Music Guidelines

GRANTS TIMELINE:

Applications Opened: Tuesday July 26, 2022 at 10:00 AM EDT
Applications Closed: November 1, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT
Recipients Notified: March, 2023
Funded Project Completion: March 31, 2024

ELIGIBILE PROJECT TYPES:

Eligible Music projects may be one of the following:

• Recording an  EP or Album: Recordings must be an original studio-recorded EP or album with a minimum total playing time of 15 minutes with at least three distinct tracks or an album with a minimum total playing time of 30 minutes with no minimum track requirement.

• Filming and producing a  Music Video: Applicants may apply for funding to create a music video for an original, studio-recorded track.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Projects must be made by, for, or about women and woman-identified individuals and/or feature a prominent woman-identified perspective. Eligible projects may also include a woman-identified producer credit; and/or writing credit; and/or engineer credit; and/or a woman-identified artist(s) in a leading musical role.

• Project must be ready for production at time of application and be released by March 31, 2024.

• Completed projects must be distributed either physically and/or digitally, whether by download or streaming, are eligible.

• The applicant (or, if different, recipient of funds) must be current residents of New York City (one of the five boroughs).

• The applicant can be: a producer; composer; solo musician; ensemble, band, or orchestra (not-for-profit or commercial). 

• Musicians, ensembles, bands or orchestras cannot currently be represented by a major label. Independent labels are accepted.

• Artists to be recorded (whether they are the applicant or not) must demonstrate a minimum of two of the following:

• Evidence of a growing fan base.
• Recent or current performance schedule locally, nationally, or internationally.
• Media coverage.
• Awards and honors.
• Previous funding.

• All recipients must complete a final report clearly outlining how the NYC Women’s Fund was used to complete the project along with sharing information on attendance numbers and public access plans or outcomes.

• Funds must be used to complete the project outlined in the application form. Funds may be allocated as the applicant needs to complete the project. However, funds cannot be used to purchase capital goods.

• Must follow at least one of two criteria: (i) 75% of rehearsal and recording dates take place in New York City, or (ii) 75% of its production costs are “qualified production costs”.* Funds can be used for any purpose critical to the completion of the project

*”Qualified production costs” means the production costs only to the extent such costs are incurred directly in New York City and are attributable to the use of tangible property or the performance of services within New York City directly and predominantly in the production.

APPLICATION ASSISTANCE:

To request an accommodation or assistance in applying, please email [email protected]. We ask that requests for accommodation be made as soon as possible, and no later than October 18th, to allow adequate time for staff to support the applicant before the deadline.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

The applicant and featured artist must provide:

• A detailed synopsis of the full project. Up to 250 words.

• Please give an overview of your project’s themes and inspiration. Please give a project overview. This can include project inspiration, musical approach, or concepts and themes.

• How the project represents a prominent woman-identified perspective. Up to 100 words.

• Please provide a statement detailing how your project represents voices, experiences and perspectives of all who identify as women.

• Current state of the project and plans for completion by March 31, 2024.

• The NYC Women’s Fund is a production grant for Music. Please include a narrative or calendar of events/key milestones.

• Support for meeting New York City criteria regarding production.

• Distribution and marketing plan:

• The means and methods of distribution, quantity of first pressing (if physical copies), project release date, record label (if any), and a description of how you will market the project to your target audience.
• Please identify your target audience. Are there race/ethnicities, ages, genders, or geographic locations for your audience?
• Note: No more than 20% of the award funds may be used towards marketing and distribution.
• The project must include a public access component as detailed below.

• Amount of funding requested, description of anticipated use of funds, and how they will move the project to completion.

• Please include an itemized list to describe the anticipated use of the full requested NYC Women’s Fund award amount.
• Note: Purchases of equipment and other physical items are not an appropriate spend of the NYC Women’s Fund. This includes microphones, studio, and camera equipment. Artist or service fees, rentals, and subscriptions for the length of the project only are accepted.

• Complete the budget.

• You may choose to either (1) fill out the budget templates directly in Submittable, or (2) upload a budget.
• The budget must outline proposed totals of artist fees, equipment rentals, marketing, and other project expenses. The budget should also show the total project income.

• Provide documentation of at least two of the following criteria: fan base, and/or performance history, and/or press recognition, and/or honors, and/or previous funding.

• Biography for applicant and key artists involved in the project.

• Upload work samples as detailed below.

WORK SAMPLES:

• Three work samples (of 3-5-minutes each) that are reflective of the work to be recorded.

• If available, a demo of the proposed work (including, but not limited to, a MIDI realization or a performance of the piano reduction).

• Optional: Applicants can submit a score or lyric sheet if desired for the work to be recorded.

PUBLIC ACCESS:

The NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre is a government-funded program. Accordingly, The Artist agrees to provide free public access to the Project to New York City residents. The Artist may fulfill this requirement by providing public access to the Project through a free on-line platform of their choice or the Artist website, or in another manner mutually agreeable to MOME.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT:

Anyone can apply and be awarded a grant regardless of actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, partnership status, marital status, disability (including use of a service animal), race, color, national origin, alienage, citizenship status, military status, or any other class protected by City, State, or Federal law.

NYFA is committed to supporting artists from every background, and at all stages in their creative careers. We strongly encourage artists of color, LGBTQ+ artists, and artists with disabilities to apply.

To request an accommodation or assistance in applying, please email [email protected]. We ask that requests for accommodation be made as soon as possible, preferably no later than October 18, to allow adequate time for staff to support you in submitting an application on time.