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Canada Music Fund renewed

The federal government will announce renewed funding for the Canada Music Fund on Friday, CBC News has learned.

Heritage Minister James Moore will make the announcement in Montreal to extend the program for another five years.

Political Bytes

James Cudmore

An independent organization that provides grants to often cash-strapped Canadian musicians, the Canada Music Fund was launched in 2001 to help support the music and recording industries.

Last year, it received almost $23 million in government cash and about a third of that ended up in the hands of FACTOR, the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings.

The program has been credited with the success of Canadian artists across the musical spectrum, from the alternative-country Corb Lund to indie pop-rockers Metric.

Funding for the program was set to expire in March and there had been fears across the music industry that the government might refuse to renew the funding.

But now CBC News has learned the program will be continued for a full five years.

James Cudmore