The RBCxMusic First Up Program, Powered by MusiCounts, will offer a transformational professional development experience to 30 emerging artists and music professionals who represent the next generation of Canada’s music industry.

This program will equip its participants with the skills, connections, and industry insights needed to fuel fulfilling and sustainable careers in music. Featuring a months-long virtual workshop series, 1-1 mentorship sessions with industry leaders, potential paid performance opportunities, and in-person learning & collaboration, this immersive opportunity is among the most comprehensive non-academic development programs for young music professionals in Canada.

You will complete your application to this program via the MusiCounts Application Portal. To get started please follow these steps:

1. Start an application using this link.
2. Once you've created an application, revisit the Application Portal to edit your application here (we suggest you bookmark for easy access).

If you are a first time applicant, and you are not automatically redirected to the application page after creating your account, please click this link again.

Application Overview

To be considered for this program, you must submit your application by February 18, 2026 at 11:00pm ET.

1. Applicant Profile: Here, we ask for very general information about the applicant & their artistic background.
2. Applicant Details: information about the applicants’ biography, and their professional / artistic practice.
3. Work Examples: all applicants must provide 3 examples of their work that characterize their abilities. All performing artists who perform live must include a live performance video or audio recording.
4. Career Goals: all applicants will be required to discuss 2-3 tangible career goals that they hope to realize in the next 3-5 years.
5. Program Impact: applicants will be asked to describe what barriers to success they are currently facing, what areas of the industry they find difficult to understand, and how their participation in the program may help support this. Applicants will also be asked to detail their top learning objectives should they be selected to participate in the program.
6. Current Project: if selected to participate in this program, participants will be required to apply the content from the program to a project or career objective that they are currently working towards. In the application, applicants must describe a project that they are currently working on, and how their participation in this program will help them with said project.

1. Workshop Series: From mid-August to early December, participants will engage in weekly virtual sessions led by stakeholders in different areas of the music industry. Sessions will range from informational to interactive and will require participants to apply workshop content to their own creative projects and career planning.
2. Mentorship: All program participants will have the opportunity to schedule several 1-1 mentorship sessions from a pool of curated industry professionals.
3. Performance Opportunities: Program participants who are able to perform live may receive paid performance opportunities via RBCxMusic.
4. In-Person Learning: For 3-4 days in May 2027, all program participants will be invited to attend a week of in-person learning and collaboration in Toronto.

Participation in this program will require approximately 6 hours each week over the course of 3-4 months. It is expected that each member of the cohort approaches this program with the seriousness of a job or gig. All participants who complete the program in full (as defined in a Participant Agreement) will receive an honorarium of $2,000 in December 2026.

For more details on the program, please see the Program Guidelines.

This program is intended for emerging music creators and professionals in Canada who demonstrate high potential, an early track record of success, an evidenced commitment to building a career in music, an eagerness to hone their craft, and an openness to leverage the new information and relationships offered through this program to advance their careers.

This program is intended to support emerging music creators (artists, instrumentalists, composers, and producers), and music professionals / entrepreneurs (managers, agents, promoters, etc.) between the ages of 19 and 35.

MusiCounts and RBCxMusic recognize that being an “emerging artist” in Canada is not a singular experience, but rather a journey with distinct stages. This program will have two streams aimed at engaging emerging artists and music professionals at two junctures in their career trajectory:

1. Early Emerging: Artists and music professionals who are in the early stages of their careers, and show strong indicators of success and future potential. This includes artists and music professionals transitioning from music education programs and/or independent music projects to more active music careers.
2. Early Career: Artists and music professionals who are active and established. They might have been already recognized by peers, the industry, and the general public but still have not been able to achieve their full potential or break on a national stage.

Selected applicants must be comfortable collaborating with fellow participants with different levels of experience across all subjects. Participants must be committed to creating a shared experience; the value of this program will not solely reside in the program contents, but in the exchanges and support between peers. Collaboration and community building will be cornerstones of this program.

For more details about program streams and eligibility, please see the Program Guidelines.

If you have any questions about the application process or are unsure if this program is right for you, please email firstup@musicounts.ca.