RBC announced a new virtual performance series, First Up with RBCxMusic that will support and promote emerging Canadian recording artists and musicians through the challenging circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Musicians and recording artists who traditionally rely on income from paid performances continue to experience financial hardship with the suspension of live events. According to a recent survey by Music Canada and Connect Music Licensing, nearly half of artists reported they have lost more than 75% of their income since the crisis.
Applications for First Up with RBCxMusic are now open, and beginning in June, the program will spotlight emerging artists from across Canada who represent a variety of musical genres to celebrate the vast musical talent we have in our country.
RBCxMusic will select more than 100 artists to participate in the program in 2020. Selected artists will receive a $1,000 stipend to perform a 30-minute virtual set hosted on the artist’s personal Instagram channel, with media and promotional support from RBCxMusic. A schedule of each week’s musical performances will be shared at the beginning of the week on the RBCxMusic Instagram Channel, with performances taking place Thursday through Sunday evenings.
In addition to receiving funding and promotional support, recipients will have access to mentorship and networking opportunities with renowned Canadian artists through RBC’s partnership with Live Nation Canada.
First Up with RBCxMusic is open to Canadian recording artists and musicians between the ages 18 and 35, who are in the early stages of their career and seek primary income from their music. Submissions should include a brief biography, song sample, artist imagery and Instagram handle. RBCxMusic will be accepting applications for round one starting today.
RBC has a long-standing commitment to supporting emerging creatives, demonstrated through programs such as the Music Video Production (MVP) Project and the RBC Emerging Artists Project. At RBC we believe the arts play an important role in creating strong and vibrant communities, and in fostering creativity and innovation. Dedicated to supporting the careers and development of emerging artists, RBC offers funding, mentorship and training, as well as networking opportunities. Since 2015, over 13,000 alumni have been supported by the RBC Emerging Artists Project, through the RBC Foundation’s donations totaling over $8 million each year to hundreds of arts organizations across Canada.
