COVID-19: What You Need To Know

UPDATED: APRIL 25, 2022 (recently added or updated info marked NEW!!!)

This is your source for current and relevant information to help you, your business, your artists navigate the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are here for you! Contact us at info@mmfcanada.ca or 416-462-9160 to let us know how we can help.

NEW!!! National COVID-19 Guidelines & Restrictions by Province from Global Public Affairs Canada - Jan 19, 2022 - link

FINANCIAL IMPACT RESOURCES

PRESS RELEASE - Oct 9, 2020
CEWS Extended until June 2021
CEBA application deadline extended to Dec 31, 2020 and max amt increased by $20k
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy for Tenants and owners

OFFICIAL: CANADA’S ECONOMIC RESPONSE PLAN link
Includes info about :

  • Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) for contract workers and self-employed individuals - link 1 || link 2 || steps on where/how to apply

  • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for businesses to cover up to 75% of employees’ wages - link

  • Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) for businesses to apply for up to $40k loan to cover operating costs (as of June 19, 2020 businesses with payroll less than $20k are now eligible and can apply through their financial institution)

  • Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) to lower rent by 75% for small businesses - link


EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUND FOR CULTURAL, HERITAGE, AND SPORT ORGANIZATIONS link (updated July 23, 2020)

  • Support to help maintain jobs and support business continuity for organizations whose viability has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Phase One has now been distributed and included companies already receiving funding from Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, the Canada Media Fund, and Telefilm Canada.

  • Phase Two to support others not covered by Phase One. PHASE 2 UPDATES (as of July 23, 2020)
    Deadline to apply August 5, 2020


FINANCIAL SUPPORT SUMMARIES

  • Overview of Canadian Relief / Stimulus Measures from Global Public Affairs link (updated July 14, 2020)

  • Financial help for Canadians by CBC News link

  • Canadian Financial Benefit Information compiled by Jennifer Robson, Associate Professor of Political Management, Carleton University using public information link

FOR BUSINESSES

  • Ontario Small Business Grant for up to $20,000 Apply here
    Info Session hosted by City of Toronto:     webinar | slide deck

  • Business Development Bank Canada (BDC) COVID-19 Support for Businesses link
    Check out the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee link

  • Small Business Loan (up to $100k) through Business Development Bank Canada (BDC) Apply Here - Bars and Lounges are eligible link - General info from BDC link

  • Info from Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses including a support hotline link

  • Facebook Small Business Grants Program link

FOR INDIVIDUALS (Performers, Industry, Crew…)

  • The CLMA's National COVID-19 Concert Guide is live at the link below. Check out this centralized breakdown of all available information, designed to makes regulations easily digestible for fans, industry, and artists.

    CLICK here to view: https://www.canadianlivemusic.ca/concertguide

    The webpage is based on available information. Please consult provincial regulations as this information is subject to change and should not be taken as legal advice.

  • Music Together - a living room concert series to support ONTARIO musicians - APPLY HERE for a spot and $1000 - Find concert schedule here.

  • #CANADAPERFORMS - Short term relief fund paying artists for online performances launched by Facebook Canada and the National Arts Centre - APPLY HERE - Deadline is April 20, 2020

  • Co-Mission: An Artist Relief Compilation - ARTISTS! Check it out! Folkadelphia is commissioning new recordings by paying musicians for their time and craft to track a song at home or whatever safe space they have. link

  • FOR TORONTO-BASED ARTISTS/ARTS PROFESSIONALS - $1000 grants from Toronto Arts Council to replace lost revenues between March 12, 2020 and April 30, 2020 link

  • SOCAN royalty advances for those in need due to COVID-19 link

  • MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund (for US-based professionals) link

  • Calgary Arts Development - Short-term relief funding for Artists & Cultural Workers - Deadline April 30 - More info here.

  • Music PEI - Tiny Island Concert Series - PEI-based performers can be selected for online performance spots for up to $1500.

  • CBC Creative Relief Fund - not necessarily music specific but applications for innovative, original Canadian storytelling are open until April 24 - APPLY HERE

  • Crew Nation - Fund to support live music crew link


KEEP TRACK OF YOUR LOSSES

Many granting agencies and other organizations are urging us to track lost income and to keep related documentation for future response and financial support planning.

Helpful link for categories to consider when tracking losses created by Global Public Affairs


RESOURCES FOR BILL PAYMENT RELIEF FROM TORONTO MUSICIANS’ ASSOCIATION LOCAL 149:


REOPENING INFO

  • The CLMA's National COVID-19 Concert Guide is live at the link below. Check out this centralized breakdown of all available information, designed to makes regulations easily digestible for fans, industry, and artists. Click here to view: https://www.canadianlivemusic.ca/concertguide

  • NEW!!! National COVID-19 Guidelines link by Global Public Affairs (updated Apr 13, 2022)

  • THE EVENT SAFETY ALLIANCE REOPENING GUIDE link

  • Map showing reopening info for Europe from Pearle - Performing Arts Employers Association League Europe


INFO FROM GRANTING AGENCIES

  • Ontario Creates link

  • Canada Council for the Arts link

  • FACTOR link

  • Department of Canadian Heritage link

  • Radio Starmaker Fund

    • The Board of the Radio Starmaker Fund wants to inform all stakeholders that any previous tour dates that were approved and were to take place between February 15th and August 31st of this year will be fully funded if they were canceled as a result of the coronavirus. All you will need to do when filling out final paperwork is indicate the reason for the cancelation was coronavirus – no other proof will be necessary. This same policy will also be in effect with regard to tour dates approved by the Board for Round 74.

    • We are currently examining the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and the implications it may have on future touring. Currently, when we open our next round we are considering a moratorium on requests for tour funding for all performances from April 1st to May 31st of this year given the very high likelihood of cancellation.

    • We will be monitoring this situation over the next few weeks and making a final determination on or before April 10th when we plan to open the next round of funding. In the meantime, we wanted everyone to know this is a possibility as tour plans are made this year.

LIVE STREAMING & ROYALTIES

  • Guide to Live Streaming by Reed Smith LLP published March 2020 link

  • Effects on Performance Rights for International Rights Holders by Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) link

VISAS & IMMIGRATION

Artist Mobility to the US - FAQs from Covey Law || Updates from Tamizdat || Updates from DMT Law

MMF Canada is part of a group of organizations advocating on behalf of the performing arts community around visas and COVID-19 - See the latest missive send to USCIS and Department of State here.

INSURANCE & LEGAL

COVID-19 and Force Majeure: https://www.torys.com/insights/publications/2020/03/covid-19-and-force-majeure-clauses

Information from MMF-UK: https://themmf.net/2020/03/10/coronavirus-updated-information/

Force Majeure Contracts and Insurance: https://musictech.solutions/2020/03/09/pandemic-force-majeure-contracts-and-insurance-in-the-music-business/


PUBLIC HEALTH, GOVERNMENT, ETC. LINKS

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/

Canada Public Health: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

Provincial / Territorial Updates:
Alberta | British Columbia | Manitoba | Ontario | Quebec - English | Quebec – French | New Brunswick | Northwest Territories | Nova Scotia | Newfoundland and Labrador | Nunavut | Prince Edward Island | Saskatchewan | Yukon

Risk-informed decision-making for mass gatherings during COVID-19 global outbreak

Canada’s Response: https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/03/11/prime-minister-outlines-canadas-covid-19-response

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china


HEALTH & WELLNESS

MESSAGE FROM UNISON BENEVOLENT FUND:

For counselling inquiries to help you deal with the financial or emotional impact of coronavirus, please contact 1-855-986-4766.

For emergency financial assistance, know that Unison will carefully review your situation and request in the context of finding the best way to assist you during this difficult time. You are reminded that Unison does not make payments directly to applicants, with the understanding that our resources are limited, dependent on the generosity of our donors, and are allocated in ways to best support as many individuals as possible. Please visit our website here to learn more about our financial assistance program and how to apply.

MORE INFO ABOUT UNISON: https://www.samaritanmag.com/features/qa-questions-answered-about-accessing-music-industrys-unison-benevolent-fund


Sign up for a guide to anxiety relief and self isolation from UK-based Coalition “Music Industry Therapists & Coaches”: http://musicindustrytherapists.com/anxietyrelief_selfisolation/


AIRLINE COVID-19 POLICIES

Master list by Forbes.com: https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisor/2020/03/11/master-list-of-airline-coronavirus-policies

International Air Transport Association: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm

Air Canada: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/covid-19.html

WestJet: https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/coronavirus


ONLINE SESSIONS

Head to our Resources page for a list of upcoming online sessions by other organizations and visit our Event Listing page for details about MMF Canada organized events.

PAST EVENTS

  • The New Normal with Ty Sticklorius (John Legend’s Manager) by Gupta Media || From April 22, 2020 || Video link (Password: 3T%c49@?)

  • Conversation with Rachel Bendayan, Parlimentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade presented by Business / Arts || From April 22, 2020 || Video Link

  • CommUNITY Online Episode 2 - Live Streaming: Earning a Living and Reaching Fans presented by Folk Alliance International || from April 17, 2020 || Video Link not yet available.

  • Mental Health in Music: Town Hall Discussion presented by CIMA, Unison, CAMH || From April 15, 2020 || Video link

  • MMF CANADA WEBINAR: Navigating Canada’s Economic Response Plan || From April 7, 2020 || Video link

  • Ask an Expert: Contracts, insurance, visas, employment and legislation in the COVID-19 era by APAC || from March 27, 2020 || Video link

  • We Are Stronger Together: Navigating Crises and Sustaining Healthy Relationships in the Era of Coronavirus || from March 18, 2020 || Video Link

  • Come Together: COVID-19 Crisis Artists + Industry session || Live stream from March 17 || No recording yet. More info here.

  • COVID-19 & Your Event by FestForums || from March 16, 2020 || Video Link


EVENT CANCELLATIONS & POSTPONEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

JUNE 2020

MAY 2020

APRIL 2020

MARCH 2020

MISC

  • Updating page from Billboard

  • Showcase festivals and conferences updates from European Music Exporters Exchange


MISCELLANEOUS INFO AND RESOURCES