Juried Sound Recording: Album

This program is presently closed to new applications, the intake deadlines for fiscal 2023-2024 having passed. Deadline for 2024-2025 is to be announced, with new applications possible to be created 45 days ahead of intake. 

The Juried Sound Recording: Album program (JSR: Album) provides funding toward the costs of production or acquisition of an original full-length sound recording and contributes to the marketing and promotion of that sound recording under the Marketing, Tour Support, Showcase, Video, and Radio Marketing components.

The JSR: Album program is intended to support the artist with material marketplace activity and audience engagement, a plan for further career growth, and a team to assist in achieving next steps towards the Artist-Entrepreneur level.

In order to fill out a JSR: Album application in the FACTOR online system, you will first need a rated Artist Profile and Applicant Profiles.

With your Juried Sound Recording application, you must submit:

Goals and expected results

Recording start date

Detailed information for each track you intend to record

Lyrics (where applicable)

2 MP3 assessment tracks

A description of changes you intend to make to the tracks

A detailed marketing plan

Components in this program

The Juried Sound Recording: Album program funds a portion of the cost of production of an original full-length sound recording, and contributes to the marketing and promotion of that sound recording under the Marketing, Tour Support, Showcase, Radio Marketing, and Video components.

All applications to this program must include the Sound Recording component.

Who is Eligible

  • General Artist
  • Record Label 2
  • Record Label (Approved)
  • Record Label 3
  • Artist 2
  • Artist (Approved)
  • Artists rated General or 2 on their own behalf if the artist is unsigned
  • Record labels rated Approved, 2 or 3 with an artist rated General or 2

Deadlines

The intake deadlines for fiscal 2023-2024 have passed and new intake deadlines for 2024-2025 to be announced in spring.

Please note:

Artists may only apply to one juried program (Artist Development, JSR: Album, or JSR: Single/EP) within a fiscal year (April 1-March 31).

The top 20 applications below the successful funding threshold from the May intake will be invited to reapply at the September deadline window without the fiscal year waiting period. These applicants will be notified of their exemption alongside the communicated jury results.

 

Funding & Payments

The Juried Sound Recording funding is a grant. For the first phase of the project, FACTOR will contribute 75% of the total eligible budget, to a maximum of  $67,500 (including Radio Marketing) for General Artist (of which up to $10,000 can be spent in the sound recording component); and $77,500 (including Radio Marketing) for Artist 2 (of which up to $15,000 can be spent in the sound recording component.)  Funding is paid out 50% on approval and the remainder on final completion. Juried Sound Recording projects with sales exceeding the qualifying sales threshold may also qualify for a second phase of funding up to $30,000 (General Artist) or $40,000 (Artist 2).

Assessment Process

Assessment materials are reviewed and scored by a jury comprised of music industry professionals. The top-scoring applications are then reviewed by FACTOR staff, who assess the eligibility of the projects and costs and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors for their approval. Assessment time is up to 12 weeks from the deadline and may be affected by number of submissions and juror availability.