MusicNL says musicians haven't seen a dime — yet — from promised funding boost

MusicNL's CEO Rhonda Tulk-Lane says the money promised will help the industry sustain its current growth. (Katie Breen/CBC)

MusicNL is sending out a call to action among its members and the public to send nudging emails to members of the Liberal government, asking politicians to keep their promise of increasing funding for the music industry.

In the 2021 election campaign, the federal government promised to double its funding from the yearly $25 million to $50 million.

That money was earmarked for the Canada Music Fund, which supports the music industry across the country.

Ottawa has yet to deliver on that promise, says MusicNL CEO Rhonda Tulk-Lane.

In a campaign on social media led by the Canadian Independent Music Association, people are urged to sign their names through a link that sends a letter to their local MP, the minister of finance, and minister of Canadian heritage.

Tulk-Lane says the music industry in Newfoundland and Labrador is expanding, with new jobs and opportunities not only for artists and musicians in front of the crowd, but also for adjacent roles behind the scenes, such as managers, promoters, and technicians.

And to sustain that expansion, the industry needs this investment, she says.

"This money gets delivered to the majority of our artists through an organization called FACTOR (The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings) and over the last couple of years ... we had 131 recipients from this province alone," she said.

In a sea of hot-button political issues ranging from health care to housing, Tulk-Lane says they just want to ensure that the music industry isn't forgotten.

"There's so many important issues right now that need our funding, we're not blind to that," she said.

"We're just reminding everyone that [doesn't] know about music — it's an important priority in the fabric of Newfoundland Labrador."

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