or publicist) is no more than 4 years from the start of the fiscal year in which the applicant is seeking funding.

Showcase Production for Export-Ready Artists

Period One Deadline: June 1, 2020 for events occurring between August 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021
Period Two Deadline: September 1, 2020 for events occurring between November 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021
Period Three Deadline: December 1, 2020 for events occurring between February 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021
Period Four Deadline: March 1, 2021 for events occurring between May 1, 2021 – October 31, 2021

For the purpose of this component, an Export-Ready Canadian Artist is:

(a) A Canadian Artist who has

At least one sound recording of any format or duration that has been made commercially available to the general public in Canada; and
At least one sound recording of any format or duration that has been made commercially available to the general public outside of Canada, or will be made commercially available to the general public outside of Canada within twelve months of the export showcase; or has a tour or showcase in the territory of export upcoming within twelve months of the export showcase; and
A professional support team including a least one of the following: artist manager, record label, booking agent, publicist, publisher; and
Public and industry recognition (via radio play, video play, web hits and streams, music press, blogs, awards, etc.).

“Commercially available to the general public” in this component means the sound recording has been offered for sale or consumption to the general public through physical or digital retail distribution, for streaming or sale online whether through the artist’s own website, the record label’s website, or a third-party website, through authorized audio or video streaming services, or released to terrestrial, satellite, and/or digital radio. If the sound recording is only been made available at live performances of the artist, it will not be deemed to have been made commercially available to the general public.

Who can apply?

Other Approved (CI)

Program

Comprehensive Artist

Deadline

Application can be submitted any time; project expenses will be eligible from date of Application. May apply for Component funding up to 24 months after first Application.

Who can apply?

Record Label 2
Record Label (Approved)
Record Label 3
Record Label 4
Artist 3
Recipients of Envelope Funding

Program

Comprehensive Music Company

Deadline

Application can be submitted any time; project expenses will be eligible from date of Application. May apply for Component funding up to 24 months after first Application.

Who can apply?

Record Label 2
Record Label 3
Record Label 4

Program

Envelope Funding for Music Companies

Deadline

Application materials must be uploaded to the Applicant Profile in the FACTOR portal by January 28, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Who can apply?

Program

Envelope Funding for National Service Organizations

Deadline

The deadline is November 2, 2020 for activities taking place from April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022.

Who can apply?

Program

Juried Sound Recording

Deadline

2021 deadlines to be confirmed.

Who can apply?

General Artist
Record Label 2
Record Label (Approved)
Record Label 3
Artist 2
Artist (Approved)

Program

Live Performance

Deadline

This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply multiple times throughout the year, up to the funding maximum. Applications must be submitted at least one day prior to the start of the trip.

Who can apply?

General Artist
Artist 2
Artist 3
Artist (Approved)

Program

Marketing and Promotion for Non-FACTOR-Funded Sound Recordings

Deadline

This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply as soon as the qualifying sales threshold or radio chart position has been achieved, but no later than 12 months after commercial release.

Who can apply?

General Artist
Record Label 2
Record Label (Approved)
Record Label 3
Record Label 4
Artist 2
Artist 3
Artist (Approved)
Recipients of Envelope Funding

Program

Songwriter Development

Deadline

Rolling deadline. Applications must be submitted at least one calendar day before travel departure.

Who can apply?

Approved Songwriter

Program

Sponsorship

Deadline

This program has a rolling deadline. Applications must be submitted at least three months prior to the start date of the event.

Who can apply?

Program

Support for Eligible Music Companies

Deadline

For Business Development, there are two rounds of application deadlines.

Round 1 – May 21, 2020

Round 2 – October 22, 2020

Applicants must submit a Business Development Plan with the template provided by FACTOR, outlining the nature and scope of the project. All Business Development projects must be scheduled to take place within the FACTOR fiscal year (April 1 2020 – March 31 2021).

Multiple Business Travel applications can be submitted throughout the year, subject to the Program and Component Guidelines.

Multiple Songwriter Support for Music Publishers applications can be submitted throughout the year, subject to the Program and Component Guidelines.

Who can apply?

Artist Manager 3
Music Distributor 3
Artist Manager 2
Music Distributor 2
Record Label 2
Record Label 3
Record Label 4
Music Publisher 2
Music Publisher 3

Program

Video

Deadline

This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply multiple times throughout the year, up to the funding maximum.

Who can apply?

Artist 2
Artist 3