Surrey is Canada’s
Up and Coming Music City 

As one of the fastest growing metropolitan centres in the region, Surrey has a diverse community of musicians, music businesses, industry workers and fans. Throughout the City, an estimated 350,000, or 62% of residents regularly engage with music. It is estimated that 1.5 million attendees enjoyed music in Surrey in 2019. Supporting the next generation of Surrey artists is key to building a music city for years to come.

 

Surrey Music Strategy

The Surrey Music Strategy is a cross-departmental and industry tool that provides recommendations on how best to develop a growing music economy across all Surrey town centres. Framed around seven strategic pillars, the Surrey Music Strategy is designed to ensure that music development supports Surrey's unique needs. 

Each pillar includes recommendations and ongoing, short, medium, and long-term actions. By taking action in each of these key areas, Surrey can build a diverse, inclusive, and thriving music scene.

Strategic pillars

  • Amplify Surrey’s music talent and supportive resources
  • Continue building bridges between the City and Surrey’s diverse music communities
  • Improve access to places and spaces for music
  • Establish Surrey’s music identity
  • Expand audience awareness and engagement
  • Advance municipal leadership and support
  • Encourage music tourism and placemaking

read surrey music strategy  

For more information, read the Surrey Music Strategy Appendix.

Surrey Musician
and Business Directories

These directories are free resources that connect members of Surrey’s music community. 

Surrey Musician
Directory

Search this directory to find talented local musicians for your event.

view directory  

 

Surrey Music
Business Directory 

Support Surrey-based promoters, publicists, event producers, record labels and music organizations.

VIEW DIRECTORY

 

Upcoming Music Events

Check out these concerts that are happening in Surrey!

Learn how to promote your music event on our calendar.

Funding Opportunities

Grants and funding support a wide range of music activities and business development, including music creation, production, live performance, training, and operational support.

The grants and funding listed below are publicly funded programs that are currently accepting applications. Additionally, the City offers a variety of Cultural Grants that fund cultural events and activities in Surrey.

Live Performance – FACTOR Canada
This grant subsidizes the cost of domestic and international performances including showcases and tours.

  • Rolling intake
  • Apply at any time

Sponsorship – FACTOR Canada
The grant program supports eligible music-related events and projects that do not quite fit within other program requirements. These events can be music festivals, conferences, workshops, industry associate events, and showcases.

  • Rolling intake
  • Apply at any time

Let's Hear it! Live - Music BC

The series will provide performance opportunities to unsigned, unmanaged or independent artists while showcasing these performances to a selection of Music Industry representatives. 

  • Application Deadline: May 26, 2023 at 5:00pm PST

Domestic and International Travel Grants - Music BC

Applications are open for both domestic and international destinations – including showcase, touring and business travel.

  • Application Deadline: May 26th, 2023 at 5:00pm PST

Comprehensive Artist - FACTOR Canada

This grant contributes to the cost of acquiring, producing, and marketing a full-length album.

  • Rolling intake
  • Apply at any time

Marketing and Promotion for Non-FACTOR-Funded Sound Recordings – FACTOR

This program supports the marketing of commercially released full-length sound recordings that were not funded by FACTOR. The sound recording must have been released commercially and achieved a qualifying sales threshold or had a track charting on commercial radio.

  • Rolling intake
  • Apply at any time

Professional Development Assistance Program – SOCAN Foundation

This grant provides SOCAN composers, writers, and music publishers with funding for courses, workshops, seminars and conferences to help them further develop their skills and advance their careers

  • Rolling intake
  • Apply at any time

Travel Assistance Program  SOCAN Foundation

This program helps fund travel-related costs for career-defining opportunities for SOCAN composers, writers, and music publishers across all genres of music.

  • Rolling intake
  • Apply at any time

Songwriter Development FACTOR Canada

This program offers a $2,000 subsidy toward a year of songwriting initiatives, such as domestic and international travel for co-writing sessions and trips, songwriting camps and workshops, and eligible showcases.

  • Rolling intake
  • Apply at any time

Video FACTOR Canada

This program contributes to the cost of producing music videos for eligible Canadian Sound recordings by artists rated 2 and 3.

  • Rolling intake
  • Apply at any time

Comprehensive Music Company - FACTOR

This grant allows record labels to cover the cost of acquiring, producing, and marketing a full-length album.

  • Rolling intake
  • Apply at any time

Collective Initiatives - FACTOR Canada

Comprised of three components that, singly or in combination, help finance music industry events, showcases and productions that have a collective benefit for the Canadian music industry.

  • Application needs to be submitted at least 3 months before project start date.

This project is supported by Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia.

Logos for Creative BC and Province of British Columbia