FACTOR

FACTOR (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records). Non-profit organization founded in 1982 as a result of discussions between representatives of the music and radio industries. Funds were initially provided by broadcasters as part of their commitment to develop Canadian talent and thereby assist in meeting their Canadian content obligations as required by CRTC licensing. FACTOR was administered 1982-6 by CIRPA and thereafter by its own administration in Toronto.

In 1985 FACTOR merged with, and took over the funding available to, the Canadian Talent Library Trust. In 1986, as a result of lobbying from the music industry, the federal government began a five-year 'Sound Recording Development Program' (SRDP). Made permanent in 1991, the program, now known as the Canada Music Fund Council (CMFC), has allocated $5 million annually to the development of the sound recording industry in Canada; of the $3.7 million made available to the private sector, 60% has been given to the English-language industry, represented by FACTOR, and 40% to the French-language industry, represented by a parallel organization, Musicaction, established in Montreal in 1985.

The major beneficiaries of FACTOR's funding programs have been record companies that received over $18 million through the SRDP between 1986 and 1998. Other branches of the Canadian music industry that benefit from FACTOR's sponsorship include individual recording artists, managers, directors, publishers, syndicated radio stations, recording studios, distributors and music industry associations.

Through the CMFC, FACTOR supplies funding for a large variety of music industry-related initiatives. It offers aid for educational initiatives that promote the Canadian music industry and to Canadian record labels to support recording, production and marketing costs related to specific products. It supplies funds for domestic and international business development, which allows music industry organizations to participate in trade conferences both locally and abroad. It also supports music industry showcases and tours. FACTOR awards loans to Canadian owned labels and Canadian artists to aid in the production costs of recording and/or DVDs for commercial release. It also offers grants to defray production costs related to music videos. It sponsors two awards for emerging recording artists: the Professional Demo Award and the Professional Publishers and Songwriters Demo Award.

Total monies from broadcast and government sources are allocated according to programs drawn up by a board of directors with representation from the music and broadcast industries. By 1991, from a cumulative grant and operating budget of $15.5 million, FACTOR provided recording assistance to more than 1100 artists in all styles (rock, dance, jazz, children's music, classical, etc) and also supported more than 50 tours and the production of some 200 music videos.

Along with Musicaction, FACTOR has a number of national and regional affiliates including the Canadian Independent Record Production Association, the Canadian Music Publishers Association, Music BC, Music Yukon, the Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association, the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association, the Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia, the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Alberta Recording Industries Association and Music New Brunswick.

Author Brian Chater, Christopher Moore

Bibliography

FACTOR, A Decade of Assisting Canadian Talent, 1982-1992 (1992)

FACTOR, GST Handbook for the Recording Industry (1990)

FACTOR, Sound Support (serial) (1989-94)

Government of Canada (Canadian Heritage), Evaluation of the Sound Recording Development Program (SRDP/PADES) (2000)

Links to Other Sites
FACTOR
The website for FACTOR, a private non-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance toward the growth and development of the Canadian independent recording industry.

The Canadian Music Industry
This website provides a concise overview of the music industry in Canada, including its structure, trends and outlook. From the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Sam The Record Man thinks CanCon is swell
Listen to a brief 1971 CBC Radio clip in which record retailer Sam Sniderman emphatically supports Canadian content requirements for Canadian radio stations.