News Article

Music PEI is announcing the next round of submissions for the Golden Ticket and Takin’ Care of Business Programs. Each of these programs can provide a significant boost to the development of an artist’s career. Both programs are managed and delivered by John MacPhee (Paper Lions).

Golden Ticket
Many artists have released great music without a concrete plan and system in place to support the release. Music PEI has created the Golden Ticket in response to that very important process. The Golden Ticket is designed to assist artists to develop or improve their profile and learn best practises when releasing new material. This unique program will take an artist with a new and previously unreleased and unrecorded song through the process of recording and releasing a single with the goal of developing the artist’s profile, receive some radio play, create new revenue and create a template for the artist to use in the future.

The program provides participants with product development for their art and business practises. Eligible artists (solo or band in all genres) must have demonstrated a commitment to their music career showing some successes and a desire to take their career to the next level of development.
Eligibility
For this round, only Emerging Artists will be considered.
If you have participated in the GT program in the past you are not eligible.
If you are currently an Exporting Artist you are not eligible.
You must be a permanent resident of PEI

Music PEI will provide each participant with:
● A professional recording studio
● A proven producer
● PR firm for the launch of the single
● The MacPhee Music Business program which covers a variety of areas of the music business.
● Each artist will be given up to 4 months to complete the program from beginning to end.
● A total of 6 applicants will be selected and approved by a jury of industry professionals.

“The support I received through the Golden Ticket program helped me and my career in so
many ways. I was at the perfect stage of development to be a part of a program that is so
multifaceted, as I had some general knowledge about releasing music but with John I was able to take it to the next level. Demystifying the different music rights and royalty associations was probably the biggest takeaway for me, as without the program I likely would not have invested so much energy into applying for and learning the benefits of each one. John is an extremely dynamic mentor, and each of our sessions were tailored to exactly what I needed on any given day, whether it be preparing for showcases, meetings or applying for grants, and though the program was centered around the release of The Fear, he took great care to make sure I felt supported as I released my whole album and played some of the biggest shows of my career so far. I can’t recommend this program enough to any PEI musician!” – Brandon Howard Roy

Takin’ Care of Business
Takin’ Care of Business Program started in 2016 and was designed to teach best business practises in the music business along with creating multiple revenue streams in order to create a sustainable career. Focus is on developing the right foundational business practises, creating an online portal for all the material required when registering with performance rights organisations, licensing your songs for film and TV, and cataloguing material.

Areas covered by Takin’ Care of Business include:
● Registering artist’s catalogue with all performance rights organisation for potential royalties
● Distribution including streaming platforms
● Launch personalised Artist Portal
● Launch online merch store
● Create or update FACTOR profile
● Review potential grant and funding opportunities
● Grant writing
● Explore sponsorship
● Business Management Plan
● Registering as a business, HST and other tax implications
● Accounting
● Marketing plan
● Social media best practises
● Tour management

“Taking Care of Business is essential for emerging artists. John MacPhee’s guidance through the business side of the music industry helps turn something daunting into a very functional system. Even if you are an artist who feels they have a grasp on the business side, there is always more to learn. It has significantly improved my confidence to navigate the music industry as an Indie artist.” – Alicia Toner

Six participants will be accepted into the Takin Care of Business program. All levels of artists will be considered for this program. Adjudication of the submissions will be made by a jury of music industry professionals.

Music PEI will accept submissions for both Golden Ticket and Takin Care of Business until August 31st, 2021. You must be a resident of Prince Edward Island to qualify for the Golden Ticket and Takin’ Care of Business Programs. Before applying, please review all the program guidelines for the Golden Ticket here, and for Takin’ Care of Business here.

Both programs are supported by Innovation PEI (PEI Department of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

For additional information please contact Program Manager Steve Love at [email protected].