Unison Creates COVID-19
Relief Program with Fund-
ing from Slaight, Labels &
Streaming Services
On March 23 rd , the Unison Benevolent
Fund, with the help of a large donation
from the Slaight Family Foundation,
announced the launch of the critically-
needed Unison COVID-19 Relief Program.
The non-profit, which provides counselling
and emergency relief services to the Cana-
dian music community, says it has received
an overwhelming number of requests for
assistance since the beginning of the pan-
demic and the cancellations of all tours and
gigs and the closing of many businesses.
Of the initial $500,000 that made up
the fund, half was supplied by the Slaight
Family Foundation, which was matched by
the Unison office. Funding will be allocated
towards housing costs, medical expenses,
and groceries.
Major Labels & Streaming Services
Step Up
When launching the COVID-19 Relief
Program, Unison warned that the initial
$500,000 would only be able to help the
Canadian music community for the short
term, and that in order to meet the growing
demand for support, it needed partners and
donations. In order to help this effort, Uni-
son later partnered with Feldman Entertain-
ment Partnerships, a division of The Feldman
Agency, which is helping the non-profit find
new donors and raise awareness.
UNISON’S AMANDA POWER
One of Unison’s new donation partners
is Spotify. In late-March, the streaming
giant created its own COVID-19 Music
Relief project that recommends verified or-
ganizations offering financial relief to music
community members in need, and will
match public donations dollar-for-dollar up
to $10 million. For Canada, it’s recommend-
ing and matching donations to Unison.
Unison also confirmed that, thanks to
the work of Feldman, Amazon Music had
contributed to its COVID-19 Relief Fund,
but did not specify the amount of the
donation.
Later, on April 30 th , the Canadian
divisions of the three major labels — Sony
Music Entertainment Canada, Universal
Music Canada, and Warner Music Canada
— announced direct financial support for
Unison. The combined dollar amount of
the donation by the labels was not shared.
Additionally, Music Canada announced
that it has expanded its supporting role
for Unison. In response to COVID-19,
Music Canada has provided financial and
administrative resource support, together
with government relations expertise and
guidance.
Anyone working in the Canadian music
industry and who requires assistance is
asked to register for Unison’s services as
soon as possible. For counselling inquiries
and support to help deal with the financial
or emotional impact of COVID-19, contact
1-855-986-4766.
To learn more about partnership op-
portunities, donations, or inquiries, contact
[email protected]. For more
information, go to ww.unisonfund.ca.
FACTOR Ups Funding Contribution to 75%; Launches
Songwriter Development Program
FACTOR has announced that the minimum percentage of its funding contribution is now
75 per cent of the total eligible budget, across all programs. This change comes as part of
a relief effort from the Department of Canadian Heritage. Components already currently
funded at 100 or 75 or cent, or subsidy-based, will not change.
Also, FACTOR will honour all approved commitments at 100 per cent of the amount
approved for funding in situations where the event or activity was cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Payments will be made as soon as the applicant submits documenta-
tion of project component completion to FACTOR, indicating a coronavirus cancelled activity.
In other FACTOR news, the new Songwriter Development Program is a $2,000-per-year
subsidy for professional songwriters toward a year of various songwriting initiatives such as
travel for co-writing sessions, songwriting camps and workshops, and eligible showcases. This
program has a rolling deadline; however, FACTOR said that it is not currently processing new travel-based applications until pandemic-
related travel restrictions are lifted by local governments and health authorities.
For more information, contact FACTOR: 416-696-2215, [email protected], www.factor.ca.
CANADIAN MUSICIAN 13